CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Gov. Pritzker is not letting pressure from the White House to reopen cloud his judgment on when he feels it's safe to lift the shelter-in-place order across Illinois.
President Trump's push to "liberate" three Democratic-led states was followed by protests against stay-at-home orders organized by small-government groups and Trump supporters Saturday. They staged demonstrations in several cities such as Austin, Texas; Concord, New Hampshire; and Indianapolis, Indiana.
But unlike some governors, Pritzker said he doesn't feel the heat and will reopen Illinois when the science and data say it's safe to do so.
"I don't feel any heat," Pritzker said at his Saturday press briefing on the coronavirus. "I am going to do what is best for my people."
He said he will continue to measure the decision against the science, adding that Illinois has not yet seen its cases peak. The state saw its second-highest daily case spike to date, with 1,585 new cases and 125 deaths, also a spike. There are now 29,160 cases in Illinois and 1,259 deaths, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Pritzker said he understands the frustration people are feeling about the closures, especially as nice weather hits for spring. But he is still not budging on opening the lakefront or adjacent public parks.
"I want people to go out and enjoy their lives," but it's too soon to open outdoor public spaces.
Meanwhile, Florida reopened its beaches and Texas stores will soon begin selling merchandise with curbside service. Hospitals there will resume nonessential surgeries.
Trump, whose administration waited months to bolster stockpiles of key medical supplies and equipment, appeared to back protesters.
"LIBERATE MINNESOTA!" "LIBERATE MICHIGAN!" "LIBERATE VIRGINIA, " Trump said in a tweet-storm in which he also lashed out at New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, for criticizing the federal response. Cuomo "should spend more time 'doing' and less time 'complaining,'" the president said.
At his Saturday briefing with reporters, Cuomo cited more progress. The daily increase in deaths in New York state fell below 550 for the first time in more than two weeks as hospitalizations continued to decline.
One thing Pritzker said he does agree with Trump on is using the reduction scale model to determine opening. Looking at a 14-day consecutive reduction in cases "could lead us to make decisions," the governor said.
The AP contributed to this report.
