By  Jim Hagerty
Reporter

ROCKFORD – Although Vice President Mike Pence suggested that Easter gatherings be kept at no more than 10 people, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has another message for the people of Illinois.

“I would like people to stay  at home,” the governor said Friday during his daily press briefing. “It is the safest, best thing that they can do. Stay home. Celebrate at home. You can do so (with extended family) through telecommunications, videoconferencing–Zoom or Skype or some other method.”

Pritzker said he celebrated Passover this week with his family using Zoom.

“It was almost fun,” he joked. “You can connect with people that might not otherwise be able to get to you on a typical Passover or Easter, so this is an opportunity for you to experience it together. It’s kind of like being in the same room. If anyone saw the old TV show, ‘Hollywood  Squares,’ it was pretty much like ‘Hollywood Squares.’ You can see everybody on the same screen and talk to them all. It was quite good.”

Pritzker’s administration also announced 68 new COVID-19-related deaths Friday, including 47 people in Cook County. Those deaths include a man in his 20s, a woman in her 30s, a woman in her 50s, seven men in their 50s, three women in their 60s, five men in their 60s, four women in their 70s, 10 men in their 70s, three women in their 80s, six men in their 80s, four women in their  90s, and two men their 90s.

DuPage County’s deaths included a man in his 60s, three men in in their 70s, a woman in her 80s and a man in his 80s. Two men in their 70s have died in Kane County, while Kankakee reported the death of a man in his 50s.

Lake County’s deaths included a man in his 50s, a man in his 70s, a woman in her 90s, and a man in his 90s. Rock Island reported its first COVID death Friday, a woman in her 60s. In St. Clair County, a man in his 50s has died, along with seven people in Will County: a man and woman in their 60s, two men in their 70s, and a man and woman in their 90s.

Friday’s deaths did not include those of twoWinnebago County residents announced locally yesterday.

Fulton and Greene counties are now each reporting a positive case of  COVID-19. There are now 17,887 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease in 83 of Illinois’ 12 counties. The death toll is now 598.

“Everybody would like to get together for the holidays,” Pritzker added. “But the teachings from the Bible tell you that it is our obligation to save a life if we have the opportunity to. Staying home is saving a life, not just your own but somebody else’s.”

Featured image: BlueRoomStream