* Press release [Pritzker said today the order will be formally issued next week and last through the end of May]…
Based on data from scientists and health experts and after consulting with stakeholders across the state, Governor JB Pritzker announced that he will sign a modified version of the state’s stay at home order that will go into effect on May 1 to continue the life-saving progress made over the last month while also allowing residents additional in the safest way possible.
In conjunction with today’s announcement, the Governor released modeling today put together by top academic institutions and researchers in Illinois that predicts the course of coronavirus in the state over the coming months. On our current trajectory, the state is projected to see a peak or plateau of deaths per day between late April and early May, but if the stay at home order were lifted this week, the model anticipates a second wave of the outbreak in Illinois starting in May, which would claim tens of thousands of lives and greatly exceed the state’s hospital capacity.
“Make no mistake, Illinois has saved lives. By staying home and social distancing, we have kept our infection and death rates for the months of March and April thousands below the rates projected had we not implemented these mitigation strategies,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I know how badly we all want our normal lives back. But this is the part where we have to dig in and understand that the sacrifices we’ve made as a state to avoid a worst-case scenario are working — and we need to keep going a little while longer to finish the job.”
MODIFIED STAY AT HOME ORDER
Lifting mitigation measures is only possible with widespread availability and access to COVID-19 testing, tracing and treatment. The data show that if the state were to lift mitigations abruptly this week, this would result in a second wave of infections, hospitalizations and deaths.
After consulting with doctors, scientists and experts in Illinois and across the world, the Governor has announced he will sign a modified version of the state’s stay at home order that will go into effect on May 1 and extend through the end of the month. The modified order will strengthen the state’s social distancing requirements while allowing residents additional flexibility and provide measured relief to non-essential businesses in the safest way possible.
The new executive order will include the following modifications effective May 1:
OUTDOOR RECREATION: State parks will begin a phased re-opening under guidance from the Department of Natural Resources. Fishing and boating in groups of no more than two people will be permitted. A list of parks that will be open on May 1 and additional guidelines can be found on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website HERE . Golf will be permitted under strict safety guidelines provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and when ensuring that social distancing is followed.
NEW ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES: Greenhouses, garden centers and nurseries may re-open as essential businesses. These stores must follow social distancing requirements and must require that employees and customers wear a face covering. Animal grooming services may also re-open.
NON-ESSENTIAL RETAIL: Retail stores not designated as non-essential businesses and operations may re-open to fulfill telephone and online orders through pick-up outside the store and delivery.
FACE COVERINGS: Beginning on May 1, individuals will be required to wear a face-covering or a mask when in a public place where they can’t maintain a six-foot social distance. Face-coverings will be required in public indoor spaces, such as stores. This new requirement applies to all individuals over the age of two who are able to medically tolerate a face-covering or a mask.
ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND MANUFACTURING: Essential businesses and manufacturers will be required to provide face-coverings to all employees who are not able to maintain six-feet of social distancing, as well as follow new requirements that maximize social distancing and prioritize the well-being of employees and customers. This will include occupancy limits for essential businesses and precautions such as staggering shifts and operating only essential lines for manufacturers.
SCHOOLS: Educational institutions may allow and establish procedures for pick-up of necessary supplies or student belongings. Dormitory move-outs must follow public health guidelines, including social distancing.
The Illinois Department of Public Health will also be issuing guidance to surgi-centers and hospitals to allow for certain elective surgeries for non-life-threatening conditions, starting on May 1. Facilities will need to meet specific criteria, including proper PPE, ensuring enough overall space for COVID-19 patients remains available, and testing of elective surgery patients to ensure COVID-19 negative status.
- Gooner - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:40 pm:
I didn’t realize greenhouses and garden centers were closed. We buy our garden stuff from a big box hardware store so I’m glad to see the garden stores open (assuming protection, distancing etc).
Gardening is seasonal, and if you can’t put stuff in the ground now by the end of May, it (along with sales for those stores) are lost for a year.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:41 pm:
To paraphrase “The Untouchables”
===“Word is they’re going to allow golfing now in Illinois. What’ll you do then?“===
I think I’ll play some holes.
Probably not, but the rest of ya, be safe out there
:)
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:43 pm:
So what’s the new end date for this Order? Looked through this press release a couple of times and not seeing that.
- SSL - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:46 pm:
See you on the course folks. Let’s follow the rules.
- OpentoDiscussion - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:49 pm:
At first glance it seems reasonable.
I would have the guidelines set for no more than two weeks at a time.
Just for those who do not live in rural areas it should be pointed out that as of yesterday my county had at a rate of 1:34841 while Cook County the rate was 1:211.
