Pritzker says models predict coronavirus cases to peak in mid-May in Illinois

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday models show that coronavirus cases in Illinois will peak in mid-May, in an interview broadcasted live on The Washington Post's Facebook Page.

"We have not peaked," Pritzker said.

Pritzker said people have "really been abiding" by the state's stay-at-home order, which went into effect in March, for the most part.

"The result of that has been the pushing out of what had been anticipated to be a peaking in the middle or near the end of April," he said. "So it's been pushed out now, according to the models, to maybe mid-May, but at a lower level."

While the state inches toward that date, people have been staying indoors, staying at home, wearing masks outside the home, making sure they're washing their hands, and other things officials have urged residents to do, Pritzker said.

"The result is we've had many fewer deaths than anticipated, our hospitalization rate is somewhat stable, climbing a little bit but somewhat stabilizing, and of course our ventilator needs have gone down," he added.