Despite record case counts, Pritzker says he’s not considering another statewide stay-at-home order, at the moment

Despite record high daily COVID-19 case counts in recent days, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday said he’s not considering issuing another stay-at-home order — at the moment, anyway.

“We’re not currently looking at a stay-at-home order, I mean, obviously that’s something that lurks in the background,” Pritzker said at a Monday afternoon news conference. “If we believe these tiered mitigations ultimately are ineffective, if people choose not to wear masks and if the spread of the virus continues to go unabated, in a kind of community spread, we would obviously have to consider, you know, more significant mitigations.”

He didn’t provide specific numbers on what might be the threshold that triggers such a drastic step.

“The virus is spreading, and every region of the state is suffering from its insidious, invisible contagion,” he said.

State public health officials announced Monday 6,222 people tested positive for COVID-19 and 20 people have died as the state grapples with a second surge of the deadly virus.

The new cases bring the state’s total case count to 423,502. There have been 9,810 deaths in Illinois.

The preliminary seven-day statewide case positivity rate is 8.1%.

As of Sunday night, 3,371 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of that number, 722 patients were in intensive care and 298 patients were on ventilators.

The new cases were confirmed through 68,118 tests.

“Every region is going the wrong direction. Rural areas are being most terribly affected right now,” Pritzker said.

The state shattered previous daily records on Saturday, when health officials reported 7,899 people tested positive for the virus and there were an additional 46 deaths.

October’s case count surpassed all cases logged in April and May combined.

Pritzker announced Sunday the west-central area of the state, which includes Rock Island, Knox and Kendall counties, will be brought under virus mitigation measures starting Wednesday.

That will mean all 11 of the state’s regions will be operating under Pritzker’s COVID-19 restrictions, which includes bans on indoor services at bars and restaurants.

Also Monday, the city shut down three establishments and issued citations for having large, illegal commercial gatherings that were significantly over capacity and in violation of COVID-19 regulations. No one wore masks or practiced social distancing at the gatherings.

At a gathering in McKinley Park at the Chicago Sports Complex, 2600 W. 35th St., city investigators found more than 600 attendees.

At a party in the Belmont Central neighborhood at DDC Studios, 6107 W. Diversey Ave., city officials encountered about 200 attendees.

A party at 2147 S. Lumber St., near Chinatown, hosted approximately 75 attendees.

Additionally, the city got wind of a party that was advertised online for Halloween night and expected 500 people at 1900 N. Austin Ave. It never happened.