Governor Says Illinois State Fair This Year “Highly Unlikely”

The annual state fairs in Springfield and DuQuoin haven't officially been cancelled yet, but it sure seems as though Governor Pritzker is leaning that way.

Governor J.B. Pritzker is still prohibiting "large-scale" gatherings until some form of treatment for COVID-19 is readied for distribution, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that he struck a pessimistic tone when it comes to the Illinois State Fair.

Governor Pritzker:

I think it’s highly unlikely that we’ll be able to hold our state fairs. I’ve been to the state fairs, like many people have, and many people would be packed together in buildings or even on pathways. So I do not believe that we’ll be able to open the state fair.

The next domino to potentially fall is Lollapalooza, Chicago's biggest music festival, which is scheduled for late July/early August. It hasn't been officially cancelled, but Governor Pritzker had this to say about it:

I’m saying that if you follow the data and you look at how fast things could happen — like I said, if there is an effective treatment that comes out and people can see really you won’t get that sick if you get COVID-19, then I think all bets are up. Things could open up.