Gov. Pritzker’s daily briefing on the ongoing response efforts to COVID-19 included that all Illinois K-12 schools, public and private, will close beginning Tuesday, March 17, until March 30.

Pritzker again criticized the federal government’s slow response, saying “Make no mistake, we have long since passed the moment when we thought we could count on the federal government to lead in this unprecedented situation.”

“Let me be clear: No school district will see their school funding cut as a result of this public health crisis,” the governor added.

Other actions by the administration:

• ISBE is working to provide meals twice daily to qualifying students.
• IDES rules have been changed to allow workers unemployed due to COVID-19 to apply for unemployment.
• Attorney General will work to impose a moratorium on utilities shut-offs in the immediate term.
• State Superintendent Carmen Ayala said ISBE has asked that an administrator stay on site during school hours in case children experiencing homelessness need a safe place to go.

Dr. Ngozi Ezike of IDPH announced 14 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the total cases to more than 40. One additional case was confirmed in Lake County, with the others in Chicago and Cook County.

Pritzker indicated his briefings will continue, daily, over the weekend.

IDPH’s daily accounting of cases is now at 46 after 14 new cases confirmed.