Pritzker Announces New COVID-19 Restrictions For Illinois

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced new COVID-19 restrictions that include capping crowds in retail stores and temporarily closing museums and casinos. The latest rules, which take effect Friday, come as infections and hospitalizations continue to soar. Illinois on Tuesday logged over 12,000 new cases and 97 additional deaths. Earlier Tuesday, Pritzker joined other Midwestern governors in a video conference urging extra caution for people planning holiday gatherings among family or friends. State leaders and health experts have agonized for weeks over the potential for explosive virus spread from indoor celebrations among guests from different households. Under the newly announced restrictions, retail stores must lower customer capacity to 25% from the current 50%, though grocery stores will be excluded and can operate at 50% capacity. Gyms will also be capped at 25% and indoor classes will no longer be allowed. Pritzker stopped short of a stay-at-home order, calling it a last resort.