Illinois health officials report 2,270 new COVID-19 cases with 136 additional deaths in Wednesday’s update. State totals are now 68,232 cases including 2,974 deaths. Laboratories in the state processed nearly 15,000 tests in the previous 24 hours.
Governor JB Pritzker said although the White House re-opening guidelines suggest 14 days of declining COVID-19 cases, Illinois would not be able to move forward yet under that standard because the number of cases here has not yet fallen. Pritzker’s re-opening plan requires 28 days of stable or declining numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalization to advance to the next phase of re-opening.
Governor Pritzker said he doubts the Illinois State Fair could be held this year. Under the governor’s re-opening plan announced Tuesday, large festivals and gatherings would not be held until a vaccine or treatment is developed. The earliest the state could reach that stage under the plan would be late June.
Illinois House Republicans are criticizing Governor Pritzker’s plan to re-open the state. House GOP Leader Jim Durkin says the plan will destroy most businesses in the state, particularly the hospitality industry. Representative Dan Brady of Bloomington says the stay-at-home order was the right thing to do, but it could be months or years before the state re-opens under Pritzker’s timeline and the plan continues to be a decree from one person.
