CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Yes, Illinois will be under a temporary "stay at home" order beginning Saturday to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. No, it doesn't mean healthy residents can't venture out for what are considered "essential" actitivies.
Gov. JB Pritkzer on Friday announced that the state will essentially be on the type of restricitons that California imposed earlier this week, through April 7. But like California, the Illinois directive will allow people to go grocery-shopping and seek medical care, if necessary. The idea, Pritzker said, is to drastically cut back on the amount of time people spend in crowds so that the number of new COVID-19 cases will flatten and decrease. The governor has said it's important that Illinois hospitals and its staff aren't overwhelmed.
The village of Oak Park has already issued a similar directive to its residents.
Now, all Illinois residents who aren't working in essential jobs are ordered to stay at home, with exceptions. Among them:
--Going grocery shopping
--Filling up your vehicle at the gas station
--Picking up prescriptions at pharmacies
--Receiving meals from restaurants, which are only offering the "to go" option right now
--Seeking medical attention at a clinic or hospital
--Exercising, such as jogging, while keeping social distance from others, and walking dogs.
Illinois has previously taken steps to reduce the circumstances in which people gather. Public and private K-12 schools are currently closed. Restaurants and meal-serving taverns cannot serve diners on premises but may sell food for pickup or delivery.
