CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he’s running out of options in dealing with surging coronavirus beyond issuing another stay-at-home order.
"We're running out of time, and we're running out of options. Our growth in new cases is now exponential. We are seeing current numbers and future projections worse than what we saw in the spring,” Pritzker said Thursday at his latest COVID-19 briefing.
All regions of the state are reporting double-digit positivity rates for coronavirus tests, and state health officials reported 12,702 new cases, including 43 deaths. The rapid infection rates are threatening to overwhelm hospitals and ICUs, officials said.
Pritzker earlier this year issued a stay-at-home mandate that effectively shut down much of the state’s economy. He said he can’t rule out a return to such a measure if leaders across the state do not help enforce current safeguards.
“With every fiber of my being I do not want us to get there, but right now that seems where we are headed,” Pritzker said.
The Pritzker Administration offered its grimmest assessment in months as the Illinois Department of Public Health has issued a three-week "advisory" asking residents to work from home, if possible, and limit their travel outside their homes to essential activities. These include grocery shopping and getting tested for coronavirus.
Earlier Thursday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued a stay-at-home advisory, effective Monday.
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