Illinois extends stay-at-home order until April 30

Gov. J..B Pritzker has announced that the Illinois’ stay-at-home order will be extended until April 30, 2020.

“If we can end these orders earlier, I’ll be the first one to tell you,” Pritzker said, “when we can start to make strides toward normalcy again. But that time is not today. And it’s not April 7.”

Pritzker first ordered “Act of God” days for Illinois schools from March 13 to March 31. On March 21, he authorized a stay-at-home order through April 7.

Pritzker said that he understands the toll that the closures have taken on Illinoisians personally, financially and emotionally.

“While each step we have been forced to take by this pandemic has made things more challenging for our residents, the cascading consequences of these steps weigh on me, every minute of every day,” Pritzker said. “But as I’ve said since the beginning, my priority through each and every one of these decisions has been, and continues to be, saving as many people’s lives as possible. That’s the one goal that I will put above all others, every time.

While other states, including Arizona, Vermont, Oklahoma, Virginia and Kansas have canceled the remainder of the 2020 school year, Pritzker said that the models and science that he is seeing has indicated the April 30 date is far enough out, at this time.

“(April 30) is the best educated date that they have come up with,” Pritzker said.

“We think that April 30 is a good end date for now.”

Pritzker said that scientific models show that Illinois has not seen the “peak” of COVID-19 yet.

“As of March, 30, our preliminary reports from hospitals statewide show just 41-percent of our adult ICU beds are empty, staffed and ready for immediate patient use; a two percentage point decrease from the moment in time numbers that I ran you through last week,” Pritzker said. “Sixty-eight percent of our ventilators are available statewide, a 4-percent point drop in a week.

“That doesn’t mean that every hospital has that availability but collectively, that’s what we have across the state.

“Statewide about 35-percent of our total ICU beds are now occupied by COVID patients, and about 24-percent of our total ventilators are occupied by COVID patients. We’re still within our capacity, and we’re working every day to acquire new ventilators or convert alternate use ventilators to increase that capacity.”

As of March 31, 2020, there are 5,994 positive COVID-19 cases and 99 deaths across 54 counties in Illinois.

“The virus’ spread is growing,” Pritzker said. “So are its risks. We must not let up now.”

On Friday, ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education) released remote learning guidelines for Illinois public schools, including the mandate to begin remote learning on March 31.

“All of these days count toward the school year, and absolutely no days, need to be made up,” Pritzker said.

He added that school districts will be able to create remote learning plans based on their local needs.

The ISBE documents says, “The Remote Learning Recommendations” strongly encourage that school districts’ local grading policies during Remote Learning Days embrace the principle of “no educational harm to any child” and that school districts adopt grading models of pass or incomplete.”

“I want to recognize the creativity of our Illinois State Board of Education and the superintendent and the school districts all across our state for they’re remarkably able and agile efforts that they’ve demonstrated providing learning opportunities, meals connection and stability throughout this crisis,” Pritzker said.

“Students are going through a situation over which they have no control. Our first response must be empathy.”

He told students that its okay to feel the way that they are feeling.

“I won’t try and tell you that texting and calling each other is the same as hanging out in the hallways, or in the lunchroom. And I won’t try and tell you that a Zoom prom is the same as a real prom. I won’t try and tell you not to be sad about the lost goals and plans that you may have had for March and April. It’s okay to be sad.

“And if you do feel sad or frustrated or angry, whatever you feel, please let yourself feel that way. Don’t beat yourself up over being human. And if you’re experiencing overwhelming anxiety or you have a friend who is, and you need someone to talk to, there are resources available to you.”

Pritzker also called on students to look at the work their community and schools are doing when they are ready.

“If you’re looking for a lesson in the fundamental goodness of people and of your community, it’s right there in front of you,” he said.