Chicago Governor J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday said he would divide the state into 11 regions as part of his reopening plans for the state.

The Chicago official said he would divide Illinois into smaller regions to separate the hard hit Chicago and suburban Cook County from other areas.

Pritzker's response to the cases of coronavirus in Chicago will divide the state from four regions into 11. His plans were made after Chicago reported another 1,187 coronavirus cases and eight additional deaths from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The case positivity rate rose from 2.6 percent less than a week ago to 3.1 percent.

Pritzker said the new, smaller regions will give the state more flexibility to fight coronavirus in Chicago if an area experiences an outbreak. He said this is "to carefully, but deliberately - depending on the severity of the situation - control the spread of the virus, while continuing to allow a region to be open to the greatest extent possible."

Some lawmakers from collar counties said they do not like being in the same group with Chicago. All regions in Illinois moved into Phase 4 of the governor's reopening plan on June 26. This means that bars, restaurants, and some other public spaces could reopen with limited capacity.

The governor said the state could not move into Phase 5 until there is a vaccine.

"Opening up our economy does not have to come with a spike in cases." Pritzker was quoted in a report. He said that other countries have done it successfully, while reducing cases and infection rates. He noted that this still requires vigilance on the part of all of the people.

Coronavirus in Chicago

Chicago health officials said that younger populations are now testing positive for coronavirus in the state. The state's health officials said the majority of the cases are in the 18-29 year-old age range.

Chicago health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said the new cases in the said age group are mostly from the Lincoln Park area. Arwady said they are seeing positive cases of coronavirus in New City in the south, as well.

Around 30-percent of Chicago's new coronavirus cases are from that age group, since June 15.

Chicago Reopening

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thursday said she is willing to reverse the reopening measures in the city if coronavirus cases in the state increase.

"I won't just turn the car around, I will do worse, I'm going to shut it off, I'm going to kick you out and I'm going to make you walk home," Lightfoot was quoted in a report.

She included the young people in her warnings after seeing a rise in cases of coronavirus in the state among youth. Lightfoot said young people are not only putting themselves at risk, but also every single person that they were in contact with.

She noted that young people are not following the health guidelines, such as face coverings and social distancing, including the bar scene.

Lightfoot said the state is dangerously going back to dangerous state conditions.

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