Southern Illinois News

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Illinois) wants more people in Illinois to get a COVID-19 vaccine so the state can move forward with returning "back to normal."

The congressman's comments follow Gov. J.B. Pritzker detailing a transitional "bridge phase" between Phases 4 and 5. The governor's decision will allow for a larger limit on capacity regulations plus more business operations before moving into the post-pandemic way of life known as Phase 5.

"I'm glad to hear that it's freeing up and getting not a new normal, but back to normal," Bost said in an interview with WSIL-TV published on March 19.

Bost said Illinois needs to re-open schools for in-person learning and move toward a more normal pre-pandemic way of life.

"I've watched other states that have been very successful and have less spread of the virus than the state of Illinois did with all the lockdowns," he said.

But still, he doesn't think a return to normal is happening as quickly as it could have.

"I think Illinois should have freed up a little faster than they did," Bost said.

The transitional phase will start once 70% of state residents 65 and older have received the first dose of the vaccine, as long as COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths over a 28-day period don't take a turn for the worst.

The transitional phase will increase capacity at amusement parks, retail establishments, personal care businesses, offices, fitness facilities, museums, film productions, zoos, spectator events, and entertainment venues such as theaters to 60%. It also allows for up to 250 people to attend an indoor social event and 500 if held outside.

The state would then be able to shift entirely to Phase 5 once half of the residents aged 16 and up have received the first dose of the vaccine without an increase in coronavirus hospitalizations or deaths.