Illinois bars, restaurants closed for dine-in service in Illinois since Monday, March 16, 2020

“The time for persuasion and public appeals is over. The time for action is here. This is not a joke. No one is immune to this, and you have an obligation to act in the best interests of all the people of this state.”

Joining Pritzker at the Thompson Center was Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who acknowledged what the closure would mean for a city that typically revels in its St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. The holiday falls on Tuesday — the first day establishments will be closed.

The governor on Saturday tweeted that the crowds and lines at O’Hare were “unacceptable & need to be addressed immediately.” He tagged @realDonaldTrump and Vice President Mike Pence, “since this is the only communication medium you pay attention to — you need to do something NOW.”