Kiss The Restore IL ‘Bridge’ Phase Goodbye, Covid Numbers Rising

As consistent warm weather is about to rescue us from a long winter, the idea of Illinois fully reopening got us all kinds of excited. Time to put that on hold.

Word out of Springfield today is that the planned date of the Bridge Phase in the reopening plan is being postponed as COVID-19 and hospitalizations continue to rise.

This is so upsetting. Every time we take steps forward, something like this pulls us backward. I can't help but feel that too many are getting lazy about masks and avoiding large social gatherings. Some may say that this govern or is doing whatever he can to continue to control us. I don't want to debate that with anyone, I just want Illinois business owners to have a chance at some success, this year. You can get as pissed off as you want about 'being controlled' but the numbers are keeping us from being fully reopened and when we're diligent about masks and social distancing, the numbers go down. You can also put that 'tracking chip' nonsense down and strongly consider getting your self vaccinated. If you carry a smartphone or drive a car, you're already being tracked a ton.

Giulio Fornasar

The Bridge Phase was set to begin in mid-April. Illinois Governor Pritzker introduced us to this new phase of the Restore Illinois plan, just two weeks ago. The Bridge Phase will significantly lower restrictions on businesses and social gatherings, but health officials are sounding the alarm at the rise of new COVID-19 hospitalizations. Hospitals are currently treating more than 1,300 patients with COVID-19 daily, that's an increase of 15% from just two weeks ago.

According to wgntv.com, Illinois' phased-in reopening plan calls for 28 straight days of stable or declining COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths.

LOOK: Answers to 30 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.

Steve Shannon is host of The Steve Shannon Show on 97ZOK. On the air weekday mornings from 6 to 10 a.m. and a special 'Rewind' show, featuring favorite moments from previous shows, on Saturday mornings from 5 to 7 a.m.. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and like his page on Facebook.