Three regions in Illinois cleared for all sports amid lessened COVID-19 restrictions Quad Cities Onlines | 1h SPRINGFIELD – All high school sports – including the higher-risk football, basketball and wresting – may now be played in three regions of Illinois as the state continues to loosen restrictions … Individual organizations should consider higher priority attendance for athletes, coaches, officials, medical staff, event staff, and security, and lower priority for others, such as spectators, media, and vendors. The statewide seven-day rolling positivity rate continued to decline Friday to 5 percent, marking the 14th consecutive day the rate has decreased. CHICAGO (AP) — The spread of COVID-19 has slowed enough to ease restrictions in three Illinois regions but in other areas, including Chicago, tougher restrictions will remain in place, Gov. Region 8, which includes Kane and DuPage counties west of Chicago, Region 9 in the north suburbs, Region 10 in suburban Cook County and Region 11 in the city of Chicago remain under Tier 2 mitigations. Display visual markers (e.g., tape, cones) at least 6 feet apart for seating. All participants must wear a face covering that fully covers their nose and mouth and fits snugly against the sides of the face with no gaps, whether indoors or outdoors, unless a medical condition prohibits the participant from wearing a face covering. Avoid mixing between pods as much as possible. publicTravel Advisory Map When you must travel away from your “During the summer, we were on this same path. Participants should arrive to the venue dressed for play. “So don’t try to line up at your local store or call your local pharmacy,” Pritzker said. All attendees should refrain from handshakes, high fives, fist bumps, hugs, “go-team” hand raises, etc. In order to move out of tier mitigations, regions must meet certain metrics of case positivity, have staffed intensive care unit bed availability greater than 20 percent for three consecutive days and sustained decline in hospitalized COVID-19 patients on a seven-day rolling average. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 24,190 doses. Parents say COVID restrictions contributed to Illinois student athlete’s suicide ... but banned most high school sports. Although Pritzker said he is pleased with the progress of the state, health officials warned that a new variant of COVID-19, which originated in the United Kingdom and has been detected in Illinois and other areas of the United States, could become the dominant strain by March. Refer to the guidance above regarding mitigation efforts to lower transmission risk for particular sports. Sports organizations should encourage the practice of temperature and symptom checks by employees. Sports organizers should make hand sanitizer or hand washing stations available to participants. Sports organizers should limit spectator attendance as follows, in accordance with regional Tier mitigation levels as outlined in the Restore Illinois guidelines: When located in a region not facing specific mitigation efforts outlined in the Restore Illinois guidelines: Gatherings of up to 50 spectators, indoors or outdoors, are allowed. All regions of the state had moved out of Tier 3 mitigations as of Friday, Jam. All youth sports at the conference and intra-region levels will be allowed in regions that are in Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan, Ezike said. This guidance supersedes all previously issued  All Sports Guidance issued by DCEO, IDPH and /or ISBE. Sport organizers should designate an area for spectators with existing seating (e.g., bleachers) or in space around area of play. Public Health Officials Announce 5,152 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease: Illinois Resurgence Region Tiers and Metrics can be found here. Exceptions may be made where accommodations are appropriate – see IDHR’s guidance, Social distance of at least 6-ft. should be maintained between non-household individuals, Frequent hand washing by employees, and an adequate supply of soap/ paper towels and/or disinfectant/ hand sanitizer should be available, All employees and workers who perform work at the worksite (such as temporary or contract workers) should complete health and safety training related to COVID-19 when initially returning to work. Use portable seating from other activity areas. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces often. 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