Illinois is passing an emergency rule making it a Class A misdemeanor for firms including bars, restaurants, barbershops and gyms to reopen after several businesses defied the state’s lockdown measures, the New York Times reports.
Zoom in: Under the new rule, business openers could face up to one year in jail and a maximum $2,500 fine, with other enforcement tools to be enacted, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office told the NYT Sunday.
By the numbers: More than 89,500 people have died from the virus and over 1.4 million have tested positive in the U.S. More than 272,200 Americans have recovered and over 11.4 million tests have been conducted.
- In two months alone, more than 36 million people have filed jobless claims. Goldman Sachs estimates the unemployment rate will hit 25%, matching the peak level of joblessness during the Great Depression.
What’s happening: President Trump is leaning toward preserving his total funding cut to the World Health Organization after freezing funds pending a review into the agency’s pandemic response last month.
- States need to figure outhow to hold safe elections by this fall, when the virus will still be spreading. And state governments are facing budget shortfalls that threaten layoffs for public sector employees.
- The CDC has posted six new one-page tools that advise businesses, restaurants and bars, schools, camps, child care centers and mass transit systems on how to safely reopen during the coronavirus pandemic.
- The first at-home swab kit that can be used with multiple coronavirus tests has received emergency authorization from the FDA.
- House Democrats’ $3 trillion coronavirus rescue package passed on Friday, which includes funding for states, although it is expected to die in the Senate.
- NFLfacilities can reopen on Tuesday with some restrictions, and the Grand Canyon began granting increased recreational access to select areas Friday.
- Thirteen sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the coronavirus for a second time.
- April retail sales dropped a record 16.4%, several points worse than anticipated. The findings come a day after government data recorded 36 million people filed jobless claims in two months.
- America’s K-12is debating “Saturday school” and “summer school” options for students, while imposing a huge burden on teachers who will be on the front lines of getting kids back up to speed in the fall.
Lockdown measures: States that have announced they’re fully reopening include Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado,Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Vermont and New Hampshire.
- Lockdown measures due to expire this week:Minnesota, Kentucky, Connecticut and Massachusetts
- Regional reopenings announced: Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, Florida,Nebraska, New Mexico, California, Oregon and Washington.
- Strict measures: Michigan’sstay-at-home order isn’t due to expire until May 28, though manufacturers were allowed to return to work May 11.
- NewJerseyis allowing non-essential retail businesses and beaches to reopen Monday and charted fishing and boat rentals can resume Sunday, but the stay-at-home order will remain in place until further notice.
- Illinois is on track to meet requirements lifted to ease restrictions when the state’s shelter-in-place order is due to expire on May 31, per the Daily Herald. The state has already reopened select parks.
Go deeper…In photos: Life in the era of coronavirus across the U.S.
Editor’s note: The graphic includes “probable deaths” that New York City began reporting on April 14. This article has been updated with new details throughout. Check back for the latest.