Contrary to what some polls show the frustration for those in rural areas is quite pronounced. As someone earlier posted, if you are retired or a government employee you can be a lot more casual about these restrictions. But if you are unemployed as a result one’s attitude might be a little different.
- wiseguy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:50 pm:
Ah, the ever-confusing double negative re: not designated as non-essential retail.
- Mitchell P - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:50 pm:
What about daycare?
- Pundent - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:51 pm:
=So what’s the new end date for this Order? Looked through this press release a couple of times and not seeing that.=
These have been 30 day order which is the limit of what Pritzker is allowed to issue. It will replace an expiring order on April 30th and presumably extend through the end of May. He can always rescind an existing order earlier but anything beyond 30 days requires a new order.
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:52 pm:
===So what’s the new end date for this Order?===
“he will sign a modified version of the state’s stay at home order that will go into effect on May 1 and extend through the end of the month.”
- up2now - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:53 pm:
IDNR has a link for reopened parks on its website, but it wasn’t working when I tried it.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:54 pm:
=== Contrary to what some polls show the frustration for those in rural areas is quite pronounced.===
This is of the same vain..
“I object”… “no, I strenuous object”
Same numbers, the intensity is not the measure of people.
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:54 pm:
This is fine and prudent. But to say if he lifted it that starting in May we would have tens of thousands of deaths is really a bit of a stretch and fear mongering.
- Leatherneck - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:56 pm:
What about state employees and state offices? How are we going to be affected by this modified order? Are we still going back and reopening next Friday with precautions? Or are we on stay-at-home, work-at-home status for another month?
- Runner - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:56 pm:
So if I’m out for a jog, do I need a mask? Unclear on what they mean by unable to maintain distance.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 2:56 pm:
=== if you are retired or a government employee===
We’re all in this together. Keep that in mind.
I am neither
- Nearly Normal - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:02 pm:
End date I heard during the press conference was May 30 for the modified extension.
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:02 pm:
===are we on stay-at-home, work-at-home status for another month?===
Yes. That part of the order hasn’t changed. As long as we can work from home that’s what the governor wants us to do.
- Pundent - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:05 pm:
=Just for those who do not live in rural areas it should be pointed out that as of yesterday my county had at a rate of 1:34841 while Cook County the rate was 1:211.=
If the virus was able to move as quickly as it did from Washington State to Illinois, what makes you believe that it can’t travel just as quickly from county to county? This idea that this is only an urban problem or confined to Chicago ignores reality. It’s in every country and virtually every county in Illinois. The goal is to keep your rate of infection below Cook County. Celebrate your success.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:05 pm:
To the people whining: Did you really think he’d lift it and follow the governor of Georgia? I mean, even President Trump dinged that guy. Stop stomping your little feet.
- PublicServant - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:06 pm:
=== if you are unemployed as a result (of Covid) one’s attitude might be a little different ===
Gotta be living to have an attitude, different or not.
- bhartbanjo - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:08 pm:
The parks that will be open May 1 are listed at:
https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/closures/Pages/ParksOpenDuringCoVID19.aspx
- Proud Sucker - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:11 pm:
===even President Trump dinged that guy===
That is actually the most surprising thing POTUS has done, maybe his whole term. Very out of character.
- Victory Farmer - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:11 pm:
=To the people whining: Did you really think he’d lift it and follow the governor of Georgia? I mean, even President Trump dinged that guy. Stop stomping your little feet.=
And told everyone a few days ago. We will not be Georgia.
- JB13 - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:11 pm:
– We’re all in this together –
Some of us, however, are in it significantly more than others
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:12 pm:
1) So far, the thoughtful way this order is happening, for me, is a good start to the times. My own concerns are still thoughtful to the order.
2) Illinois still hasn’t crossed the benchmarks of phase one, no matter how loose you see that parameter. The three T’s still are the benchmarks to move even off this order.
3) Science is the guiding principle, for that I’m grateful, even at these own 30 day benchmarks in the governor’s decision.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:14 pm:
==Some of us, however, are in it significantly more than others==
Bull. Everyone is a victim in this in one way or another.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:15 pm:
=== Some of us, however, are in it significantly more than others===
You can’t “un-die”
Now you want to compare?
Everyone is effected.
- In 630 - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:18 pm:
==So if I’m out for a jog, do I need a mask? Unclear on what they mean by unable to maintain distance.==
As a fellow runner, absent other guidance, I’d consider where you’re running. I run on suburban streets and can easily bounce to sidewalks or other sides of the street the couple times I see other people on runs.
In denser areas, or somewhere like the Prairie Path, I’d expect people to be covering pretty much everywhere.
- Cool Papa Bell - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:20 pm:
==Some of us, however, are in it significantly more than others==
Bull. Everyone is a victim in this in one way or another.
Sounds good to say but not really true.
