Illinois Has Most Coronavirus Restrictions In Country: Study

ILLINOIS — A new report shows Illinois has implemented the most-restrictive measures of any state in the country to combat the coronavirus, according to the personal finance website WalletHub, less than two weeks after a previous list ranked Illinois as the No. 4 "most strict" spot.

This comes as state health officials on Monday announced 2,294 new cases of the coronavirus and 59 additional deaths, bringing the statewide total to 96,485 confirmed cases and 4,234 known deaths.

In addition, the state's seven-day positivity rate is 14 percent and declining, officials said. According to the Johns Hopkins University, a positivity rate of less than 12 percent is a good measure of whether enough tests are being conducted in a given state.

Illinois Coronavirus Update May 19: 96,485 Cases, 4,234 Deaths— Don't miss updates about precautions in the Chicago area as they are announced — Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said last week that all regions of the state are on track to move into the next phase of Restore Illinois, his plan to reopen the state, on May 29. But he called on Illinoisans to "stay the course" to make sure that happens.

Related: Illinois Has 4th Most Coronavirus Restrictions: Study

The least restrictive states in the country were South Dakota, Wisconsin and Idaho, according to the report. The WalletHub study put states into four general categories: those with low restrictions and low death rates, low restrictions and high death rates, high restrictions and high death rates, and high restrictions and high death rates.

Illinois fell into the last category, ranking high for both restrictions and deaths.

WalletHub considered 11 different metrics across 50 states and the District of Columbia to come up with its rankings. They include: mask requirements, travel restrictions, prohibitions on large gatherings, school closures, reopening of restaurants and bars, reopening of nonessential businesses, reopening of childcare programs, strictness of shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders, presence of multi state agreements to reopen, suspension or postponement of legislative sessions and guidance on elective surgeries.

Read more about the methodology here.