This is a developing story and will be updated.
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday announced new statewide restrictions to contain COVID-19.
The governor's office in a statement said the move to Tier 3 resurgence mitigations will start Friday.
"This latest round of mitigations aims to limit gatherings and encourages residents to stay home as much as possible and follow proper safety measures when out in public," the statement said.
Pritzker during a press conference said museums, casinos and theaters will need to close, and "we are asking you to choose Zoom instead of packing people in a room for Thanksgiving.”
It also includes various guidelines for:
- Retail
- Personal car services
- Health and fitness centers
- Hotels
- Manufacturing
- Bars and restaurants
- Meetings and social events
- Offices
- Organized group recreational activities
- Indoor recreation, theater, cultural institutions
State health officials reported 12,601 new confirmed and probable cases of the coronavirus, the 12th straight day with more than 10,000 cases. Over the past week, Illinois has been averaging 12,381 cases per day. In all, there have been 597,849 cases statewide since the pandemic began.
This story will be updated.
Earlier story ...
Illinois public health officials have reported 97 additional deaths Tuesday related to the coronavirus, and Pritzker prepared to join other Midwestern governors in a video conference to urge holiday revelers to take extreme precautions against transmission.
Pritzker was scheduled to join the other governors Tuesday afternoon to urge the public to be extra cautious if planning to gather with family or friends for holiday celebrations. He also joined with other Midwestern state executives in producing a social media video, “Mask Up,” to spread their message.
With all the other causes of death, we fight like hell to keep people alive.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) November 17, 2020
We required seatbelts in the car, offer flu shots at every corner clinic and doctor’s office, and do cancer research to someday put an end to this tragic disease.
We have to fight for this, too. pic.twitter.com/qLhW9bgDA5
The Illinois Department of Public Health recorded 12,601 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the pandemic, the 11th consecutive day new infections have topped 10,000.
Hospitalizations also continue to rise, to 5,887 Tuesday, a 24% increase from a week ago. The spike in the most seriously ill is seen in those needed breathing assistance from ventilators. Ventilators usage was at 545 Tuesday, a 37% increase in the past seven days.
Pritzker and his public health advisers continue to plead with the public to slow transmission of the highly contagious virus by staying home as much as possible, wearing coverings over nose and mouth when going outside, and staying at least 6 feet away from other people.
Pritzker was set to join governors Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Tim Walz of Minnesota and Tony Evers of Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon in the video conference.
The Associated Press and Chicago Tribune contributed to this report.
COVID-19 in the Midwest: Scenes from the resurgence
Brigitte Lamar, left, a registered nurse at the Community Health Care Center in Normal, Illinois, talks with pharmacy technician Ana Manriquez, as Manriquez fills prescriptions for the clinic's 1,300 patients, Thursday, Nov. 12. A walk-up dispensary window has been critical for meeting the needs of the clinic's patients during the pandemic.
Kristina Morris, left, receives her identification tag from Reditus Laboratories technician Caroline Chodak as Morris waited to be tested for COVID-19 at the Reditus Laboratories testing site in Bloomington, Illinois.
Melissa Reidy, R.N., one of 10 clinical coordinators at Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, Illinois, fitted a new pair of PPE glasses in her office, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. To the right are grocery bags filled with PPE worn by staff as they confront an increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Illinois.
More than 100 vehicles inched forward in line as people waited to be tested for COVID-19 at the Reditus Laboratories testing site at the Interstate Center in Bloomington, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020. Waits averaged about two hours as many people sought testing with the surge in cases sweeping across Illinois.
Melissa Reidy, clinical coordinator at Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, Illinois, said she's never seen the kind of strain on staff she's seeing now. To the right are bags of personal protective equipment worn by staff.
More than 100 vehicles waited in line as people waited to be tested for COVID-19 at the Reditus Laboratories testing site at the Interstate Center in Bloomington, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. Record numbers of people wanting to be tested is pushing the popular testing site to find new efficiencies as the pandemic sweeps across the Midwest.
More than 100 vehicles line up as people wait to be tested for the virus at a Reditus Laboratories testing site in Bloomington, Illinois.
More than 100 vehicles waited in line as people waited to be tested for COVID-19 at the Reditus Laboratories testing site at the Interstate Center in Bloomington, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. Waits averaged about two hours as many people sought testing with the surge in cases sweeping across Illinois.
More than 100 vehicles waited in line as people waited to be tested for COVID-19 at the Reditus Laboratories testing site at the Interstate Center in Bloomington, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. Waits averaged about two hours as many people sought testing with the surge in cases sweeping across Illinois.
Reditus Laboratories technicians register people at their testing site at the Interstate Center in Bloomington, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has begun to set up free mobile COVID-19 testing sites, like this one at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Carbondale, to supplement existing testing locations.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has begun to set up free mobile COVID-19 testing sites, like this one at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Carbondale, to supplement existing testing locations.
Tanya Andricks, CEO of Crossing Healthcare, speaks with employees in the call center at the main location in Decatur, Illinois.
Tanya Andricks, CEO of Crossing Healthcare, speaks with in employee Sarah Minix at the main location in Decatur, Illinois.
Winona, Minnesota, residents packed the COVID-19 testing site, within a reasonable distance, as they submitted saliva samples Thursday.
Residents at the Winona, Minnesota, testing site are spaced at least six feet from each other, meaning only two people were normally at a testing table at any given moment.
Medical staff attending to patients stricken with COVID-19 don protective equipment in a unit dedicated to treatment of the coronavirus at UW Health in Madison, Wis.
The heart rates, blood pressure levels and oxygen levels of COVID-19 patients are closely tracked in the COVID-19 unit at UW Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.
