React to Pritzker’s new plan
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Manufacturers’ Association…
“Illinois’ economy has been devastated by this pandemic, which has put at risk not just lives but also livelihoods. While many manufacturers across the state have continued operating to produce needed medical products, safe and nutritious food, and equipment for our first responders, others are eager to start production and put people back to work,” said Mark Denzler, president & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “We appreciate Gov. Pritzker’s focus on a plan that puts Illinois on a path to safely re-opening. Manufacturers are ready to unleash their full economic might to help restore our state’s economy.”
* Senate President Don Harmon…
“This is the kind of forward-looking plan that people across Illinois have been expecting. It offers hope during economic dark days while reminding everyone of how dangerous and deadly this virus remains. That another 176 people lost their lives to COVID-19 in the past day tells us that the enemy is still out there. We will get through this together by following the advice of medical professionals and public health experts.”
* Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza…
“I want to thank Gov. Pritzker for his carefully-thought-out, science-based approach to restoring Illinois, region by region. I appreciate the leadership, concern and compassion he has demonstrated to the entire state during this awful and deadly COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The governor’s Restore Illinois plan provides all of us with a predictable road map for reopening Illinois.
“If we all follow these guidelines, we will move forward. Not adhering to these protocols will move us backward, jeopardizing all of our shared sacrifice to date and lead to many more needless deaths at the hands of an invisible enemy. We all look forward to the days when we can all get back to normal. In the meantime, we need to exhibit personal responsibility and look out for each other. I believe we will get through this together.”
This post will be updated as responses come in. The House Republicans say they are still evaluating the plan.
* Rep. Mike Murphy (R-Springfield)…
“I’m glad the Governor has finally heard our calls for a regional approach to addressing COVID-19 and a plan for safely reopening our state. The unintended consequences of the one size fits all approach has been devastating for families and small businesses across central Illinois,” said Murphy. “However, the timetable for implementation in different regions, the ability of informed local officials to be a part of the decision-making process, and the vagueness of requirements leave too many unanswered questions. Saying it will be a regional approach is one thing, but if the decisions are still being made by someone from outside our region with limited local consultation, then we still risk being the victim of a one size fits all cure that does more harm than the virus itself.”
* Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady…
Ensuring the public’s health remains our top priority, and any loss of life as a result of this deadly disease is a tragedy. While it is important to have a plan that gives us hope, we need to look at it in greater detail. However, the question of why Illinois needs to maintain a 28-day window before moving between phases, as opposed to the 14-day recommendation of Dr. Fauci, which is what states like New York are using in their reopening plans, needs to be answered.
* This is all I’ve seen from the HGOP…
Nothing at all from Speaker Madigan.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 4:32 pm:
=== The House Republicans say they are still evaluating the plan.===
Science and data driven, gonna be difficult to try to seem thoughtful as science is the measure.
Should be “fun”… the Eastern Bloc too
- Wylie Coyote - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 4:46 pm:
JB was being left in the dust by other states. Regionalizing the return to some sense of normalcy had to be done. Florida did it and it seems to be working. The Florida panhandle is a totally different place than Miami. In fact Pensacola is closer Marion than it is to Miami….
- Huh? - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 4:46 pm:
More lawsuits in … 3 … 2 … 1 …
- Merica - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 4:54 pm:
Wylie Coyote: the numbers you are reading on the State of Florida or John Hopkins University COVID-19 maps are test results from people who were tested (in some cases) two weeks ago.
We are in the middle of a pandemic. All the numbers will change. The virus is spreading from more populated areas to more rural areas.
Look at the Facebook COVID map. Walton County has a 0.85% population experiencing symptoms. Jackson County is 1.61%. In both instances these counties are faring worse than Cook County and Miami.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:01 pm:
===safe and nutritious food===
There are 150+ cases in Randolph County associated with a cake mix and a marshmallow factory.
I cannot imagine what it would feel like to anyone to trade the life of a loved one for the production of marshmallows. Most factory settings would make it incredibly difficult to contain the spread without adequate or potentially physician level PPE, and these employers never seem to be discussing the efforts they are making to protect their employees by sparing no expense on PPE.
There have always been dangerous jobs, but having a dangerous job doesn’t mean taking unnecessary risks. The point of the canary was to leave the coal mine when the canary died. Not to stay there until the coal miners died.
An infectious disease spreading unchecked through a company’s labor force should never be treated as a status quo for and just another risk for a worker to absorb so that off brand marshmallows can continue to flow.
- Just Me 2 - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:04 pm:
I noticed that the METRICS for moving from phase 2 to 3, and then from 3 to 4 are the exact same. What is different is the accessibility of testing and tracing.
