Pritzker orders Illinois bars and restaurants to close until March 30, IDPH announces 29 new coronavirus cases

Posted on March 15, 2020
Gov. JB Pritzker on Sunday ordered all restaurants and bars to close until March 30 due to the coronavirus. (Twitter/Governor JB Pritzker)

 

By Neil Doyle

CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker has ordered all Illinois bars and restaurants to close until March 30 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The governor announced Sunday afternoon the closures will go into effect Monday night and is for dine-in purposes.  Drive-thru, delivery and curbside pickup options will still be allowed, according to Pritzker.

Meanwhile, state health officials announced 29 new coronavirus cases, bringing the state total to 93.

Five new counties are reporting cases – Champaign, Clinton, Sangamon, Whiteside, and Winnebago counties.  Other locations with cases include Chicago and Cook, Cumberland, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, St. Clair, and Woodford counties.

“We are seeing the number of COVID-19 cases increase exponentially and in more locations across Illinois,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.  “At this point, it is best to assume that the coronavirus is circulating in your community and you should take the same precautions when interacting with other people that you would when interacting with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.”

The IDPH said cases have occurred in all age ranges and the number of cases that do not have a clear connection to travel or a known COVID-19 case is increasing.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…