By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Easter’s coming, but state public health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike has some tough talk.

“There are reports that people are still holding services,” Ezike said Thursday at the state’s daily coronavirus briefing. “I understand the importance of communing with fellow believers, but schools and offices are closed. Religious houses have to do the same. We all must make this sacrifice. Then, on the other side of this pandemic, we can gather at the mosque or synagogue, the church, the museum, the library — all of these places that we love.”

Ezike said houses of worship ought to stick with streaming or conference calls for now.

Gov. JB Pritzker said four buildings in the Chicago area — including McCormick Place — are being converted to field hospitals.

“Construction on all four of these sites will be completed on a rolling basis throughout April,” said Pritzker. “We are also finalizing the necessary steps to stand up an alternate care facility in central Illinois.”

Pritzker said details on that will come soon.

The state Thursday said it had added 715 coronavirus cases and sixteen deaths to the totals, which are now 7,695 cases and 157 deaths.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]