UPDATED 4:45 p.m. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- The Illinois General Assembly has canceled scheduled legislative sessions next week to limit the possibility of spreading COVID-19 among large groups.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker confirmed the canceled Springfield meeting days in a Chicago news conference Wednesday during which he announced the number of the flu-like illnesses in Illinois has risen to 25.
Earlier Tuesday, Chicago officials and organizers announced that this weekend's St. Patrick's Day celebration has been canceled.
Pritzker indicated he's also begun discussions with Major League Baseball, whose March 26 opening day is the earliest ever.
(WSIL) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health announced six new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, bringing the state's total to 25.
Five of the new cases are in Chicago; one case is in Lake County.
Health officials are looking into the individuals' travel histories and if there was any contact with an existing COVID-19 case.
“More cases in more places in Illinois means we are seeing growing transmission of the virus in the community,� said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Today the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. We will see additional cases in Illinois and I urge people to take steps now to reduce the impact this will have on their daily lives.�
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