Pritzker says Illinois is getting closer to opening up more

Posted on May 3, 2021
Gov. JB Pritzker did not say exactly when. The bridge phase is immediately before a full reopening: Phase Five. (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker is cautiously optimistic about Illinois inching toward fully reopening. He says the state’s COVID response is a good one, but the U.K. variant remains a concern, and he is careful not to overpromise.

“It takes hold fairly quickly, and that is why we have been very careful not to move to the bridge phase while we watch that variant in Illinois,” he said. “I think everybody feels that we are in a decent position; following the metrics, we believe that we will be able to move to the bridge phase.”

Pritzker did not say exactly when. The bridge phase is immediately before a full reopening: Phase Five.

Pritzker says more than half the state’s population has been vaccinated – and almost 80 percent of those 65 and older.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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