Gov. Pritzker announced Thursday he will extend the Stay at Home Order through May 31, with some modifications that will include mandatory wearing of masks in certain settings.

Opening with an explanation of how the state has considered pandemic modeling, the governor said ongoing social distancing measures have been effective in buying the state time to increase its hospital capacity, but that the cessation of COVID-19 countermeasures would, in a matter of weeks, lead to thousands of deaths per day and a hospital system forced to make "dark choices about who lives and who dies."

"We are in possibly the most difficult part of this journey," Pritzker said. "I know how badly we all want our normal lives back. If I could make that happen right now, I would. This is the part we need to dig in and understand the sacrifices we've made to avoid a worst-case scenario are working."

Pritzker invited scientists who have worked on the state's modeling to explain it and to speak more on why the Stay at Home Order must continue.

"I urge you to take this seriously and stay home," said Toyin Adeyemi, one of the doctors who spoke on the state's modeling. "This virus is brutal."

The governor laid out some modifications to the Stay at Home Order that will take effect May 1, including:

• Surgical centers and hospitals may begin to schedule certain elective surgeries as long as social distancing, patient COVID-19 testing, and considerations for hospital capacity are enacted.
• Greenhouses and garden centers may remain open with specific social distancing in place.
• A phased reopening of some state parks for activities such as hiking, fishing and boating with no more than two people and social distancing maintained in all activities, will be put in place.
• Non-essential shops can arrange to be open with curb-side pickup and other safety measures.
• Starting May 1, any individual over the age of 2 who is able to tolerate a face covering will be required to wear one in settings where they cannot maintain a six-foot distance from people.
• Other places, such as factories, can reopen with proper social distancing and occupancy caps put in place, which will be specifically laid out by the order.

IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike reported 1,826 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the state's total to 36,934 cases, and 123 additional deaths, bringing the state's death toll to 1,688.