The update comes as Illinois reported 1,393 new cases of COVID-19 and an additional 18 deaths on Wednesday.
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced that the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state has reached 175,124, including 7,462 deaths.
The seven-day preliminary positivity rate for July 21-July 27 is 3.8%, as the state conducted 38,187 tests in the last 24 hours.
As of Tuesday night, authorities said 1,491 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, with 355 patients in the ICU and 152 patients with respirators.
At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Governor Pritzker announced based on contact and proximity, certain sports, such as tennis and baseball, may advance with more limited restrictions than contact sports such as wrestling and soccer. .
There are three levels of risk, lower, medium, and high, and four levels of game level. In each of the four levels, different levels of play are allowed, such as contactless practices in full scale level one tournaments at level four.
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At level one, only contactless practice and training are allowed. At level two, team practice games are allowed with parental consent for minors. At the third level, play is allowed within the conference within the EMS region or within the league, and there may be state or league championship games for low-risk sports. At level four, tournaments and games can be played outside the conference and out-of-state games and championships are also allowed.
Beginning August 15, low-risk sports, such as baseball, tennis, and golf, can be played at levels one, two, and three, with competitions allowed under safety protocols.
Medium-risk sports, such as basketball and soccer and volleyball, can be played at levels one and two without contact practice and team fighting.
Higher-risk sports, such as soccer, hockey, and lacrosse, can be played at level one without contact, training, and conditioning practices.
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“I know our hearts break when we hear the word ‘restrictions’, especially when it comes to our children’s love of their sports. If this year is your first time on the court or it’s your senior season, this is not the news for nobody wants to listen, “said Governor JB Pritzker. “But with increasing rates of virus spread, with increasing positivity rates across Illinois and the United States, this is a situation where the most difficult option is also the safest. Therefore, Today, my administration is releasing a new guide that restricts youth and adult recreation in Illinois. We have worked in consultation with the governing bodies of many of these organized sports programs, and collectively we hope that when metrics and risks improve considerable, we can restart these sports. “
Illinois has listed the complete list of guidelines on the state’s coronavirus website.
Meanwhile, the IHSA meets Wednesday to decide what to do for fall sports.
Some local student athletes who volunteered at an event in Engelwood said they understand the difficult decision the association must make, but it is difficult for them not to be with their teams.
“All the players behind me and next to me know that we really have a great passion for the sports we play and you take advantage of those opportunities to do what you love,” said Nazareth Academy soccer player Jake Racki.
The decision could come down to canceling fall sports entirely or simply postponing the season.
Soccer athletes who miss a season know how heartbreaking it can be to be sidelined.
“We were able to get small groups of people able to train together to prepare to play that tournament, but I really feel for them because it definitely broke my heart when I got the news,” said Wauconda High School senior soccer player Jordan Bodden. .
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