Increased Mitigation Measures to Begin for Region 8
Today, Region 8 surpassed the Illinois Department of Public Health’s COVID-19’s threshold of 8% test positivity 7-day rolling average or for three or more consecutive days. As a result of increased COVID-19 spread and increased positivity rates, heightened mitigation measures will be put into place for Region 8, which encompasses all of Kane and DuPage County, including Lombard, beginning12:01 a.m. on Friday, Oct.23.
What to Expect
Mitigation efforts will be put into place to reduce the increased spread of COVID-19. Region 8 will be required to adhere to Tier 1 mitigation measures, as determined by the Illinois Department of Public Health. These include the following restrictions:
Bars
- No indoor service
- All outside bar service closes at 11 p.m.
- All bar patrons should be seated at tables outside
- No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)
- Tables should be 6 feet apart
- No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
- No dancing or standing indoors
- Reservations required for each party
- No seating of multiple parties at one table
Meetings, Social Events, Gatherings
- Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity
- No party buses
- Gaming and casinos close at 11 p.m., are limited to 25 percent capacity, and follow mitigations for bars and restaurants, if applicable
Restaurants
- No indoor dining or bar service
- All outdoor dining closes at 11 p.m.
- Outside dining tables should be 6 feet apart
- No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
- Reservations required for each party
- No seating of multiple parties at one table
Returning to Phase 4 Requires Decrease in Positivity Rates
In order to return to Phase 4, COVID-19 positivity rate averages must be less than or equal to 6.5% over a 3-day period. If the positivity rate averages between 6.5% - 8% the IDPH will continue to monitor the region to determine if additional mitigations are needed.
If the positivity rate averages are greater than or equal to 8% after 14 days, more stringent mitigations may be applied to further reduce the spread of the virus.
How You Can Help: Take Action Against COVID-19
Mitigation measures are based on COVID-19 positivity rates. To help reduce mitigation measures, the spread of COVID-19 must decrease. You can help support your local businesses by acting responsibly to slow the spread of illness, by following the below guidance from the CDC:
- Maintain a 6 feet social distance minimum.
- Wear a face mask when in public.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Clean and sanitize commonly used surfaces.
- Quarantine for 14 days if returning from a COVID-19 hotspot.
- Avoid group gatherings.
- Stay home when you are sick or experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.
- Get tested: DuPage County Testing Site - https://www.dupagehealth.org/601/COVID-19-Testing
- Avoid contact with others that are sick or experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Local COVID-19 Updates from IDPH and DuPage County Health Department
The DuPage County Health Department COVID-19 dashboard, shows the number of lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in each municipality. As of Tuesday, October 20, 2020, there have been a total of 1,021 confirmed cases in Lombard. https://www.dupagehealth.org/610/DuPage-County-COVID-19-Dashboard