Judge Rules Pritzker’s Stay-At-Home Order An Overreach
CHICAGO — A judge in southern Illinois ruled Monday that the Illinois governor’s stay-at-home order to stem the spread of the coronavirus exceeds his emergency authority and violates individual civil rights. Clay County Circuit Judge Michael McHaney sided with Republican Rep. Darren Bailey’s lawsuit seeking to undo Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s far-reaching executive order which has closed schools, shut down nonessential businesses, and limited movement by individuals because of the potentially deadly COVID-19. At his daily briefing on the state’s response to COVID-19, Pritzker reacted sternly, accusing Bailey, a Xenia resident, of being “blindly devoted to ideology and the pursuit of personal celebrity.” – Associated Press
Illinois COVID-19 Cases Top 45K
CHICAGO — The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced 1,980 new cases of COVID-19 Monday. That brings the state’s total to 45,883. The state saw 50 deaths in the last day, bringing total fatalities to 1,983. IDPH also noted six additional COVID-19 symptoms, announced by the CDC. Those include chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell. – Lecia Bushak, Illinois Newsroom
Monday’s COVID-19 Cases Include Family Members in Vermilion County
DANVILLE – Vermilion County health authorities say three COVID-19 cases reported Monday and a fourth reported Saturday all come from the same family. The Vermilion County Health Department says a preschooler and three residents in their 20s are related by family and/or marriage. Here’s the east-central Illinois county breakdown:
- Champaign: 109 cases, 6 deaths (Monday: 4 new cases and 1 additional death, woman in her 60s, reported)
- Douglas: 14 cases (Monday: 1 new case reported)
- Iroquois: 20 cases (Monday: 2 new cases reported)
- Macon: 107 cases, 11 deaths
- Vermilion: 17 cases, no deaths
– Jim Meadows, Illinois Newsroom
Nursing Home Workers Threaten Strike In Midst of Pandemic
CHICAGO — Workers at 40 Chicago-area nursing homes are threatening to strike over wages a day after Illinois officials announced a jump in deaths from the coronavirus of people who live or work at long-term care facilities. Members of the SEIU Healthcare of Illinois are negotiating with the Illinois Association of Healthcare Facilities to replace a contract that expires April 30. A May 8 strike date has been set. The nursing home association says operators have offered an 11% pay hike and other contract enhancements. – Associated Press