A women's boutique clothing store in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, advertises the selling of masks Sunday.
A woman wearing a protective mask walks across the usually busy Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, Sunday, May 3.
CHICAGO — A small northern Illinois church defied crowd restrictions in the state's latest stay-at-home order, holding a Sunday service with dozens of people.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s extension of the order, which took effect Friday and lifts May 30, allows for worship limited to groups of 10, along with other social distancing measures.
Roughly 100 people attended The Beloved Church in Lena, according to WREX-TV, which was denied entrance but interviewed attendees and neighbors who counted congregants. The community of roughly 2,800 people is 130 miles northwest of Chicago.
Officials with the evangelical church sued in federal court arguing Pritzker's order violates the First Amendment right to free religious practice. However, U.S. District Judge John Z. Lee on Sunday rejected the church's request for a temporary restraining order because such large gatherings could “magnify the risk of contagion even when participants practice preventative measures.”
Worshippers stood with their families, but stayed six feet away from others and were provided hand sanitizer and masks, according to Thomas Ciesielka, a spokesman for the Thomas More Society, which represents the church in court.
Pritzker said Sunday that the order is temporary and faith leaders should make keeping parishioners safe a top priority.
“We’re not stopping you from praying. We’re not stopping you from connecting with your parishioners," he said. "What we are trying to stop is the spread of this invisible killer.”
Health officials announced 2,994 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday, including 63 deaths. Overall, there have been 61,499 cases and 2,618 deaths. Pritzker said a record 19,417 coronavirus tests were conducted recorded over the past 24 hours.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Newlyweds Katie De Young, left, and Mike De Young are welcomed by friends and family in Highland during one of their first stops on their drive-thru reception itinerary.
Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Members of the wedding party, including Kay De Young, far left, cheer for Katie DeYoung and Mike De Young following their first dance together.
Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Highland first responders drove past Lois White's home on Saturday in Highland to help recognize and celebrate newlyweds Katie Dobis and Mike De Young.
Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Newlyweds Katie DeYoung, left, and Mike De Young bid goodbye to friends and family in Highland as they sing along to tunes in their rented limo and journey off to the next stop on their itinerary. The pair traveled to several stops in Highland, Griffith, Lansing, St. John and Cedar Lake to have drive-thru receptions for friends and family.
Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Newlyweds Katie DeYoung and Mike De Young, center, share their first dance while surrounded by friends and family in Highland. The couple completed an itinerary with several stops in Highland, Griffith, Lansing, St. John and Cedar Lake to visit friends and family in a drive-thru wedding reception.
Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Twins Elizabeth Gonzalez, left, and Alexis Gonzalez, of Hammond, and William Coto, of Highland, entertain themselves with a bubble machine on Saturday outside Lois White's home in Hammond.
Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Newlyweds Katie Dobis, left, and Mike De Young are celebrated by friends and family following their wedding. The two went on a tour in a limo with the wedding party to visit varoius friends and family in Highland, Griffith, Lansing, St. John and Cedar Lake.
Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Newlyweds Katie DeYoung, left, and Mike De Young share a first dance in a drive-thru reception outside the home of Lois White in Highland.
Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Newlyweds Katie Dobis, left, and Mike De Young share a kiss on Saturday in Highland as they're welcomed by friends and family at a stop on their drive-thru wedding reception.
Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Newlyweds Katie DeYoung and Mike De Young, left, receive a toast in Highland.
Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Highland Police and Fire vehicles parked and ran sirens and lights on Wildwood Lane to help celebrate newlyweds Mike De Young and Katie Dobis on Saturday.
Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Newlyweds Katie Dobis, left, and Mike De Young cut into their cake on Saturday in Highland during one of their stops on their drive-thru wedding reception.
Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Lois White, grandmother of the bride, Katie Dobis, watches as her granddaughter dances with spouse Mike De Young outside her home on Saturday in Highland.
Gallery: Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Gallery: Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Gallery: Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Gallery: Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Gallery: Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Gallery: Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Gallery: Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Gallery: Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Gallery: Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Gallery: Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Gallery: Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Gallery: Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Gallery: Mike De Young and Katie Dobis tie the knot
Gallery
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