Gov. JB Pritzker said Thurdsay the state could enter its ‘bridge’ phase to reopen as early as next week.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday said efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Illinois have been successful enough in recent weeks that the state can begin relaxing mitigations next week with a broader goal of fully reopening by early June.

Speaking at an in-person news conference alongside Illinois Department of Public Health director Ngozi Ezike and other doctors, the governor said the state could enter the so-called “bridge” phase starting May 14.