Gov. JB Pritzker Orders Illinois Residents To 'Stay At Home' Starting Saturday Evening (2023)

Introduction

After more than two weeks of asking Illinois residents to stay home as much as possible during the coronavirus outbreak, Gov. JB Pritzker is issuing a statewide "stay at home" order, starting at 5 p.m. Saturday through April 7.

Content

News from cbs2, good afternoon, I'm Erica, sergeant, Illinois, Governor, JB Pritzker at the podium with the latest on the corona virus here in Illinois let's, listen, it good afternoon.

I am saddened to announce that we have lost.

Another Illinoisan took Ovid 19.

She was a Cook County resident in her 70s.

My thoughts today are with her family and her friends may her memory be for a blessing.

As this epidemic has progressed.

We've had to make some hard decisions I'd like to take a minute to give you a window into my decision-making because I think you have a right to know why I've taken the actions that I've taken you have a right to the truth as difficult as it may be to hear because you can bear it over the last few weeks I've reached out to and relied upon some of the best medical experts, epidemiologists mathematicians and modelers to help me understand what the progression of this disease will look like in Illinois.

My bedrock has been to rely upon science, real actual science around infection rates and potential mortalities in my discussions with these experts I've asked for honesty and hard truths I asked that choices and consequences of those choices, be laid out for me as clearly and starkly as possible I've asked every one of these experts, what action can I take to save the most lives.

Well, they've come back to me with one inescapable conclusion 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.

We have looked closely at the trajectory of this virus in countries like Italy and China left unchecked cases in will rise rapidly hospital systems will be overwhelmed.

Protective equipment will become scarce.

And we will not have enough healthcare workers or hospital beds or ventilators for the overwhelming influx of sick patients, the only strategy available to us to limit the increase in cases and ensure our healthcare system has capacity to treat those who become ill is to mitigate the spread of corona virus in the most robust manner.

Possible I, don't come to this decision, easily I fully recognize that in some cases, I am choosing between saving people's lives and saving people's livelihoods.

But ultimately you can't have a livelihood if you don't have your life of all the obligations that weigh on me as governor.

This is the greatest if there are actions that I can take that will save lives in the midst of this pandemic.

No matter how difficult then I have an obligation to take these actions.

Therefore starting tomorrow evening, Saturday, March, 21st at 5, p.m.

until the end of April 7th, all our residents will be subject to a stay at home order.

There is a great deal of misunderstanding about what a stay at home order means so I want to clarify it for everybody here's.

What will stay the same you'll, still be able to leave your house to go to the grocery store to get food, you'll still be able to visit a pharmacy go to a medical office or hospital or to gas up your car at a gas station, you'll still be able to go running and hiking and walk your dog.

Many many people will still go to work for the vast majority of you already taking precautions.

Your lives will not change very much.

There is absolutely no need to rush out to a grocery store or gas station on Sunday and Monday and Tuesday and every day.

Thereafter, those will be available to you agriculture and the press veterinarians and plumbers, laundromats and banks, roads, bridges and transit.

The fundamental building blocks that keep our society safe and steady will not be closing down.

You can still pick up dinner from your local restaurant, pick up your prescriptions and just spend time with your family.

We are doing all that we can to maintain as much normalcy as possible while taking the steps that we must to protect you that brings me to what will change all non-essential businesses must stop operating if you can work from home and aren't already doing.

So now is the time when you must the heroes of this moment, our health care workers, first responders, law enforcement officers and the individuals and organizations like the Illinois afl-cio and other workers who keep our grocery stores and pharmacies running cannot stay home.

We need you.

This executive order is fundamentally about the rest of us.

And what we can do to support the people on the frontlines of this fight and the people most vulnerable to its consequences.

We know this will be hard and we're looking at every tool that we have to help you through this crisis for our essential workers, we're going to make sure you have safe daycare to take care of your children.

Well, you do the critical work to save us and to keep us safe for those who are asking to stay home, we're ordering municipalities, sorry that to those that we are asking to stay home, we're ordering municipalities across the state to halt.

All evictions.

We need our local leaders to help ensure our families do not lose their homes.

I'm also directing additional resources to organizations across the state to serve those experiencing homelessness for our students.

Your school districts will continue to provide you with meals.

And we will back them up in this I.

