CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The smoke cleared a little Tuesday, a day after a downstate Republican state lawmaker won a round in court against Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's stay-at-home order.
Pritzker said his administration has filed an appeal to the temporary restraining order granted by a Clay County judge who says Rep. Darren Bailey of Xenia no longer has to observe the governor's mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bailey had filed a lawsuit last week, arguing, among other things, Pritzker exceeded his authority by issuing a series of shelter-in-place orders.
Pritzker, a Democrat, stressed Tuesday that the judge's ruling is "limited" because it only applies to Bailey. But it does potentially open the door to similar legal challenges, which could threaten the social-distancing strategy his administration has put in place to blunt the spread of the virus. Indeed, a second lawsuit reportedly was expected to be filed Tuesday in Northern Illinois following Bailey's lead.
"The stay-at-home order in Illinois is still very much in effect," Pritzker said at his latest media briefing about the novel coronavirus. "The danger has not passed yet, no matter whether you live in Little Egypt or in Freeport or in Quincy or in Chicago."
The governor last week announced plans to extend his stay-at-home order from its current end date of April 30 for another 30 days, though the end of May. The revised order will ease some restrictions, allowing more business and recreational sectors to reopen, with safeguards. Generally, residents are expected to stay home but may venture out for "essential" reasons, such as buying groceries or going to the gas station; people also may walk or exercise outdoors as long as they avoid congregating. Beginning Friday, Illinoisans are obligated to wear masks or face coverings in circumstances outside their homes where it's impossible to keep 6 feet away from others.
The Illinois Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported the biggest daily jump in the number of COVID-19-related deaths — 144. That takes the number of fatalities statewide to 2,125 people.
Meantime, the state reported 2,219 cases of coronavirus, taking the statewide total to 48,102.
