Gov. J.B. Pritzker vows to share reopening plan in ‘next few days’ that will protect Illinoisans and the economy

Gov. J.B. Pritzker shed a bit more light on the long-awaited reopening of the state on Wednesday, saying he expects to unveil a plan this week that is “not only healthy for everybody, but also good for the economy.”

Part of the challenge to lifting restrictions will be handling threats posed by newer, faster spreading coronavirus variants — but the governor suggested that was not an insurmountable hurdle to reopening.

“Let me be clear to everybody,” the governor said at a news conference in downstate Decatur. “I am more optimistic today than I have ever been throughout this pandemic, about where we are going and getting to the end of the pandemic.”

During an earlier stop in downstate Lincoln, Pritzker said he expects to talk about the reopening plan “over the next few days.”

“Let me just say, we’re working with industry leaders, we’re working with our doctors at [the Illinois Department of Public Health] as well as other experts in the state to make sure that the phased opening — reopening — is not only healthy for everybody, but also good for the economy as we move it forward,” Pritzker said at an unrelated morning news conference.

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Wednesday was the first time Pritzker personally addressed reopening the state since his public health chief revealed a plan was imminent.

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, head of the Illinois Department of Public Health, broke the news about the reopening plan Monday during an Illinois Senate Health Committee hearing. She told senators a plan was in the works, news the governor’s spokeswoman quickly confirmed but did not elaborate on.

During Monday’s hearing, Ezike said masks would continue to be “a mainstay” as the state begins its reopening process.

She also said moving from the current Phase 4, which the state has been in since last summer, to Phase 5 of the state’s coronavirus reopening plan likely won’t be “an on-off switch, but may be a dial,” meaning that the state may see at least one more intermediary phase of lessening coronavirus mitigations before a full reopening.

“It really does involve how much of our most vulnerable population has been vaccinated, and — of course — that starts with our seniors,” Ezike said. “So, once we see like a great majority of our seniors vaccinated that should get us to another level, and then we can start having at least larger size gatherings, like everything open up with some kind of capacities.”

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times file

Pritzker has also voiced concerns in recent days of the danger posted by the COVID-19 variants and the need to vaccinate as many people as possible to stay ahead of them.

Three coronavirus variants have surfaced in Illinois since the start of the year. Researchers have identified cases of other new, more infectious strains first identified in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil.

But Pritzer sounded an optimistic note on Wednesday.

“I am not a doctor,” the governor said. “I listen to doctors. There are some who are saying be extra careful and cautious, and there are others who are saying it looks reasonably good at the pace that we are vaccinating people that we may be beating the variant as fast as it may move. We are moving at a reasonable clip to vaccinate everybody, and so we may be able to get past it without having another surge.”

Rachel Hinton reported from Chicago, Andrew Sullender from Springfield