CHICAGO, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Amid the increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States, Chinese Consulate in Chicago has opened two hotline services to better serve Chinese citizens with regard to the pandemic.

One is providing consular assistance and protection service to Chinese citizens and the other is offering the service to Chinese students studying in U.S. Midwest, according to a notice the consulate issued on Tuesday.

The hotline service started on March 30.

The Chinese consulate calls on Chinese citizens and overseas Chinese to stay calm, reduce travel, stay at home, and guard against COVID-19 rationally and scientifically.

At a news conference held late Tuesday, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker extended the state's stay-at-home order to April 30. Schools and non-essential businesses, including bars and restaurants, which are closed to dine-in customers, will also remain closed until that date.

By Tuesday, the U.S. Midwest state of Illinois had reported 5,994 known infections and 99 deaths since the outbreak started.