CHICAGO — Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday a modified extension to the current stay-at-home order.
The modified extension begins May 1 and will go though the month.
State parks will begin a phased re-opening process. Fishing and boating in groups of no more than two people will be permitted.
Golf courses will be permitted to operate under strict guidelines provided by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, provided social distancing guidelines are followed.
Businesses such as greenhouses, garden centers, and plant nurseries will be allowed to re-open with social distancing guidelines in place.
Retail stores that are deemed non-essential can re-open to fill online orders with pick-up and delivery.
Also beginning May 1, individuals will be required to wear a face covering in spaces where a six foot distance cannot be maintained. Essential businesses will be required to provide workers with face coverings.
“These changes are what the data says we can offer the people of Illinois without risking so much viral transmission our hospitals will again become overrun,” said Pritzker.
“That said, if we start to see crowds and people violating the order or breaking the rules, I will need to bring back these restrictions.
“I’m hopeful we will not need to do that.”
Pritzker said the extension was deemed necessary by consulting experts who learned more from new models.
“If we lifted the stay-at-home order tomorrow, we would see our deaths-per-day shoot into the thousands by the end of May,” he said.
“And that would last well into the summer.”
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 123 new fatalities, bringing the state’s total to 1,688.
There were 1,826 new positive cases, bringing the total to 36,394.
The IDPH said it would begin May 1 to allow medical facilities to perform certain elective surgeries.
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