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. On March 21, we were under an order to stay home that closed all but essential businesses, and that was just the beginning.