Governor Pritzker announced loosening of restrictions in Phase 3 of the state’s re-opening plan. Restaurants and bars will be allowed to open outdoor seating, boating and camping may be conducted with 10-person limits, all state parks will open, indoor and outdoor tennis may resume, golf foursomes and carts will be allowed, salons and spas may re-open, and retail stores may open with capacity limits and safety precautions. The next phase of the re-opening plan will begin next Friday if current case trends continue.
The emergency rule that would allow businesses opening ahead of the stay-at-home order’s schedule to be charged with a misdemeanor has been withdrawn. The Illinois Department of Public Health announced after a meeting of the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules that Governor Pritzker withdrew the rule he issued Friday. Pritzker said a bill spelling out the governor’s executive powers is pending, and he will file another emergency rule if the legislature does not pass it.
The Illinois House voted to remove a Southern Illinois lawmaker from Wednesday’s session at Bank of Springfield Center for refusing to wear a face covering. Representatives voted 81-27 to expel Representative Darren Bailey. The House approved the rules at the beginning of the session requiring members, staff and the public to wear face coverings, remain at least six feet apart and submit to temperature checks. Bailey, a Republican from Clay County, won an injunction against the governor’s stay-at-home order earlier this month but later withdrew it.
Illinois has surpassed 100,000 COVID-19 cases with Wednesday’s report of 2,388 new confirmations of the coronavirus. The Illinois Department of Public Health also reported 147 new deaths for a total of 4,525 fatalities connected to the virus. More than 21,000 tests were processed in the previous 24 hours with a rolling seven-day rate of positive tests at 14 percent.
Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services announced SNAP recipients will be able to purchase food online beginning June 2. Link customers will be alerted when that capability begins.
