The Illinois Department of Public Health says that indoor dining is now being allowed once again in east central Illinois after the region’s hospitalization rate and positivity percentage have both declined for the past several days.
The state banned indoor dining in the area on November 2nd after rising positivity rates made it necessary, but several restaurants in Danville and Vermilion County have remained open since that time.
The decision also means that high school and youth sports can return. Only medium-risk and low-risk sports will be allowed, with high-risk sports like basketball and wrestling not being allowed.
Indoor gatherings will be limited to 25 people or 25 percent of room capacity. Restaurants must also follow the 25 percent capacity limit, and be closed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily.
Region 6 recorded a seven-day drop in hospitalization rates and a rolling positivity rate fewer than eight percent for seven consecutive days. Currently, Region 6 has a rolling positivity rate of 6.7 percent, while Vermilion County’s is 9.1 percent.
The region currently has 28 percent of ICU beds available, and 180 hospital beds total are in use by COVID-19 patients in the area.
