Hang in there, Metro East
Thursday, Oct 8, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* BND…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the metro-east could see loosened COVID-19 restrictions as soon as Friday if the region continues on a downward trend in its number of coronavirus cases.
The percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive fell from 6.7% Tuesday to 6.3% Wednesday in the metro-east, or Region 4, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The region includes St. Clair, Madison, Bond, Clinton, Monroe, Randolph and Washington counties.
“That’s enormous progress,” Pritzker said during a news briefing in Chicago. “… Region 4 could see a return to the looser restrictions enacted in most of the state as soon as Friday, perhaps.”
The metro-east has been under extra restrictions compared to the rest of the state since Aug. 18, when it surpassed the 8% positivity rate threshold. Surpassing that metric triggered additional rules, such as a ban on indoor service and bars and restaurants.
Let’s hope the folks in that region learned how not to have to deal with this again.
- Bruce( no not him) - Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 10:14 am:
Wasn’t there something about Fast Eddie’s in the news yesterday? The States attorney said he wasn’t going to take any action.
They haven’t learned much, just getting lucky, I’m afraid.
- Retired and still in Illinois - Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 10:37 am:
I live in the Metro East. IF restrictions are relaxed, I wouldn’t make indoor reservations more than a week or two in advance. A lot around here haven’t taken precautions to heart. I don’t plan on dining inside regardless of restrictions, I really enjoy dining outside this time of year. Hope I’m wrong.
- Chatham Resident - Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 10:58 am:
Could there have been some Metro-East region residents in Taylorville at that festival last weekend? Just wondering.
- Xeno - Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 11:19 am:
I had to go to Greenville (Bond Co) on Tuesday for some supplies at the farm store. Signs everywhere proclaimed that masks were required. While I was there, absolutely NO ONE entered that store wearing a mask. The staff seemed to generally be masked up. And you wonder why …
- Blue Dog Dem - Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 11:44 am:
Spending much time at sons house in region 4, it appears few, if any are abiding by the indoor dining rule.
- Lynn S. - Friday, Oct 9, 20 @ 1:47 am:
I think it’s really sweet how you are trying to be positive, Rich, but knowing how this region voted in 2016, I’m afraid you may be overly optimistic.
I hope I’m wrong…