Stay-At-Home Order For Illinois ‘Modified’ And Extended Until May 30

Governor J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday that he is extending the stay-at-home order for Illinois through May 30th.

According to our news partner Local 4 News, the ‘modified’ stay-at-home order, effective May 1st, will require residents to wear a face-covering or a mask in public when a six-foot social distance can't be maintained. Face-coverings will also be required in public indoor spaces, such as grocery stores. Residents over the age of two years old who can medically tolerate a face-covering or a mask, is required to follow the measure.

Gov. Pritzker also announced that essential businesses and manufactures are required to provide face coverings to all the employees who also are not able to maintain six-feet of social distancing. Essential businesses and manufactures must also follow new requirements that maximize social distancing. Those requirements include limiting occupancy for essential businesses, staggering shifts and operating only essential lines for manufacturers.

There will be some re-openings taking place May 1st. State parks will begin a phased re-opening at the beginning of May under guidance from the Department of Natural Resources. Anyone wanting to fish or boat will be allowed to do so but only in groups of no more than two people. Golf will be permitted once again under very strict safety guidelines provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and when making sure that social distancing is followed.

There are new businesses added to the essential businesses list. Those re-opening May 1st include greenhouses, garden centers and nurseries. All non-essential retail stores will be allowed to re-open but operate outside the store and may only have customers claim their items through pick up and delivery.

Some elective surgeries will be allowed again. Surgical centers and hospitals will be allowed to operate certain non-life-threatening elective surgeries under the guidance of the IDPH.

Finally, schools will be allowed to start instituting procedures for pick-up of necessary supplies or student belongings. Move-outs of dorms at colleges must follow public health guidelines, including social distancing. K-12 schools are closed for the remainder for the year, which was announced last week.