Illinois officials and Governor J.B. Pritzker speak at a press conference Saturday afternoon | Photo: Illinois Information Service.

Illinois state officials and Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Saturday 168 new coronavirus cases and a new death, bringing the state’s total to 753 cases and six dead.

Pritzker announced the state’s sixth coronavirus-related death at his daily press conference on Saturday — a Cook County man in his 70s.

During the press conference, Pritzker asked all medical professionals who recently left the field to come back and help treat patients. The state will be waiving fees and expediting license renewals.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) said there are now 753 cases across 26 counties in Illinois. Cases have occurred in ages 3 to 99.

The majority of cases are in Cook County, followed by DuPage and Lake counties.

“During this unprecedented public health emergency, stocks of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health care providers are being used rapidly,” state health officials said.

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The IDPH released new guidance to limit all elective surgeries, non-essential medical, surgical, and dental procedures.

The IDPH is encouraging surgery centers, veterinarians, and anyone with unused Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that is not immediately needed to donate it to assist health care facilities who are on the front line responding to COVID-19.

On Friday, Pritzker issued a ‘stay at home’ order starting 5 p.m. Saturday through April 7 to combat the spread of the virus.

“To avoid the loss of potentially tens of thousands of lives, we must enact an immediate stay at home order for the state of Illinois,” Pritzker said, adding that non-essential businesses must stop operating.

Residents will still be able to go grocery shopping, put gas in their cars, go to pharmacies and have access to other essential services. Residents can also continue to do things like go on walks or runs. All roads will remain open to traffic.

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For PPE donations, email PPE.donations@illinois.gov. Residents with general questions about COVID-19 can call the state’s hotline at 800-889-3931.