Pritzker: 'We Have Bent The Curve'

ACROSS ILLINOIS — May 1 marked the first day some requirements in the state's stay-at-home order have been lifted and Gov. J.B. Pritzker says "we have bent the curve." Many reporters at Pritzker's daily briefing Friday afternoon pushed Pritzker to address why more is not opening up or why portions of the state, in particular downstate where not as many cases are being reported or hospital beds are being used, cannot see even looser guidelines and start returning to business as usual.

May 1 also marked the highest one-day jump in coronavirus cases to date in Illinois — with 3,317 more people testing positive over 24 hours — and another day where the state saw more than 100 deaths. To date, 56,065 people have tested positive for the virus in Illinois and 2,457 have died, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

• Illinois Coronavirus Update May 1: 56,065 Cases; 2,457 Deaths

While Pritzker said the state has bent the curve, which means efforts like social distancing have prevented a huge spike in cases that could overwhelm area hospitals, "we are not past our peak."

Reporters pressed Pritzker on whether protesters, including those outside the Thompson Center Friday who demanded Pritzker lift his coronavirus restrictions and reopen the state's economy, could be right. He countered that there are a few hundred people protesting and millions who have been abiding by the rules and staying home.

"They are the ones who should be commended," he said.

• Protesters Rally Against Illinois Coronavirus Stay-At-Home Order Don't miss updates about precautions in the Chicago area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

Efforts by the general population to adhere to social distancing guidelines are working. he said. The number of deaths in Illinois are much lower than predicted and there are hospital and ICU beds and ventilators available, Pritzker added during Friday's briefing.

"It's not an accident and it's not like this virus has gone away," Pritzker said. "It's because people are adhering to the norms we put out there."

"Guess what happens when we get rid of those mitigation efforts," he said.

But he did say that if a region saw a low number of patients in its intensive care unit and low ventilator use as well as "a down slide" in cases over an extended period of time, such as 14 days, they may see more options for reopening, hinting at the possibility of staggered re-opening in certain sections of the state.

And he added that such regions were taken into consideration during Friday's restriction lift. For example, elective surgeries are now being performed — something that will be much more likely to happen downstate, where there is more medical availability, than, for example, in Cook County. Golf courses have also re-opened under strict guidelines — and Pritzker said reopening downstate will be easier.

Most of the state's state parks, which have reopened to fishing and boating, are in the southern portion of Illinois, he said.

Could large summer events be cancelled?

Early Friday, Ravinia officials announced it would cancel its summer concert series. Since the state's current executive order remains in place through May 29, it's unclear if other large summer events will have to be cancelled and Pritzker said he's leaving those decisions as of this point up to festival organizers.

• Ravinia Festival Cancels 2020 Season Due To Coronavirus

"I cannot tell you what July or August will look like yet," he said.

Under the current order, gatherings of 10 or more people are prohibited. In addition, the order requires those venturing out for essential services, and over the age of 2 years old, to wear a face covering anytime they are unable to maintain six feet from others.

The number of new cases has jumped significantly in the past week — in part, because more tests have become available. On Friday, Pritzker announced there are currently 177 public testing sites available across the state.