Gov. Pritzker announced he will extend his disaster declaration through the end of April, effectively extending all school building closures, dine-in closures and the stay-at-home order. Focusing on the effect on schools, the governor clarified that:

• schools will transition from "act of God" days to "remote learning days."
• no school days will need to be made up.
• each school district will work with ISBE to create remote learning plans to ensure all ESL students and students with disabilities receive instructional materials and can communicate with their teachers.

Mayor Lightfoot indicated Chicago's specific measures will also remain in place.

IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike reported an additional 937 confirmed cases of COVID-19, for a total of 5,994 confirmed cases, and an additional 26 deaths, bringing the total death toll in Illinois to 99

Pritzker also spoke about the measures IDOC is taking to protect inmates and staff, reporting the death of a prisoner at Stateville. He said efforts have been made to release low-level offenders, saying special care is taken to ensure none with histories of violence and in particular domestic violence are among those released. He said the suspension of outsider visitors, additional cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment and social distancing measures that include opening up unused wings of correctional facilities are all being employed in Illinois' prison system. He said shipments of PPE have been made available to prisons, including Stateville.

Pritzker called for criminal justice reform in the wake of the pandemic, and made clear the state will take all steps necessary to safeguard the health of inmates.

"An incarcerated person is a person. My administration will not be in the business of claiming one life is worth more than another," he said.

Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea spoke briefly to call on the president to invoke the Defense Production Act to help provide essential workers with protective equipment as they continue risking their health to go to work every day.

Asked about whether he supports recent worker strikes and walkouts, Pritzker said he supports organized labor and collective bargaining rights.

Asked about efforts to deputize the nearly graduated among medical students and nursing students to get them on the front lines faster, he said his legal experts are working with IDFPR to figure out how to legally issue temporary licenses.

Pritzker was asked about advocates calling on him to overturn the state ban on rent control. He responded by reminding everyone that’s a state law and he cannot unilaterally set aside state laws. For now, the statewide ban on evictions has been extended and his administration is offering assistance and protection if nurses or other health care workers face housing insecurity from landlords not wanting to rent to them.