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On Tuesday, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced his "Restore Illinois" plan for gradually reopening state businesses shuttered during the COVID-19 epidemic. His announcement coincided with the state reporting its highest-ever daily toll of 176 coronavirus deaths.
Illinois is currently in phase two of Pritzker's five-phase reopening plan, just as his extended stay-at-home order took effect on Friday, May 1. Phase two allows for nonessential retail stores to reopen for delivery and curbside pickup. It also allows people to enjoy outdoor activities like boating, fishing and golfing, but instructs them to practice social distancing and wear facemasks when outside of home.
Regarding the state reaching its highest-ever daily toll on Tuesday, Pritzker's office told the Chicago Sun-Times that the toll might have included deaths that occurred over the weekend, as some counties tend to report their totals more slowly at the start of each week, creating lowered tolls on Mondays.
Newsweek reached out to Pritzker's office for comment. This story will be updated with any response.
Pritzker said "Restore Illinois" is "guided by public health metrics designed to provide a framework for reopening businesses, education, and recreational activities in each phase."
The plan allows the state's northern, northeastern, north-central, central and southern regions to reopen or re-close based on rates of newly confirmed coronavirus cases and available beds in hospital intensive care units (ICU), where patients with severe coronavirus symptoms are treated.
To progress to the third phase, state regions must achieve a test positivity rate of 20 percent or lower with no more than a 10 percent increase over a 14-day period. Region hospitals must also demonstrate stable rates of admissions for 28 days with at least 14 percent of ICU beds available for patient treatment.
Pritzker's extended stay-at-home order is currently facing a legal challenge by Republican State Representative Darren Bailey.
On April 28, Clay County Circuit Court Judge Michael McHaney granted a temporary restraining order against the extension, stating that Pritzker effectively "shredded the Constitution," overstepping his power as governor.
Bailey successfully argued in court that while state law allows governors to declare disaster orders for 30 days, it doesn't explicitly allow a governor to extend such an order or issue a concurrent one to take effect when the original expires.
Bailey has since said that he plans on following Pritzker's stay-at-home orders and "wants to reset the case by having the restraining order vacated and the suit remain in Clay County," according to the Belleville News Democrat.
