ILLINOIS — In order to maximize COVID-19 containment, on Friday, March 20, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a statewide “shelter in place” directive in effect until Tuesday, April 7. Under this order, only “essential” businesses and employees are allowed to leave their homes. First responders, emergency management personnel, law enforcement personnel, healthcare workers and others working to support essential businesses and essential government functions like grocery stores and pharmacies are exempt from the order.
In addition, local government units across the state are ordered to halt all evictions and ban gatherings of more than 10 people. On Sunday, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced 296 new cases of coronavirus disease in the state and three deaths. The total number of cases in Illinois has risen to 1,049 cases within 30 counties.