CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday offered some optimistic remarks, saying that the state's social-distancing efforts seem to be taming the curve of COVID-19 cases.
He stressed that the number of cases continues to grow -- on an "upward trajectory" -- but not at a rate as fast as officials feared.
"Our rate of rise is looking less and less exponential. That indicates to us that we are in fact bending the curve," Pritzker said at his daily media briefing on novel coronavirus in Illinois. "There is even some evidence we may be moving toward a flatter curve, but we need to be watching the data on a daily basis."
His remarks mirrored comments by Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the head of the Illinois Department of Public Health, who agrees the governor's "stay-at-home" order and social-distancing mandates appear to be paying off.
"We are headed in the right directions because of the tremendous efforts of you," she said.
Over the past day, the state's number of novel coronavirus cases grew by 1,344 cases, including 66 new deaths, IDPH reported. The total number of coronavirus cases in Illinois has risen to 16,422, including 528 deaths, the health agency said.
The day before, Illinois reported its biggest daily spike in the number of cases over a 24-hour period: 1,529, including 82 deaths.
The Illinois "stay at home" order runs through April 30 currently. Only "essential" businesses such as supermarkets are allowed to operate in traditional brick-and-mortar settings. Many businesses such as restaurants have temporarily shuttered, though some restaurants still have pickup and delivery. But the state economy is in upheaval, with scores of newly unemployed people seeking benefits and other assistance.
Pritzker said his administration is looking ahead to April 30 to determine whether the stay-at-home order will be lifted and under what types of restrictions, to avoid a COVID-19 resurgence.
He said barring a vaccine, large summer events are not a good idea.
"I would not risk having large groups of people gathering together anywhere," Pritkzer said.
