* Gov. JB Pritzker held his daily COVID-19 press conference in Murphysboro today…
Last Monday, just nine days ago, our known count case, case count sorry was at 11. Our known case count was at 11, and it was all in one county in Cook County.
Yesterday, we had 160 cases reported in 15 counties. Today, our total is 288 across 17 counties, and people of all ages from nine to 99 have contracted COVID-19.
We know this in part due to an increase in testing but also, we know it is spreading this virus knows no boundaries.
As we move forward the administration will continue to use every tool at our disposal to respond to this unprecedented challenge, and to keep people safe.
But as rumors continue to swirl. I do want to assure all of you, essential services will always remain available grocery stores pharmacies gas stations, the things we all need will not be closing down.
I’ll let [IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike] speak to the specifics of the new cases in a moment, but I want to be clear, Illinois is being recognized as a national leader in response to COVID-19. But even so, these numbers will get much worse in Illinois before they will get better.
But it’s precisely because things will get worse, that we must maintain our common values as Illinoisans demonstrating our generosity and our unity.
A few blocks from where we stand now, since the headquarters of the Knights of Columbus branch here in Murphysboro. Every year Murphysboro Knights of Columbus host Friday fish fries during Lent, attracting hundreds of area residents for laughs and good times, community, and celebration.
Until now, this year had looked no different. But the Murphysboro Knights of Columbus didn’t look at the worst of the world outside and declare the end of their tradition.
Two days from now the Murphysboro Knights of Columbus will still have their fish fry. But this year, they will be handing out hundreds of meals through drive thru pickup, a community coming together, providing meals to support their neighbors and keeping each other safe when this is all over we will still have each other. So let’s hang on to that comfort and allow the bonds that connect us to carry us forward.
And, remember, I’m using Otter for transcription, so pardon the typos. This post will be updated.
Jackson County Board Chairman Keith Larkin said “Don’t let fear steal your humanity.”
* Pritzker was asked about a potential lockdown…
What I would say is that we should look at the mistakes that were made in Europe as this crisis was coming upon them, as this Coronavirus was spreading. And we should, it should be a cautionary tale, to all of us that we need to make sure that we’re distancing ourselves, socially distancing ourselves, that people are isolating themselves when they feel, you know that they might have even a cold.
Please stay home. If you have the flu please stay home. If you don’t feel well please stay home because here’s why. Yes, you may not have the coronavirus, but if you get somebody else sick, and then they get Coronavirus, or if you get Coronavirus while you are sick with the flu or a cold, your risk goes up significantly. And you’re putting other people at risk when you go out and potentially transmit whatever it is that you may have. And by the way, you should just assume that you may have Corona virus, just assume that, what would you do, you should self isolate that is the right thing to do so. If you’re not feeling well stay at home my point in pointing to Europe is we need to avoid what happened in Italy, we need to take the actions now to make sure that we do that.
* Pritzker was asked if he would call a special session…
I think, again, we need to make sure that we’re doing this in, in a way that’s healthy and safe. You know that when you open up the Capitol, you’re not just talking about the 177 members of the General Assembly that come. And that’s a gathering that is suggested not to happen according to all the guidelines and of course the order that I gave here in Illinois. But it also includes lobbyists and other people and the staff people that, many staff people who work in the Capitol. So, it is very important for the legislature to, to take that into account to consider what the you know the right thing to do for the legislature is. And so I’ll work with them on that we need to work together.
* The City of Chicago is currently denying FOIA requests during the emergency and Pritzker was asked if he is doing the same…
We will continue to respond to FOIA requests. I would ask members of the media and the public who put in FOIA requests to have some patience because we do have people working at home. We have fewer staff people in the office who are able to access the kinds of documents that people are looking for in their FOIA requests, so hopefully people will be a bit patient but we intend to fulfill FOIA.
* On testing…
CEOs around the country, especially ones that have facilities and do business in the state of Illinois and know us, have been very willing to step up and help us out to take pieces of their supply and send it to us, even separate from what they’re doing, across the rest of the United States. Not putting us in line, but putting us a little bit ahead of the line in the last few days so we’ve increased our testing capability. I just heard that one of our labs today at 1230 received the ability to do thousands more tests, because of work that was done by our staff. And so I’m very happy to say that we’re, be able to do more tests. It’s still not enough to be clear you’re talking about thousands of tests. We need to be able to test many more people than that.
