Dr. Michael Wahl, medical director of the Health and Hospital Association, testified that without the stay-at-home order, the financial cost and public burden of COVID-19 would have been “catastrophic.”

And the impact of lifting the stay-at-home order, according to the filing, “cannot be overstated: There will be a resurgence of the virus that will have devastating, widespread, and long-lasting effects” once Illinois’ hospitals are overrun with cases.

Hospitals, assisted living facilities and other health care centers would be unable to restock gowns, gloves, masks and other personal protective gear “at a time when the ability to rapidly replenish such supplies is unavailable,” according to the court filing.

COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS: Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday, May 4, noted that health department data shows the state is making progress on hospitalizations and ventilator use. The number of people hospitalized in Illinois with COVID-19 peaked at 5,036 on April 28, according to IDPH data, and dipped to 4,493 on Monday – the lowest total since April 18.

Additionally, the percentage of intensive care unit beds occupied by COVID-19 patients has decreased from 40 percent on April 19 to 33 percent on Monday. That is due in large part to an increase of more than 500 available beds during that span, as the COVID-19 ICU patients on April 19 numbered 1,239 as opposed to 1,232 Monday. The highest ICU hospitalization number thus far was 1,290 on April 28.