- Now What? - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:09 pm:
Wylie: let’s catch up with Florida and other states that rushed to open in three weeks. I hope your optimism is still intact for the sake of others
- OpentoDiscussion - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:12 pm:
R: Florida comparisons:
Geographically, much of Florida has high rates compared to Illinois.
https://infection2020.com/
- Pundent - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:17 pm:
Be careful what you wish for. The regional approach cuts both ways. While it has been convenient for downstate Republicans to cast this as a Chicago virus, the narrative is often at odds with the facts. If cases spike in any of these areas it’s entirely possible that they will have to revert to prior stay at home orders while other parts of the state are opening up. The fact that these areas seem to have a higher proportion of mask defying, social distancing ignoring, liberty fighters increases this likelihood.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:18 pm:
=== Saying it will be a regional approach is one thing, but if the decisions are still being made by someone from outside our region==
When did science benchmarks become regional?
Hit the mark.
Does science confuse Mr. Murphy?
- Mary - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:20 pm:
Pundent, or the downstaters will prove that Pritzker’s actions were overkill.
You’ll happily admit that if they don’t all come down with Covid, yes?
- Mary - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:23 pm:
OW: ’science’ as massaged data isn’t really science. There needs to be more clarification and transparency of facts and figures, where they’re coming from, and interpretation methods.
Mr. Murphy is correct.
- Nagidam - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:23 pm:
Within the Northeast Region are Grundy County and the City of Chicago treated the same way? They have a number 7 versus Chicago with a number 11. Are these different regions within a larger region?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:25 pm:
===massaged data===
Is this like alternative facts?
What’s massaged?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:30 pm:
===Mr. Murphy is correct===
On this, he’s a blowhard. It looks to me like Springfield could easily move to phase 3 by the end of May as long as people somewhat behave.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:32 pm:
=== It looks to me like Springfield could easily move to phase 3 by the end of May as long as people somewhat behave.===
That was my point.
=== Hit the mark.===
I’m not stopping anyone if they hit them.
- Jibba - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:33 pm:
Cue Mary and other flat earthers to start doubting the data that keeps their regions closed. How could the disease possibly be in their home towns, despite skyrocketing numbers at nearby pork plants and nursing homes. Reality has to bend to meet their preconceived notions.
- Nagidam - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:43 pm:
===However, the question of why Illinois needs to maintain a 28-day window before moving between phases, as opposed to the 14-day recommendation of Dr. Fauci=== From Leader Brady
My question is the 28 days start new for each phase or can you jump phases if all the metrics are met. In other words would a region have to wait 28 days to jump to phase 4 or would they have to wait 56 days with the data metrics?
- Perrid - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:44 pm:
Murphy’s whole statement is really disgusting. The man should be ashamed of himself. I only wish that were possible.
“No one can tell me what to do. If I want people to die so my life isn’t inconvenienced, then by God that’s what is going to happen.”
At least pretend to be aware of the risks, man. Pretend to care. Pretend not to hate the plan because the Governor, a Democrat, came up with it. It just makes me so mad.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 5:52 pm:
=== …the question of why Illinois needs to maintain a 28-day window before moving between phases, as opposed to the 14-day recommendation of Dr. Fauci, which is what states like New York…===
Is this the lone question the Leader has? The time frame?
If you’re going to critique the plan, take time to digest, and the takeaway is the time frame…
- Nagidam - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 6:07 pm:
===If you’re going to critique the plan, take time to digest, and the takeaway is the time frame…===
Willy the question has more legitimacy that you give in to. The Governor over the last week as referenced the Trump Plan to re-open the economy. Many on this blog including me have said the same thing. Yet we now have a 28 day window. Why?
=== Does science confuse Mr. Murphy?===
Your comment. Once again if the science is the science and is irrefutable, why was the Trump Plan good science last week but now someone can’t question The Governors new science?
Sure there are more questions like the boundaries but the 28 day window sticks out like a sore thumb.
- Henry - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 6:14 pm:
28 days is significant, and a huge shift from the Federal recommendations that have been embraced. Seems logical to want to know why.
- Frank talks - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 6:14 pm:
I think the regional approach should be used on lots more than the pandemic.
Why not use regional approach with distribution of state funding? The collars and Chicago fund the state, I think a regional approach of dollar in dollar out should be used.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 6:15 pm:
I’ll take these in reverse order;
=== Once again if the science is the science and is irrefutable, why was the Trump Plan good science last week but now someone can’t question The Governors new science?===
I don’t speak for the Administration, frankly I’m sure they’d cringe if I took it as me doing do here so I’m approaching this exactly to my own thoughts to that really legit question.
Right now? Right now not a single state has met the 14 day downward trend that the White House scientists insist should be met to move forward. This plan, it appears, tries to show some thoughtfulness to the science that folks seemingly clamor about, but it’s not caving, it’s allowing this matrix, a plan that apparently everyone was whining about there not being one for Illinois specific, and now with one existing, the retort is “Dr. Fauci”?