Now, I believe the federal government which has been trying very hard for a long time to expand testing is almost there. They keep telling me that I believe that. Now that may be in the next three days that we’re going to start to see thousands and thousands and thousands more tests for the state of Illinois. So, I will keep reporting to you what I know and what I hear. You know I guess I feel a little bit sometimes like Charlie Brown with Lucy and the football with the federal government because there are some terrific people who work at the federal government. There are people at the CDC, you know, and in the, you know, in the second and third rungs at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, who are trying very hard to do the right thing. And those are the people that I’m trying to talk to and implore to help us in the state of Illinois and we’re getting some pretty good response from it.
* Possible prisoner release…
We’ve looked at what types of people we think should be considered eligible for that. You know, that’s, that’s something that I’m always looking about because are, you know, we should do something about the nearly 40,000 prisoners that we have in the state of Illinois.
Having said that, there are some very dangerous people who should not be considered, but there are others that are very vulnerable and who have committed some non violent offense, and who should be first in line if we were to do something like that.
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 3:17 pm:
==grocery stores pharmacies gas stations, the things we all need will not be closing down.===
This is a list of the only places that will be open by next week.
- Levois J - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 3:17 pm:
I was really hoping we’ll arrive at the top of the bell curve. We had one death in this state from this. I’m taking my precautions and look forward to when this virus flattens out. It’ll be a minute provided the public is doing what they can to slow its spread.
- JoanP - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 3:27 pm:
I have been obsessively watching Pritzker’s press conferences. He is a class act.
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 3:30 pm:
128 new cases when they can only test 300 per day. Shows just how inadequate our testing is.
Glad people are adjusting while staying compassionate and engaged.
Are we at greater risk today from Covid-19 and all diseases than Americans were in 1900? Society functioned then with a greater presence of death. Have we become so afraid of death that we fear to live?
- LakeCo - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 3:42 pm:
=Are we at greater risk today from Covid-19 and all diseases than Americans were in 1900? Society functioned then with a greater presence of death. Have we become so afraid of death that we fear to live?=
First of all, our ancestors were doing the same social distancing thing in 1918.
Second, you’re missing the point. This isn’t about your personal risk of dying. It’s about the risk to America’s healthcare system:
“If our health care system fails, then we will all suffer. If the hospital is choked with COVID-19 patients, people with appendicitis, heart attacks, broken ankles, and so on will not be able to be treated. This is the picture of systemic risk. Everyone is at risk if there is a systemic failure of our health care system, not just those with COVID-19.”
https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/03/a-covid-19-coronavirus-update-from-concerned-physicians.html?fbclid=IwAR3zJTuYW10j58ZRJ243ASy1Qt7Sm3mSKgtRVYdX47dU5nj4VOEHK4kmRXM
- CapnCrunch - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 3:58 pm:
“…..these numbers will get much worse in Illinois before they will get better….”
Assuming growth is exponential and if nothing changes, then using the latest data from IDPH, everyone in Illinois will be infected on April 22. That prospect ought to be enough to convince us to self quarantine.
- AC - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 4:08 pm:
Seemed to me that the Governor’s comments today were to prep us for shelter in place. I initially was thinking it might be another week or more until that, but now I am guessing that it is just a matter of days.
- Been There - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 4:11 pm:
===But it also includes lobbyists and other people and the staff people that, many staff people who work in the Capitol.===
I sure hope they don’t have to go back in for awhile. Especially for the staffers. Us lobbyist can just call it in. I probably wouldn’t even go down even if my issues were up but one place that would worry me the most, again especially for the staff, is that back elevator on the house side. Talk about cramped quarters. I’m guessing if they do go back it will be for quick in and out. And as much as we had complained about that one elevator being out of commission I imagine the stairs would be (and should be) the choice of most that can manage it.
- Southern - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 4:13 pm:
Yet in DOC, offenders are allowed to gather in large groups in the classrooms, commissaries, etc. Non-security staff still not allowed to work remotely . The do as I say and not as I do continues.
