Barb Smiley News Today

A year ago, most of us had never heard of a coronavirus. After the first of the year, we began hearing about a deadly novel coronavirus in China. By March, effects of the new virus had reached Southern Illinois as Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a disaster declaration and began issuing executive orders in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19. The disaster declaration for Illinois was issued March 9. Executive orders closed restaurants and bars to indoor dining on March 16. Schools closed March 17...