Pritzker’s order comes on the heels of lawsuits filed last week seeking the release of thousands of Illinois prisoners amid the alarming spread of the coronavirus.

“Take note that this is not as simple as placing an order and having it arrive at your doorstep a few days later,” he said. “There’s a worldwide shortage that has us racing the clock and battling against other states and the federal government.

Libertarians and Greens have from March 24 until June 22 to gather enough signatures — in person with a canvasser watching — to qualify for inclusion on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

“I think a lot of it is going to depend upon the federal government,” Pritzker said. “There’s just no one else that can step in to help our state finances the way the federal government can.”

For Illinois, these projections would mean the state’s economy would shrink by between $54 billion and $113 billion, however the contraction could be much larger if the crisis persists beyond June.

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is advising all state vendors that there will likely be payment delays in April, in part because the tax filing deadline for both state and federal taxes has been pushed back to July 15.

Peoria Police Chief Loren Marion said it was important people obey the stay-at-home order and police were more interested in getting people to follow the rules than issuing fines for breaking them. “We will take enforcement action if necessary.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has already said essential workers in Illinois don’t need any documentation.

“You have the governor starting off saying they are going to fix the system and address these issues, and now you have the governor changing his tune and blaming previous administrations for a system that is not working.”

Comment: Every parent in Illinois should read this because it is all too common in our schools, as this Illinois mother describes.

Illinois will pick up all but $1 of the tab for health care workers, grocery clerks, and other essential workers who place their children in state-licensed child care centers or homes. Also, the state will boost reimbursements rates by 30 percent for the qualifying centers and homes that operate under emergency waivers during the coronavirus pandemic.