Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly and church ministers on Thursday urged all persons of faith to obey Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order to stay at home this week of Easter and Passover to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Kelly said police officers will not be “storming” into churches on Easter morning, but cautioned that if there is evidence that large groups had gathered, there could be consequences.

Kelly said informing and educating the public is best tool to prevent large gatherings where the coronavirus could spread throughout a congregation.

Illinois State Police last month outlined a six-step process on how law-enforcement officers would enforce Pritzker’s order:

Education about the order

Verbal or written notice to comply

Possible sanction from regulatory authorities that may oversee non-essential activity

Civil liability

Court ordered closure or quarantine

Criminal charges

Pritzker has ordered all state residents to stay at home and all schools to remain closed until April 30 in an effort to prevent the spread of the respiratory disease caused by new coronavirus first identified in China this winter.

“There are some signs of hope that the curve is being bent but now is not the time to let up on that pressure,” Kelly said.

“The message from the governor has consistently been that we want people to voluntarily comply. There are incremental steps for enforcement. Use of law enforcement … is frankly the last resort.”