Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday (033120) he’s extending his
stay-at-home order through April 30 as part of the state’s effort to slow the
spread of the new coronavirus, bringing Illinois in line with the federal
government’s latest recommendations. The governor’s order will also keep schools
closed until the end of the month. Pritzker’s announcement drives home the
reality that the crisis likely will only intensify before any sense of normalcy
returns. On Tuesday, officials reported 937 known new cases and 26 deaths.
That’s the highest number of daily deaths reported since the outbreak began.
There now have been 5,994 known infections and 99 deaths statewide since the
start of the outbreak. Cases have been confirmed in more than half of Illinois’
102 counties. Pritzker said he intends to sign an extension of the stay-at-home
order Wednesday, while also extending his statewide disaster declaration. Under
action taken last week by Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education,
school districts on Tuesday were required to begin offering remote learning for
their students. Pritzker’s initial order went into effect March 21 and requires
people to stay at home as much as possible, although there are a number of
exceptions that include going to work at jobs deemed essential, running errands
to grocery stores or pharmacies or exercising. The order was set to expire after
April 7. The new order will push back the expiration date but leave the other
provisions unchanged.
Alternate Reality has been closed since the original "Shelter in Place" order
went into effect at 5:00pm Saturday March 21st. With this order we will remain
closed from our regular hours until the 30th of April-or until the order is
lifted. Future announcements concerning Alternate Reality will be coming
shortly.
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