EXECUTIVE ORDER IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
(COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO.54)
WHEREAS, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel severe acute respiratory illness, has rapidly spread throughout Illinois and continues to necessitate updated and more stringent guidance from federal, state, and local public health officials and significant measures to respond to the increasing public health disaster; and,
WHEREAS, COVID-19 can spread among people through respiratory transmissions, asymptomatic people can transmit the virus, and there is currently no effective treatment or vaccine; and,
WHEREAS, for the preservation of public health and safety throughout the State of Illinois, and to ensure that our healthcare delivery system is capable of serving those who are sick, I have found it necessary to take additional measures consistent with public health guidance to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, on September 18, 2020, considering the expected continuing spread of COVID-19 and the ongoing health and economic impacts that that will be felt over the coming month by people across the State, I again declared all counties in the State of Illinois as a disaster area; and,
WHEREAS, working with experts in the Department of Public Health, I put forward a deliberate plan that utilizes layers of mitigation steps to combat a resurgence of COVID-19 and prevent uncontrollable spread; and,
WHEREAS, that plan described two scenarios that would cause the State to institute more restrictive public health measures and impose additional mitigations in a region: first, a sustained increase in the 7-day rolling average (7 out of 10 days) in the positivity rate, coupled with either (a) a sustained 7-day increase in hospital admissions for a COVID-like illness, or (b) a reduction in hospital capacity threatening surge capabilities (ICU capacity or medical/surgical beds under 20%); or second, three consecutive days averaging greater than or equal to an 8% positivity rate (7 day rolling average); and,
WHEREAS, the spread of COVID-19 in Region 4, comprised of Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair, and Washington Counties, previously triggered the second of these scenarios as the region previously averaged greater than or equal to an 8% COVID-19 positivity rate (7 day rolling average) for three consecutive days; and,
WHEREAS, on August 18, 2020, through Executive Order 2020-51, I instituted mitigation measures to slow the spread of the virus in Region 4; and,
WHEREAS, on September 2, 2020, through Executive Order 2020-54, I instituted additional mitigation measures to slow the spread of the virus in Region 4; and,
WHEREAS, Region 4 has made significant progress – falling from a peak of over 10 percent positivity to a rate of just 5.8% today; and,
WHEREAS, Region 4 now has reached the threshold to lift mitigations following three consecutive days with a rolling positivity rate below 6.5%;
THEREFORE, by the powers vested in me as the Governor of the State of Illinois, and pursuant to Sections 7(1), 7(8), 7(9), and 7(12) of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305, and consistent with the powers set forth in the State’s public health laws, I hereby order the following, effective October 9, 2020 at 5:00 pm:
Section 1. Executive Order 2020-51 and Executive Order 2020-54 are hereby rescinded. The Community Revitalization Order (Executive Order 2020-43) remains in effect.
Section 2. If any provision of this Executive Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, this invalidity does not affect any other provision or application of this Executive Order, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the provisions of this Executive Order are declared to be severable.
Issued by the Governor October 9, 2020
Filed by the Secretary of State October 9, 2020