West Central Reporter

New changes in Illinois' COVID-19 program will allow more bars restaurants to reopen in the central part of the state.

The state created the "surge staffing program," giving hospitals with open beds access to a larger staff talent pool. The state is contracting with several vendors to make the staff available to hospitals.

The changes will allow Region 6, the eastern half of central Illinois, to move to the Tier 1 mitigation level, the station reported.

Tier 1 allows restaurants to operate at either 25 percent capacity or 25 customers in the room.

Bar and restaurant customers have to be seated at tables, which must be at least 6 feet apart.

There can be "no ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)," the Tier 1 rules stated.

The Tier 1 classification will affect Iroquois, Ford, Dewitt, Piatt, Champaign, Vermillion, Macon, Moultrie, Douglas, Edgar, Shelby, Coles, Cumberland, Clark, Fayette, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland, and Lawrence counties.

Region 3 in the western half of central Illinois will move to Phase 4 of the original Restore Illinois plan issued in May, the station said. That will allow indoor dining with groups of 10 or fewer people but requires tables to be six feet apart. Areas where customers are standing can only have a 25% capacity.

The changes will affect Sangamon, Logan, Christian, Montgomery, Macoupin, Jersey, Greene, Calhoun, Pike, Adams, Hancock, Schuyler, Cass, Morgan, Scott, Brown, Mason and Menard counties.

State health officials are confident the new surge staffing program will allow restrictions to be lifted in more Illinois regions as well, according to the story.

The program uses the state's "larger contracting power" to hire more medical staff and create a larger pool than hospitals could obtain on their own, the station reported.