(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Here are latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak in Illinois on Saturday, April 18, 2020:
- Illinois K-12 schools will remain closed to on-site instruction for the rest of academic year, Gov. JB Pritzker said Friday, following other states in doing so. He also gave some to high school seniors who saw their last year of high school get wiped away: "I am proud of you." READ MORE HERE.
- Pritzker said he's still considering whether to extend the Illinois stay-at-home order, but that decision may not come for several days as he continues to look at data and talk with experts. Pritzker said driving his decision for Illinois will be the state's capacity to test people for the novel coronavirus; its ability to trace people who come in contact with the infected; and how effectively hospitals can handle seriously ill patients as April 16 saw the biggest case rise of the state so far. MORE DETAILS.
- NEW NUMBERS: The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,842 new cases Friday, including 62 new deaths. That takes the state's overall known total to 27,575 cases, including 1,134 deaths. It was Illinois' largest daily jump in the number of COVID-19-related deaths. SEE LATEST NUMBERS.
- Lightfoot on Friday said sometime after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted the city hopefully will be able to properly pay tribute to fallen public servants. She spoke after officials announced a third Chicago police officer had died from complications of the virus. READ MORE HERE.
- Mayor of Aurora Richard Irvin recovered from his own ordeal with COVID-19 and said Friday his city has several hurdles to overcome when the coronavirus pandemic subsides. While big companies will mostly get through the coronavirus shutdown intact, he said several small businesses may not recover. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- The mayor of Joliet is calling for a state investigation into the COVID-related deaths of nearly two dozen residents of a nursing home in the southwest suburb. READ MORE HERE.
- A third officer of Chicago Police Department has died of the coronavirus, the department announced Friday. READ MORE HERE.
- Gov. Tony Evers has extended Wisconsin's stay-at-home order for another month. The extension issued Thursday keeps nonessential businesses closed until May 26 to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Schools will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year. MORE DETAILS HERE.