- Been There - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 4:13 pm:
===But as rumors continue to swirl. I do want to assure all of you, essential services will always remain available grocery stores pharmacies gas stations, the things we all need will not be closing down. ===
On a lighter note or maybe a very serious one, I noticed he didn’t include liquor stores in his statement.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 4:14 pm:
I’ve heard that Jewel-Osco will reserve every Tuesday and Thursday for senior shopping, 7am - 9am, starting tomorrow. Target will reserve one hour on Wednesday, 8am. These stores are cleaned nightly.
- 618er - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 4:16 pm:
I think Last Bull Moose is on to it. I truly believe this has been ‘in the wild’ or been widely distributed since the early onset of the Wuhan outbreak. I think once testing ramps up, these numbers will balloon. Imagine 10000 tests a day in Illinois vs 300, this could get much worse before it gets better..
- Responsa - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 4:16 pm:
If you have not done so already you might want to actually speak in confidence to some of the election judges who served on Tuesday. Many of the precincts in at least two counties were vastly understaffed, and some “emergency” judges brought in to help at the last minute were not trained at all. The governor’s assurances of precautions and support at the polls to assure safety and cleanliness for voters and judges alike never materialized. Yes, I was there for 14 plus hours. What’s done is done. But yes, the cornavirus numbers in Illinois will certainly get worse after yesterday’s event.
- Occasional Quipper - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 4:18 pm:
==This isn’t about your personal risk of dying. It’s about the risk to America’s healthcare system:==
This point cannot be stressed strongly enough. Unless they have success with a vaccine, we’re all eventually going to get it. But the key is to not all get it in the same short period of time. And even if you have a strong immune system and figure it won’t effect you much, you’re still part of the spread to those who are more vulnerable.
- Because I said so.... - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 4:23 pm:
How long before we are ordered to shelter in place?
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 4:24 pm:
I understand that the health system may be overwhelmed. I am self quarantined. As much to protect my family as myself.
I hope we can contain this before it becomes a recurring disease like the flu. But I doubt our ability to do so.
Certainly today we should try to buy time. Time to keep our health system from crashing. Time to develop resources and methods to treat the sick. And time for vaccines to help protect us.
When all this is done, we may still find ourselves in a world with a much higher risk of death. Society will stabilize to a new normal.
I thought the next wave of disease would come from drug resistant bacteria. That still lies ahead of us.
- Hamlet's Ghost - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 4:44 pm:
Here is a good article at 538
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-we-still-need-to-test-widely-for-coronavirus/
Without abundant testing, we won’t know when we can stop self isolation, quarantine or social distancing.
- Hamlet's Ghost - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 4:47 pm:
And here is some good prevalence speculation from Lawyers Guns & Money which says — if the Utah Jazz testing was representative of the country there would already be six million cases.
== What is the current prevalence? I can’t emphasize enough that the answer to this question in the USA is that we have no idea at all. 50,000 people could be infected at this point, or 500,000 could be. (The NBA tested all its players and found an infection rate that would equal six million infections if applied to the general US population. Obviously NBA players were especially likely to test positive for a number of reasons, but it should still be sobering that this is pretty much the only comprehensive testing of any cohort in this country to this point). ==
https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2020/03/what-would-a-rational-harm-reduction-strategy-for-coronavirus-look-like
- CardsFan - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 4:50 pm:
Spain has been on a 15 day mandatory “lock down” since Friday of last week.
I wonder if we will be there sooner rather than later.
- Comma Chameleon - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 5:06 pm:
Speaking of rumors, I had to be out running errands on the 17th and found some of the residents of semi-rural villages were very worried that “the government” was about to declare marshal law. After which, “you know bad people will take advantage of that.” Whatever that means. This is the first time I’ve heard these rumors in the present context, and wonder where they are coming from.
Also, please don’t shoot the messenger. I only mention this because I think the readers of the blog should know what kind of stuff is getting passed around in a different demographic group of the state’s population. It may be relevant to how something like “shelter in place” should best be described.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 5:08 pm:
At some point state employees have to be brought back into the office and caught up on everything that has been dropped. The so called “non-essential” staff are going to become essential just to return primary functions of state business.
