IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike reported488 new confirmed casesof COVID-19 for atotal of 3,026 confirmed cases in Illinois. She reported an additionaleight deaths, bringing thetotal death toll to34. There are currently confirmed cases in 40 Illinois counties.

Gov. Pritzker issued an urgent call to all licensed medical personnel to register with the state in order to make themselves available to respond to the state's need for more health care workers in the fight against COVID-19,from doctors and nurses to physician's assistants, podiatrists, dentists and any other support personnel with medical skills. He asked them to register at: www.Illinoishelps.net.

The goal is to have a database of available medical professionals the state can activate if a hospital gets overwhelmed or to provide staffing if the state builds out added capacity.

Pritzker and DHS Secretary Grace Hou spoke about other human services measures Illinois is taking, including:

• Additional stipends for child care providers, in part to help them impose social distancing guidelines and ensure availability for those essential workers with children who need child care.
• An extension on and expansion to SNAP benefits.
• A new online system that will allow SNAP applicants to make their applications online at dhs.illinois.gov.
• Increased assistance to agencies that help the homeless.

Pritzker also urged Illinoisans who are experiencing or are in fear of domestic violence to call the state's hotline at1-877-863-6338.

The governor took a moment to again call out comments from the president minimizing the need for medical equipment.

"To say these comments are counterproductive is an understatement. At worst, the comments are deadly," Pritzker said.

He reminded the media that weeks ago the Vice President said millions of tests were on their way. Weeks later, it still hasn’t happened and there remains a national testing shortage. “The truth is there isn’t very much testing going on across the country.”

Pritzker urged the public to remain vigilant and honor the stay-at-home order despite warming weather. He said people can go outside, but be smart about it. “People need to be attentive. … If you see a lot of people there, don’t go there.”

The governor was asked when he would like the General Assembly to act on Chicago casino legislation. He responded that we’ll get to other issues when we get past this national pandemic. “We’re in the midst of the biggest crisis, at least in my lifetime.”

Asked about high school and college seniors, the governor said ISBE and IBHE are working to make sure students get their degrees.