Another 82 people lost their lives to the COVID-19 outbreak over the past 24 hours. The total deaths is 462 since the outbreak began.

The total number of positive cases stands at 15,078. That’s an increase of 1,529.

For the second day in a row the state reported the highest number of deaths to date. However, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said the rate of increase is less. The state is not seeing the exponential growth it had previously.

Gov. Pritzker said the state has come up short of his goal to process 10,000 tests each day. He said lab equipment purchased to expand capacity is not yet producing the volume or accuracy needed to meet the goal and are therefore not yet part of the state’s testing regimen.

 “We will not sacrifice accuracy for sake of speed,” he said. The state is running more than 6,000 tests per day and is turning to universities and other scientific facilities to make our own material needed for the tests as the outside supply chain is in “disarray.”

Dr. Ezike acknowledged Holy Week and the desire to observe it, but strongly cautioned Illinoisans to remain at home.

"We don't want to hurt the people we intend to commune with," she said, imploring people to continue social distancing.

Illinois National Guard Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Richard Neely, said 575 members of the national guard have been deployed in roles ranging from testing to the construction of the state's special field hospitals and said a special delivery of pressurized tents from Oregon today will be among the ways the military is supporting the COVID-19 response effort.

The Pritzker administration also announced expanded use of technology for notarization.

From the governor’s press release:

“In order to further eliminate barriers that hinder virtual or remote real estate closings and all related financial transactions during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor's Office, the Secretary of State's Office, and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation have expanded how real-time electronic technologies may be utilized. Remote notarization can be used for the duration of Governor Pritzker's stay at home order which is in effect until April 30th.”