Another 39 people have died of COVID-19 in Illinois — as the four regions in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan are set to see some restrictions loosened come Friday.
Officials, however, said the 39 deaths reported Tuesday could be lower due to a lack of reporting on Memorial Day. There were also 1,178 new cases reported from 17,230 tests received. The virus remains in 100 of 102 Illinois counties.
In total, 4,923 people have died of the coronavirus in Illinois. With the new cases reported on Tuesday, there have been 113,195 positive cases and nearly 787,000 total tests performed.
Tuesday marked the fourth consecutive day with fewer than 100 deaths reported. But more than half of the total COVID-19 deaths have been in May.
Pritzker on Tuesday planned to outline the regional metrics needed to head into the third phase of his reopening plan. That includes a positivity rate under 20% and stable or declining hospital metrics. All regions are set to move forward on Friday, Pritzker’s office said.
But Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday said she’s taking her time in reopening Chicago, which remains a hotspot for the virus. She said that’s partly because of what she has seen in other cities.
“We are not going to let this happen in Chicago. We are not going to undo all the hard work and sacrifice” in a moment when people are not thinking and congregating in large groups, the mayor said.
While legislators left Springfield on Sunday having passed a budget to get the state through this year, and the next, the governor has not yet been sent the measures to sign, the governor’s offices said. Besides the budget, lawmakers cleared several COVID-19 relief measures, including one that would make it a felony charge should someone assault a retail or essential worker over safety guidance.
On Memorial Day, hundreds of protesters gathered in Grant Park to hear speakers rail against the statewide stay-at-home order that has brought the economy to a screeching halt in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19.
Some demonstrators hoisted signs that promoted conspiracy theories and many chose not to wear face coverings, flouting measures recommended by health experts to contain the deadly disease as they pressed closely together to hear the speakers yell into a megaphone.
The rally, which overshadowed a similar event outside the Thompson Center on Monday, was ultimately shut down by Chicago police officers enforcing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order.
Pritzker released guidelines Sunday for retailers, manufacturers, barbershops, salons, health and fitness centers, and other businesses that will be allowed to reopen in coming days as the state enters the next phase of its “Restore Illinois” plan.