Wish I could stand up here and tell you when your schools will safely reopen.

But that is not an answer that I have at this time, we're postponing, our tentative reopening date, statewide until April 8th and we'll continue to update you with new information as we have it to be honest.

We don't have the resources the capacity or the desire to police.

Every individual's behavior enforcement comes in many forms.

And our first and best option is to rely on Illinoisans to be good members of their communities and good citizens working together to keep each other safe.

I have instructed law enforcement to monitor for violations and take action when necessary.

But that is not an option that anyone prefers the easy thing to say today is that soon everything will go back to the way it was, but I want to be honest with you about that too.

We don't know yet all the steps we are going to have to take to get this virus under control, but here's.

What I do know about a hundred and fifty years ago, the city of Chicago burned to the ground when the ash is cleared, we passed laws, requiring buildings be built with fireproof material.

We invented skyscrapers Chicago, went from a small Midwest town to one of the biggest cities in the United States.

And just to make a point we built the Chicago Fire Academy on the very spot where the Great Chicago Fire started burning in the coming days and weeks we're going to expand testing in Illinois to figure out how to detect kovat 19 more quickly and more efficiently, our scientists, and our doctors are working on treatments even now they will screen people more effectively, isolate them more quickly and attack this more efficiently, they're going to learn.

And as they learn they're going to innovate they're already on a path to develop a vaccine, our healthcare, infrastructure will adapt, because it must this will not last forever.

However, it's going to force us to change, but that's.

Okay, any event of this magnitude should force us to change.

We here in Illinois have overcome obstacles before and will do so again, and we will rise to this occasion.

FAQs

Is there a stay at home order in Illinois? ›

STAY AT HOME — All individuals must stay at home, with exceptions for essential activities, essential government functions, and essential businesses and operations. All non-essential business and operations must cease, aside from Minimum Basic Operations.

What is the Illinois Executive mask order? ›

On September 3, 2021, the Governor signed Executive Order 21-22 which requires all individuals over the age of 2 and who can medically tolerate a face covering to wear a face covering when in indoor public places.

When did Pritzker shut down Illinois? ›

The order takes effect 5 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2020. In addition to the stay at home provisions, it also orders all local government units across the state to halt all evictions and bans gatherings of more than 10 people.

When did COVID start Illinois? ›

The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported January 21, 2020 and the first confirmed case in Illinois was announced January 24, 2020 (a Chicago resident). The first cases outside Chicago and Cook County were reported March 11, 2020 in Kane and McHenry counties.

What are the requirements for home rule in Illinois? ›

POWERS OF HOME RULE UNITS (a) A County which has a chief executive officer elected by the electors of the county and any municipality which has a population of more than 25,000 are home rule units. Other municipalities may elect by referendum to become home rule units.

What is the legal age in Illinois to stay home alone? ›

In Illinois, it is illegal for parents to leave children under the age of 14 alone for “an unreasonable period of time.” The state's law is the strictest in the nation — but the way the law affects families can be complicated.

Is wearing a mask a law in Illinois? ›

General. The general mask requirement has been lifted. The state health department recommends that people at high risk of severe disease and hospitalization, especially in communities with medium or high levels of transmission per the CDC's COVID-19 Community Levels, continue to wear masks in indoor settings.

What is the meaning of executive mandate? ›

3 having the function or purpose of carrying plans, orders, laws, etc., into practical effect.

What is Illinois Pritzker new law? ›

As CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey reported, the new Illinois law goes much farther than most other states across the country. It allows employees to accrue one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours they work. A total of 40 hours can be accrued in a year.

Are masks going away in Illinois? ›

Pritzker Announces Illinois Plan to Lift Statewide Indoor Mask Requirement on Monday, February 28. CHICAGO - With statewide COVID-19 hospitalization rates declining faster than any other point in the pandemic, Illinois is on track to lift the statewide indoor mask requirement on Monday, February 28, 2022.

Will the mask mandate be lifted in Illinois? ›

As you may know, Governor Pritzker lifted the statewide mask mandate for many settings, effective today, February 28, 2022, based on rapidly declining COVID-19 hospitalizations.

What is Phase 5 in Illinois? ›

All sectors of the economy reopen with new health and hygiene practices permanently in place. Large gatherings of all sizes can resume.

