On April 23, 2020, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced he will be extending the state stay-at-home order through May 31, 2020. While the new executive order has not yet been published as of the date of this blog’s publication, a press release issued by the governor’s office previews modifications to the order, including:

• A requirement that Illinois residents wear face coverings or masks in public outdoor spaces where six-foot distancing cannot be maintained and in public indoor spaces;
• A requirement that essential businesses provide face coverings to all employees who cannot maintain six feet of social distancing and follow new requirements to maximize social distancing;
• A provision allowing nonessential retail stores to fulfill telephone and online orders through pickup outside the store or delivery;
• A phased reopening of state parks;
• The addition of garden centers, greenhouses, and nurseries to the list of essential businesses; and
• A provision allowing schools to establish procedures for pickup of necessary supplies and student belongings.

The new order will go into effect on May 1, 2020. This blog will be updated with additional details of the final order once it is published.