- Give Us Barabbas - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 5:09 pm:
Interesting problem came up. Wife can’t get her prescriptions refilled, because the drugstore needs an okay from her doctor but the doctor’s office is not open due to the outbreak and none of her other doctors are authorized with the insurance paperwork. These are not exotic meds, opiates, controlled substances or anything but if she runs out and can’t get more over some dumb paperwork, she’s going to become another drain on the system when the meds run out and the underlying conditions get serious. This is about continuity of existing prescriptions, nothing new. Maybe the Gov’s office could issue some guidance to the insurance companies to waive the bureaucracy in these cases of simple continuing refills?
- Snicarte Slim - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 5:14 pm:
Federal jails, prisons and holding facilities have already tested all those they have in custody. Will Illinois simply release them into the general population without testing.? Not making any judgement one way or the other, Just asking if anyone knows.
- Proud Papa Bear - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 5:18 pm:
I’m with you, Last Bull Moose.
My son (a freshman at an Illinois community college) is majoring in biochemistry.
As we drove from an appointment today we passed a Metra lot at about a quarter capacity. I pointed talked about how I’ll likely always remember these days as when the world changed.
I mentioned that biochemistry can be a great field. Maybe someday he’ll be part of the team that protects us with new vaccines.
- The Most Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 5:20 pm:
The governor making the mayor look flat footed once again. Seems the FOIA question at the press briefing was embarrassing enough to make the city reverse its decision.
https://twitter.com/seidelcontent/status/1240393203511185410?s=21
- Southern - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 5:20 pm:
At some point state employees have to be brought back into the office and caught up on everything that has been dropped. The so called “non-essential” staff are going to become essential just to return primary functions of state business
Several agencies employees never left. Telecommuting has been enabled, but not allowed. J.B. is talking out of both sides of his mouth
- Sue - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 5:39 pm:
Not disputing numbers will grow but in reality- the big uptick in the last 24 hours are due to cases at senior care facilities. Those places are not good indicators of the overall impact of this virus. And it’s a mistake to extrapolate based on those cases
- MrX - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 5:43 pm:
== Yet in DOC, offenders are allowed to gather in large groups in the classrooms, commissaries, etc. Non-security staff still not allowed to work remotely . The do as I say and not as I do continues.==
Was told today that on Monday classrooms can’t have more than 10 people in them.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 6:48 pm:
No laws? Nope, still laws.
- GA Watcher - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 7:19 pm:
Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park calling for residents to shelter in place until April 3: https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/ct-oak-mayors-response-covid-19-tl-0326-20200318-tpwctduzjbblra65stygyk3gmy-story.html
- Cal Stone - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 7:38 pm:
——Yet in DOC, offenders are allowed to gather in large groups in the classrooms, commissaries, etc. Non-security staff still not allowed to work remotely . The do as I say and not as I do continues.——
Yes. Today I was screened for temperature before entering my prison. Today they used a forehead reading thermometer. Some staff had temperatures at 95.3, 88.5, and mine at 97.1, which was about 2 degrees lower than yesterday’s for me. Needless to say, all staff were allowed to enter and management knew about the faulty readings. How did management know? Well, I sent and email to each this morning expressing concern—the only reply I received was basically that if you are concerned about faulty temperatures, then go to health care and have yours rechecked.
I am disappointed at how “unserious” my facility is behaving.
- Southern Belle - Wednesday, Mar 18, 20 @ 8:40 pm:
IDOC claims they have no positives for Corona, but they have tested zero offenders. How do they know? Every institution has offenders quarantined, but none tested for COVID-19. Now they are going to turn them loose. Will they be tested prior to release?
- Springfield Watcher - Thursday, Mar 19, 20 @ 7:31 am:
The Governor needs to do the same State wide
- SOIL M - Thursday, Mar 19, 20 @ 7:57 am:
The Social Distancing should be extended to include Social Media Distancing. Last night spent several hours killing rumors that kept getting brought to my attention that were flat out not true. There is enough going on that time wasted over some rumor people are seeing on Social Media are really a huge pain and waste of time. Please find good information and dont fall into this.
The biggest one, which was debunked several days ago that has now gained traction here again is that all travel will be shut down in, depending on the source, 12 to 24 hours. There are no plans to close any bridges. Follow good information and Social Media Distance yourselves from rumors.