Is COVID still a threat? ›

May 15, 2023 – In the wake of the World Health Organization's declaration on May 5 that it was ending the COVID global health emergency, experts acknowledged that the disease now poses much less of threat than it has over the past three years—but that some level of threat will continue.

When did Phase 4 start in Illinois? ›

As all four regions of the state move into Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan on June 26, the state has built up its daily testing capabilities, surpassing 30,000 tests in a 24 hour period for the first time today.

What is home rule status in Illinois? ›

Home rule status can be achieved in one of two ways: (1) a municipality automatically achieves home rule status when its population exceeds 25,000 residents; and (2) communities with fewer than 25,001 residents can become home rule by passing a local referendum.

What is the Dillon's rule in Illinois? ›

Dillon's Rule: Illinois counties are under Dillon's Rule, with only the powers expressly granted to them by the state, whether they have a county executive or not. Cook County is the only exception with home rule authority, and can exercise any authority unless specifically prohibited under state law.

What is home rule simple? ›

home rule. noun. : self-government or limited autonomy in internal affairs by a dependent political unit (as a territory or municipality)

Can you leave a 10 year old home alone in Illinois? ›

Under the Juvenile Court Act, it's child neglect to leave a minor under 14 years of age “without supervision for an unreasonable period of time without regard for the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that minor.” The judge will look at the same factors from above to see if a child was neglected.

Can you leave a 17 year old home alone for a week in Illinois? ›

Only three States currently have laws regarding a minimum age for leaving a child home alone: Illinois, 14 years old; Maryland, 8 years old; and Oregon, 10 years old.

Can a 12 year old stay in the car alone in Illinois? ›

Child Endangerment

This crime carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine if convicted. The law applies to children age 6 and under who are left inside a car for 10 minutes or more without anyone who is at least age 14 with them or within eyesight.

What is the COVID executive order in Illinois? ›

Per Governor Pritzker's Executive Order dated March 16, 2020, all businesses in the state of Illinois that offer food or beverages for on-premises consumption must suspend service for and may not permit on-premises consumption.

What is the anti mask law in Illinois? ›

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4092. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of unlawful wearing of a mask, hood, or device to conceal the identity of the wearer from a peace officer.

How long is the mask movie? ›

Does mandate mean mandatory? ›

To mandate something means to make it mandatory.

What is the difference between a mandate and an executive order? ›

Executive orders, or directives, like laws passed by Legislatures can be called mandates and can have sunset clauses, taken off the books at a later date or be found unconstitutional by the courts and struck down.

What is an example of mandate? ›

A mandate is an official command or a go-ahead. When a politician wins an election by a wide margin, that's a mandate to implement her ideas. A mandate gives authority. If the government gives schools a mandate to test more, then the schools had better give more tests.

What is the SB 2129 Illinois Rules? ›

Illinois Senate Bill 2129

Provides that for the second year following the effective date of the amendatory Act, a person is eligible for earned reentry if he or she has served a term of imprisonment of at least 25 consecutive years.

What is the Illinois necessity law? ›

Conduct which would otherwise be an offense is justifiable by reason of necessity if the accused was without blame in occasioning or developing the situation and reasonably believed such conduct was necessary to avoid a public or private injury greater than the injury which might reasonably result from his own conduct.

What act is in Illinois January 2023? ›

This law change makes it so that the state of Illinois will not use a cash bail system anymore under the SAFE-T Act. Instead, it will use a “pretrial release” system. Under the pretrial release system, you may be released while you wait for your trial without needing to arrange for cash bail.

Do healthcare workers in Illinois still have to wear masks? ›

Cook County Health is reminding residents that face masks continue to be required in hospitals, health centers and other health care facilities, per the State of Illinois.

When did COVID start? ›

Though initially discovered in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, COVID-19 entered the conversation in the U.S. in January 2020, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerted the nation of the outbreak abroad.

Do you have to wear masks in Chicago? ›

The City of Chicago has removed the mask and vaccine requirements for most public spaces.

Do you have to wear a mask at airports in Illinois? ›

Airport Safety, Concessions & Amenities

Current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all travelers wear a well-fitting face mask covering both their nose and mouth while at an indoor transportation facility, including airports and train stations.

Will Illinois move to Phase 5? ›

The State of Illinois entered Phase 5 today, the fifth and final phase of the Restore Illinois reopening plan, in which all sectors of the economy reopen with businesses and recreation resuming normal operations, and where conventions, festivals, and large events can take place.

