CHICAGO ؅— Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Thursday that the city is ready to move into Phase 5 starting next week. 

The mayor made the announcement with Dr. Allison Arwady during a Facebook Live.

“I think we’re ready to move to Phase 5 with the state next Friday, June 11th. What do you think?” Lightfoot asked Arwady.

The City of Chicago will now fully reopen on June 11, in alignment with Illinois.

“Now is the time to do this,” Arwady said. “These numbers are looking so good right now.”

“COVID is still here, no doubt,” Lightfoot said. “We’ve got a lot more work that we need to get done. So keep pushing vaccines, but we are on the right track.”

Chicago’s COVID-19 numbers, only an average of 135 cases a day over the last week, are the lowest since the start of the pandemic.

The mayor had previously announced a full reopening date of July 4.

“I’m excited, I’m excited – as long as everybody does their part,” said resident Marilyn Finner. “Those who want to get vaccinated, go get vaccinated.”

The city has still not met one key goal — to have 70 percent of the city’s population fully vaccinated. At this time, around 41 percent are.

According to the latest data, about 63 percent of Chicagoans have had at least their first dose. The Mayor said her office is continuing outreach efforts to communities where there is some reluctance to get vaccinated.