Gov. Pritzker issues shelter-in-place after fifth Illinois COVID-19 death

Posted on March 20, 2020
Gov. Pritzker said the “shelter-in-place” begins Saturday at 5 p.m. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Govoner JB Pritzker announced another Illinois resident has died from COVID-19.

At his daily press briefing, Pritzker announced that a 70-year old Cook County woman was the fifth COVID-19 death in the state.

“She was a Cook County resident in her 70’s. My thoughts today are with her family and her friends. May her memory be for a blessing.”

Over 24-hours, the Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 163 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total to 585 cases in 25 counties.

Additionally, Pritzker issued a “shelter-in-place” for the entire state starting Saturday at 5 p.m. until April 7th.

“To avoid the loss of potentially tens of thousands of lives, we must enact an immediate stay-at-home order for the state of Illinois, so that is the action that I am announcing today.”

Gov. Pritzker also wanted to address the rumors.

“Rumors that there is Martial Law that’s going to be imposed that we’ve called-out, the Guard or Military to somehow impose their will on the state of Illinois, those are false.”

IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said the number of cases will continue to rise.

“As the number of COVID-19 cases being reported continues to rise, every single day the state of Illinois is working to increase testing capacity by working with Illinois hospitals to implement testing within their facilities.”

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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