On Monday, the State of Illinois announced its plans for Phase 4 of the Illinois Restore Plan. After reaching the safety benchmarks in Phase 3, the updated changes of Phase 4 are set to be effective beginning this Friday. 

The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity produced a complete overview detailing the plan’s new guidelines. 

The Phase 4 guidelines include updated recommendations from Phase 3 as well as five new industry categories. Each category includes detailed program-specific guidelines. 

The phase titled “Revitalization” aims to continue reopening businesses in the state while still maintaining adequate safety regulations such as limiting facility capacity. 

Select indoor facilities such as skating rinks, bowling alleys and other indoor recreational spaces such as gyms will now be open. Such facilities will be regulated by either a maximum of 50% capacity or a cap of no more than 50 people depending on the size of the space.

Parties up to 10 people will now be allowed to dine indoors at restaurants. Tables will maintain a six-foot separation to abide by social distancing regulations. 

Outdoor spectator events will now be permitted but with no more than 20% capacity.

Indoor seated events such as theaters and cinemas will allow admission with no more than 50% capacity. 

Museums and zoos will have a capacity limit of no more than 25% occupancy. 

Although the amount of open facilities is increasing, it is still highly recommended to wear face masks when in public. Social distancing is still being encouraged by the state as well. 

Phase 4 is the second to last phase of the Restore Illinois plan. Once a treatment option is readily available, the next phase, “Illinois Restored”, will be implemented and all sectors of the economy will be able to reopen and return to normalcy. 

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