Victims of various crimes aren’t created equal. And victims here aren’t equal. People of color are suffering more than others. Essential workers at packing plants suffer more than others. Nurses and Doctors suffer and worry more than others. It’s ok to allow some to feel the very real weight of this pandemic and it isn’t treating everyone equally.
- EmptyMailbox - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:21 pm:
* Gotta be living to have an attitude, different or not. *
Its not an either/or proposition.
- Rasselas - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:21 pm:
John - it’s right in the order - by the powers vested in me as the Governor of the State of Illinois, and pursuant to Sections 7(1), 7(2), 7(3), 7(12), 15, and 21 of the IEMA Act, 20 ILCS 3305, I hereby order the following, effective April 1, 2020 and for the remainder of the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations, which currently extends through April 30, 2020:
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:23 pm:
so i cab get my dog a haircut but not myself?
- Independent - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:25 pm:
I think Trump admonishing Kemp is a game to cover himself after the “Liberate” tweets. If states open up too early, Trump points at his Kemp remarks and says “I told you so”. If out of an abundance of caution states open a little too late he can say he tried to liberate them to no avail. Either way, his supporters will buy his version without question.
- Watching - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:26 pm:
It seems to me the Governor caved to pressure on the modified order. We have not yet reached the peak, much less started on a path of recovery. Yet, golfing, opening garden centers, and boating is now alright? What changed to suddenly make those places either safe or essential? I think we know the answer.
- Pius - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:31 pm:
–dog a haircut, but not myself–
A good groomer can do both.
- efudd - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:31 pm:
Went to the IDNR website.
Not to whine, glad parks are opening.
But, Giant City is opening and not Trail of Tears?
Giant City has more visitors in a week than T of T in six months.
- thoughts matter - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:31 pm:
=It seems to me the Governor caved to pressure on the modified order. We have not yet reached the peak, much less started on a path of recovery. Yet, golfing, opening garden centers, and boating is now alright? What changed to suddenly make those places either safe or essential? I think we know the answer. =
I think he’s just trying to give people a mental health break, while minimizing any additional risk.
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:32 pm:
===It seems to me the Governor caved to pressure===
It’s more likely a nod to people’s mental and emotional health. He’s acknowledged it repeatedly in his daily briefings and I think he feels these things can be done safely if the guidelines are followed. He said he’d shut things back down if people aren’t following the rules. Maybe trade your tinfoil hat in for a tinfoil mask.
- Captain Obvious - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:36 pm:
Seems overly draconian given the low number of deaths per 10,000 infections.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:36 pm:
===It seems to me the Governor caved to pressure===
On Rich’s blog all morning we have needless bellyaching about wants.
The governor has an order with some issues addressed this morning.
Now it’s a cave?
What, you want to have something to gripe about and now you don’t so now it’s a caving?
- Watching - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:36 pm:
‘Maybe trade your tinfoil hat in for a tinfoil mask’ touché, Although I’m not sure what I’ve said here to warrant the tinfoil hat wearing label.
- efudd - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:38 pm:
“caved to pressure”
Yeah, that’s what he did all right. There are govs in states, including one of our neighbors, that is re-opening first week of May.
Pritzker is pushing this for two and a half months.
Geez, if he cancelled Mondays and made ice cream free you’d gripe.
- Sense of a Goose - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:38 pm:
If it’s not statewide, what’s to stop those city folk from coming down to the safe zone to go out to eat, shop, etc. Think I’d err on the side of caution.
- Watching - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:41 pm:
Oswego Willy,
I’ve not complained here about wants, and I can’t account for others posts here or elsewhere. I’m a bit confused why you are choosing to attack my posted observation in connection with others’ previous complaints.
- efudd - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:41 pm:
Sense of a Goose-
You’re overestimating the allure of downstate, even during a pandemic.
- Watching - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:46 pm:
The regulars have made it clear differing takes on a subject are not to be tolerated. Sorry to have disturbed your party, I’ll return to just watching the great information Rich posts and stay away from the comment section. Carry on
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:47 pm:
=== why you are choosing===
Caving is a tasty choice of words.
The governor can’t *choose* to allow science to be a thoughtful way to things?
Caving is also a charged word, like his choices caused upheaval so changes are made.
There’s no such feel reading this that a caving occurred outside what science says otherwise.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 3:49 pm:
If you don’t like my answer, be a victim.
- efudd - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 4:09 pm:
Watching-
Would you like a tissue?
“given the low number of deaths per”
Willfully ignorant, or head trauma victim?
From day one this has been about not flooding the health care system with patients that could not be properly treated. Further endangering health care workers and first responders.
What is it about that simple objective that some refuse to understand?
