CHICAGO — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker faces a hard decision when asked when he will reopen the state while the death toll from COVID-19 continues to climb.
During Saturday’s news briefing, Governor Pritzker said he is unsure if he will extend his “Stay at Home” order after April 30th.
Pritzker said the state will need to go more than 14 consecutive days of diminished hospitalizations and cases.
“We don’t even know when the peak will be. We won’t know until we pass the peak that we hit the peak.” Pritzker said.
Meanwhile, despite the increase in deaths, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike said the state is still seeing a slight bend in the curve.
“Although our numbers continue to climb, it is, with some guarded optimism that we say that the growth is slowing. That is definitely a good thing but we must continue to be strong and hold the line.” Ezike said.
Ezike reminds Illinoisans to continue to use the same process with hand washing and wearing a mask when outside.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Saturday announced 1,585 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 125 additional deaths.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 29,160 cases, including 1,259 deaths, in 93 counties in Illinois.
The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years.
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