Episode 131: Illinois inches its way toward reopening

Illinois is nearing another phase in the state’s reopening plan, but things won't open up all at once.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week unveiled what he called his “Bridge Phase,” announcing new guidelines that will allow for higher capacity limits at public places such as spectator events. The guidelines also involved fewer restrictions on businesses during the transition between the current Phase 4 and a full reopening in Phase 5.

To reach the Bridge phase, 70% of people 65 and older must have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Despite a cry by many to speed up the country’s vaccination drive to end the pandemic, the first few months of the rollout suggest faster may not be necessarily better.

An analysis conducted by Surgo Ventures found that states such as Missouri and Florida that raced ahead of other states to offer the vaccine to a larger demographic of people have vaccinated smaller shares of their population than states that moved more slowly, such as Connecticut and Hawaii.

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