The Illinois Department of Public Health (Monday) made adjustments to COVID restrictions now allowing indoor dining again in east central Illinois. The region’s hospitalization rate and positivity percentage have both declined for the past several days, allowing for the reduced mitigation rules.  Region 6 includes Iroquois, Ford, Champaign and Vermilion counties.

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.

The state banned indoor dining in the area on November 2nd after rising positivity rates made it necessary. However, there have been several restaurants that have remained open since then.

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 Iroquois County is at 6.1%, 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.

94.1 WGFA