Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said Friday that COVID-19 restrictions in local Illinois counties were being reduced following a decrease in COVID-19 test positivity rates and hospitalizations throughout the state.

Region 5, the southern-most region of the state, will move into Tier 2 of the state's mitigation efforts effective immediately. Counties included in Region 5 are as follows:

• Alexander, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White, Williamson

Region 2 and Region 1 are also joining Region 5 in switching to Tier 2 mitigations.

Gov. Pritzker says that on a data-driven basis, the plan is to continue moving each region out of the tiered system (Tier 3, Tier 2, and Tier 1,) eventually back into Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan.

The three regions moving into Tier 2 mitigations as of Friday, will now have less-severe COVID-19 restrictions than before.

Here are the State's Tier 2 COVID-19 Restrictions:

• Bars and Restaurants
  • Indoor service suspended
  • Outdoor, delivery and takeout service continues under special hours
  • No tables exceeding 6 people
  • These restrictions are the same as in Tier 3, but would be much less severe in Tier 1
• Cultural Institutions
  • Open under Phase 4 Rules
• Gaming and Casinos
  • Open under Phase 4 rules from Illinois Gaming Board
• Hotels
  • Limited to registered guests
  • Fitness centers closed or operating on reservation model at 25% capacity
• Household Gatherings
  • Limiting to 10 people is encouraged
• Indoor Fitness Classes
  • Groups limited to 10, including fitness classes
• Meetings, Events, Gatherings
  • Limit to 10 guests indoors and outdoors
• Officers
  • Open under Phase 4 rules
• Organized Group Recreational Activities (Fitness Centers, Sports, Etc.)
  • Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25% overall capacity indoors and outdoors
  • Sports follow measures in the All Sport Guidelines

Once a region reaches Tier 1 of the state's mitigation plan, it may now resume indoor dining with limited capacity.

At this time, Regions 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 will remain in Tier 3 Mitigations, with several likely to meet the metrics to move to Tier 2 in the coming days if current COVID-19 data trends hold.

If you'd like to view the Restore Illinois plan, which any region would move into past reaching Tier 1 of the state's mitigation plan, you can do so by clicking here.

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