Welcome to Phase III: Outdoor dining is now available among many other things

Posted on May 29, 2020
llinois Department of Public Health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike (pictured) welcomed Illinoisans Friday to Phase Three of the state’s Restore Illinois program. (Photo courtesy: Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Emphasizing there is still a long way to go before coronavirus is beaten, Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Department of Public Health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike (pictured) welcomed Illinoisans Friday to Phase Three of the state’s Restore Illinois program.

Outdoor dining is now available, as are state parks and expanded golf opportunities.

And, says Ezike, more contact tracing. “I want to let you know the importance of talking with the people who will be doing the contact tracing,” Ezike said at Friday’s coronavirus briefing. “You may get a call or a text informing you that you have been in contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19. You might think, is this a hoax? But it’s very important that you talk to this person who reaches out to you – the contact tracer.”

Sangamon County Friday reported a 31-st death among 353 coronavirus cases. The state has 117,455 cases and 5,270 deaths.

Pritzker announced Friday that his coronavirus briefings from now on will only come as needed.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]. 

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