What is Phase 4 in Illinois? ›

Restaurants can open with limited capacity and following strict public health procedures, including personal protective equipment for employees. Gatherings with 50 people or fewer will be permitted. Testing is widely available, and tracing is commonplace.

What is Phase 3 in Illinois? ›

PHASE 3: RECOVERY

Face coverings in public continue to be required. Gatherings of 10 people or fewer for any reason can resume.

Is the pandemic over 2023? ›

With President Joe Biden formally declaring on May 11, 2023, the end to both the COVID-19 public health emergency and the national state of emergency, does that mean COVID is over? The simple answer is no.

Where is COVID the worst right now in the US? ›

Top 25 COVID-19 Hot Spots in the U.S.
CountyAverage Daily Cases Per 100K
1Jerauld County, SD78
2Emporia City, VA61
3Pierce County, NE54
4Collingsworth County, TX54
21 more rows

Should I still wear a mask? ›

Masks also help protect against influenza and other viruses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends personal masks in public when hospital admissions from COVID-19 are high.

What happens in Illinois 2023? ›

New Illinois laws in 2023 include the SAFE-T Act, Worker's Rights Amendment, improvements to health care and food access, and more. CHICAGO (WLS) -- With the start of the New Year, there is always a new set of laws going into effect.

Has Phase 5 started? ›

Phase 5 already started this February 2023 and will last until the end of 2024. Several names remain to be added, still secret, but we already have several of the most significant, such as the return of Captain America: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania — February 18, 2023. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.

What is Phase 2 in Illinois? ›

Bars and restaurants: Open for delivery, pickup and drive-through only. Personal care services and health clubs: Closed. Retail: Essential stores are open with restrictions; Non-essential stores open for delivery and curbside pickup.

What is a stay away order in Illinois? ›

An Order of Protection (also known as a restraining order) is a document issued by a court and signed by a judge to help protect you from harassment or abuse. It restricts someone who has abused a family/household member, spouse or partner in a dating relationship.

What counties are home rule in Illinois? ›

Cook County is the only home rule county in Illinois.

How do I vacate a default order in Illinois? ›

If it has been 30 days or less, you can get rid of ("vacate") a default judgment by filing a motion. This is a written request to the judge asking them to throw out the judgment. You will have to send a copy of the motion to the other party in the case, and then show up in court for a hearing.

How do I get around an order of protection? ›

Overview. If someone is trying to obtain or has already obtained a protection order against you, you have a couple of options. You can file an opposition to the application or a motion asking the court to dissolve or modify the order, or you can appeal from the court's grant of an extended protection order.

What is an order for someone to stay away? ›

A restraining order (also called a “protective order”) is a court order that can protect someone from being physically or sexually abused, threatened, stalked, or harassed.

What is the difference between home rule and non-home rule in Illinois? ›

A municipality with home rule status can exercise any power and perform any function unless it is specifically prohibited from doing so by state law. In contrast, a non-home rule municipality may only exercise powers for which express authority is provided by state law.

Can employers mandate COVID vaccine in Illinois? ›

Q. Can my employer require that I receive a COVID-19 vaccine? A. Decisions regarding immunization at private workplaces are up to the employer.

What is 14043 Executive Order? ›

In 2021, based on the best available data and guidance from our public health experts, I issued Executive Order 14043 of September 9, 2021 (Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees), to direct executive departments and agencies (agencies) to require coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ...

What is the non home rule in Illinois? ›

A non-home rule municipality may impose a use tax on residents who purchase cars, boats, or other vehicles (from any retailer) and title or register the item with an agency of Illinois state government to an address in its taxing jurisdiction. This is the Non-Home Rule Municipal Use Tax.

What are Illinois home defense laws? ›

Under Illinois law, it is acceptable to use regular force to defend oneself against some type of attack or entry into a property. If the accused is defending himself or another individual, deadly force is appropriate if the accused is trying to prevent serious injury or death.

What is the difference between Dillon's rule and home rule? ›

Dillon's Rule takes a narrow approach to local authority, essentially stating that local governments only have the powers expressly granted to them by the state. Home Rule gives local governments greater autonomy and limits the power of states to interfere in local affairs.

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