Building on a statewide effort to ensure Illinois can safely reopen and families can return back to work, Governor Pritzker announced the state’s plan for a gradual reopening of child care in Phases 3 and 4 of Restore Illinois. To date, Illinois has not seen significant transmission of COVID-19 in child care settings, which is encouraging evidence that child care can be provided safely. However, public health experts note that there is still much we need to learn about the virus, its impact on children, and how it spreads. Therefore, Illinois is implementing a cautious approach that appropriately balances the need to greatly expand child care with the need for prudent restrictions that lessen the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

Based off the advice of public health experts, the new group size limits will be roughly 30 percent lower than their pre-pandemic levels for centers. For licensed homes which tend to be smaller, most will be able to operate at standard capacity. Collectively, these efforts would bring Illinois to three-quarters of the previous child care capacity in the state. Providers that have been successfully operating as emergency child care providers can move immediately to these new maximum capacities when their Region enters Phase 3. Most licensed child care homes will also be able to reopen to their licensed capacity. There will be no restrictions on which families can use child care in Phases 3 and 4.