Last Coronavirus: Pennsylvania and Illinois are preparing to delay further reductions

Pennsylvania — the fifth most populous state in the U.S. — will eliminate almost all coronavirus reductions by the end of May, and Illinois, with its sixth-largest population, is on track to raise capacity and business capacity limits in July.

Restrictions on the capacity of Pennsylvania’s bars, restaurants, and indoor and outdoor gatherings will be removed on May 31, Memorial Day.

However, the current executive order requiring residents to wear face masks will be suspended when 70 percent of Pennsylvanians aged 18 and over are completely vaccinated, Governor Tom Wolf’s administration said in a statement Tuesday.

According to data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday, 41.8 percent of Pennsylvania adults have completed Covid-19 vaccine regimens, compared to 40.6 percent in the U.S..

“We continue to make significant strides in the fight to stop the spread of Covid-19 and as more Pennsylvania adults are integrated and CDC guidelines are developed, we can continue to make efforts to reopen it,” said Alison Beam, secretary general of the health department.

According to CDC data, Pennsylvania has about 25,000 new coronaviruses a day for every 100,000. It is the fourth highest rate in the U.S. after Michigan, Colorado and Minnesota. This compares with the national average of about 15 new cases per 100,000 people per seven days.

Meanwhile, officials have reported that Illinois is on the verge of raising capacity limits on businesses and activities, marking the full opening of its economy.

The state is in Phase 4 of the reopening plan, but it needs to enter the so-called bridge phase before moving on to the fifth and final phase, when all businesses are open, non-vulnerable people can return to work and most activities can resume health. instructions in place.

Officials say 55% of the state’s population over the age of 16 has received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine. They added that 79% of people over the age of 65 have received the first dose, which is more than the 70% threshold required by the state to cross the Bridge Phase.

“As these metrics stabilize and continue to decline, the state may soon become the‘ Bridge Phase ’of the Illinois Restoration Plan,” the leaders said. “After 28 days of stability or constant stability or decline in Covid-19 metric keys, the state would move to Phase 5, with all capacity limits removed. The state is on track to be in Phase 5 in July.”