SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — As expected, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Friday Illinois will move into Phase 5 of Restore Illinois on June 11.
Phase 5 will allow a full reopening of all businesses and activities.
“This guidance will mean businesses, large-scale events, conventions, amusement parks, and seated-spectator venues, among others, will be able to operate at full capacity for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” a statement from Pritzker’s office read.
Illinois is also lifting the outdoor mask requirement in schools in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
More than half of the population in Illinois has been fully vaccinated, and the state has recently reached a positivity rate of less than 2%.
“After a tremendously challenging year, Illinois has now reached a defining moment in our efforts to defeat COVID-19,” said Pritzker.
“Thanks to the hard work of residents across the state, Illinois will soon resume life as we knew it before – returning to events, gatherings, and a fully reopened economy, with some of the safety guidelines we’ve adopted still in place.”
Phase 5 also removes requirements that businesses institute mandatory social distancing in seated venues.
Businesses may continue to have additional public health mitigations as they deem appropriate, including requiring face coverings.