- Michael Westen - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 4:14 pm:
“It seems to me the Governor caved to pressure”
…or he realized that people don’t usually go boating or play tons of golf in March. How in your opinion does walking on a golf course alone or boating alone cause any danger in spreading the virus?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 4:29 pm:
=== Further endangering health care workers and first responders.===
- efudd -
This is on point.
Flattering the curve is the process of making it possible to as safely as possible attend to the victims, and further, ensure enough equipment and supplies are available for those helping the victims too.
Missing that point, that’s understanding the fundamentals of any orders by governors or the guidelines out of the White House for the moving past peak… to get to a new normal sooner.
- CapnCrunch - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 4:35 pm:
=….yet, golfing, opening garden centers, and boating is now alright? What changed to suddenly make those places either safe or essential? =
Nothing changed. Being outdoors or where there is airflow to dissipate any virus clouds was always safe provided you were not in a crowd.
- stateandlake - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 4:57 pm:
Follow-up to the comments in the earlier post concerning the drive in theater in McHenry — the owner posted today that they will not be opening May 1. Says he followed all the state instructions in preparing the facility, then got an email saying they were not an essential business.
https://www.facebook.com/mchenryoutdoor
- Amalia - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 5:08 pm:
they can reopen golf all they want. but port-a-potties or public bathrooms….still yikes.
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 5:10 pm:
Dear Fellow Guinea Pigs,
This is not an exact science. Changing some parameters in some locations and seeing what happens is part of managing the situation.
We have bought time. We have learned much.
It isn’t safe yet and we are still short of knowledge.
- bowwow - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 5:46 pm:
Just how are we all going to get a mask? Are they going to make them publicly available.
- {Sigh} - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 6:55 pm:
What is disappointing is we are slowly seeing things open up, but people are still complaining. {Sigh} I would like to go back to work. I would like to see my elderly parents. I would like to go out to a local bar and have drinks with my friends. BUT more importantly, I am staying home bc every life is important. This isn’t about just about “me” and there is no letter “I” in the word “team”. COVID-19 has shed a different light on some people and now we are seeing how selfish a lot of people are.
Yes, this is a huge inconvenience, but in November when all your friends and family are around the table to celebrate, you will have a little more to be thankful for.
- RIJ - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 7:04 pm:
Bowwow, gee whiz dude, you can tie a couple layers of material over your mouth and nose. It ain’t that difficult. Use the brains you were given.
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 7:14 pm:
=Fishing and boating in groups of no more than two people will be permitted=
Is this in the parks or are the harbors open?
- just a thought - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 7:49 pm:
I am so tired of all the judgmental and elitist comments. Some people are really struggling financially and emotionally and not just because “they cannot go to dinner or bar with friends”. If people want to release a little frustration or express their sadness, can’t we just let them without demonizing them?
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 8:34 pm:
Chain O’ Lakes and North Point Marina. That’s it? What about the Chicago harbors?
- Mitchell P - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 10:16 pm:
This is unsustainable. It’s not a binary decision. Economic devastation has tremendous rippling health implications. See the article in NYT today where 265 million people worldwide could go hungry.
There is no empirical evidence that a complete lockdown works better than moderate social distancing as done in Sweden.
At least Illinois is in great fiscal shape. It can definitely weather businesses being closed for the next 18 months.
- Lynn S. - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 11:51 pm:
@ Mitchell,
You might want to check death rates before making that statement.
Or you could ask Boris Johnson of #10 Downing Street, London, England, about how that “go about your daily business and develop herd immunity” thing is going…
- Mitchell P - Friday, Apr 24, 20 @ 8:05 am:
@Lynn
How are you calculating death rates? It’s clear that the “n” is much higher than confirmed infectious cases based on serology tests from around the world. Experts agree that the mortality rate will end up being between 0.25% to 0.6 %. While these figures are still high, it is markedly less than the 3.4% initially stated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
It is clear that this virus impacts older individuals with underlying conditions and co-morbidities far more than healthy individuals under 50. This isn’t to say that younger people cannot get and die from COVID-19, but statistics reveal that they are at far less risk.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 24, 20 @ 8:11 am:
===Experts agree that the mortality rate will end up being between 0.25% to 0.6%===
Cite please.
“Experts” isn’t a cite
- Mitchell P - Friday, Apr 24, 20 @ 8:47 am:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8244533/amp/What-REAL-death-rate-COVID-19-Data-LA-suggests-kill-0-18-patients.html
This is all ongoing and we are learning new things every day about the novel coronavirus. So nothing is settled. It’s a complicated situation. However, economic devastation doesn’t occur in a vacuum.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 24, 20 @ 8:52 am:
=== So nothing is settled.===
If nothing is settled, dying for money isn’t an option when the three T’s still aren’t being met.
Nothing is settled.