On a day Illinois reported 50 new deaths, bringing the statewide toll to 1,983, Pritzker called Bailey’s suit “an insult to all Illinoisans who have been lost during this COVID-19 crisis, and it’s a danger to millions of people who may get ill because of his recklessness. At best, no one is better off because of this ruling, and at worst people’s health and safety will suffer tremendously.”

Pritzker said Attorney General Kwame Raoul was already at work on a court stay preserving the order. He urged Illinoisans to continue to follow the guidelines for social distancing and limiting contact with others. “This ruling has put the people of Illinois at risk,” he said. Calling the suit and the ruling “insulting” and “dangerous,” Pritzker said, “That is the danger Darren Bailey has put the state in.”

Earlier in the briefing, Pritzker emphasized that COVID-19 is a statewide concern, despite the large number of cases in Chicago and suburban Cook County. He cited how Jasper County outside Effingham and Randolph County south of St. Louis on the Mississippi River were both among the top five statewide in infections per capita, while Jasper and Monroe County, just north of Randolph, were the top two counties in COVID-19 deaths per capita.

“That means you’re more likely to die of COVID-19 if you live in either of those counties than if you live in Chicago or in Cook County,” Pritzker pointed out. “No matter where you live, we want you to be healthy and safe.”

“There are still people out there who are not taking this pandemic seriously,” said Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. She reported 1,980 new COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing the state total to 45,883. The state again topped Pritzker’s goal of 10,000 tests a day, with 12,676.

Ezike stressed new COVID-19 symptoms recently adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to the previous fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, the CDC warned of new symptoms including chills, repeated shaking from chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and the loss of taste or smell.