If anything, I’d say the White House science benchmarks are the standard, really the goals, the Illinois plan here is working within those science guidelines to hit benchmarks regionally to best try and evolve as a state to the challenges others say need to be met, like business or regionalist views.
- Frank talks - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 6:17 pm:
To add on should be the same with the Feds as well. Getting really tired of listening to freedom fighters from the Red welfare states complain about the Blue donor states while we pay their bills. And they use dog whistles about racial urban make up.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 6:25 pm:
===…the question has more legitimacy that you give in to. The Governor over the last week as referenced the Trump Plan to re-open the economy. Many on this blog including me have said the same thing. Yet we now have a 28 day window. Why?===
I too, very often, pointed directly to the White House plan. If anything, that plan and it’s own benchmarks by the scientists makes the most sense in a perfect following by all 50 states.
We have Illinois vamping with a plan specific to her, abc addressing the regional factors of Illinois, you’d have to think with a scientific matrix still being used specifically here, the question of a longer time frame as this still moves forward, and can move quickly to the end of May for phrase 3…
…it appears natural pauses to the rapid changing is where these days fall?
If this is a science question, and my response in that with a question is that take, then we’ll know.
If this is saying science is being ignored and says days arbitrarily being added, that’s why my dismissive response, which wasn’t all that dismissive, was as it was.
“If that’s the only question…”
Hope that helps.
Those are my thoughts.
- Nagidam - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 6:29 pm:
@OW, agreed on your analysis. But…the science or Illinois goal of 28 days will need to be explained by the Governor in the coming days. If data indicated this so be it but why would our scientists/epidemiologists have a different thought process that Dr. Fauci?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 6:36 pm:
===… the science or Illinois goal of 28 days will need to be explained by the Governor in the coming days.===
I expect that the way it popped during the briefing today and the react after that a deeper explanation will of course need to follow. This might be the most important plan a governor of Illinois had to roll out in a generation, if ever, for this whole state.
I can’t imagine they’d let the plan speak for itself in totality.
I appreciate your patience with my responses too.
In actuality, it’s a plan that will be more than words starting now as real measures are going to be put to it… daily.
With great respect, bud. Thanks for making me clarify my own thoughts. OW
- Pundent - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 6:38 pm:
I suspect, but not having compared the plans side by side, that the measurements being used between the two plans have differences. I doubt that the IDPH took Fauci’s plan and just doubled it. The measurements and criteria appear to have distinct differences. For example I know we’re in “phase 2” of Pritzker’s plan and I don’t believe we’ve even moved into “phase 1” of Fauci’s. I would caution against drawing too many conclusions without doing a meaningful comparison of the plans.
- Nagidam - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 6:55 pm:
@OW insightful as usual. I anticipate a lengthy presser tomorrow.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 6:58 pm:
- Nagidam -
Too kind. Stay well, you, and yours.
Agree. Can’t imagine tomorrow’s presser will be short or short of challenging questions to this.
- Cadillac - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 6:58 pm:
The 28 day window requirement is a weight handicapping of the regions to ensure the marathon is a photo finish.
- TractionS - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 7:01 pm:
Pritzker’s plan calls for “At or under a 20 percent positivity rate and increasing no more than 10 percentage points over a 14-day period,” which seems even less restrictive than the White House recommendation of a “downward trajectory within a 14 day period.”
The 28-day benchmark refers to hospital admissions which should be flat or decreasing in that time frame. It stands to reason that if you’ve got fewer cases you’ll also have fewer hospital admissions unless there’s some rapid outbreak among untested people. The White House guidance doesn’t mention hospital admissions specifically but it does say states need to tailor their plans to their own circumstances. The 28-days may be a reflection of the hospital and ICU capacity in Illinois.
It’s true Pritzker needs to explain that and also true that the practical effect on reopening may be the same. But it’s just not true that Pritzker looked at the WH recommendation and arbitrarily chose to double it.
- Pundent - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 7:45 pm:
Unfortunately comments such as Bill Brady’s won’t help here. He clearly hasn’t read the plan but creates the perception that it’s unduly restrictive. I would hope that he’d walk that back upon further analysis. I like to assume positive intent when it comes to protecting public health. That’s undermined by uniformed political responses.
- Wading in... - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 8:33 pm:
===Rep. Mike Murphy - “I’m glad the Governor has finally heard our calls…”===
C’mon, Mike, get over yourself. Whatever the Governor did or didn’t do, you were not the reason.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 9:27 pm:
I’m sure its written as intended but the 28 day benchmark would be a lot less restrictive if its a downward trend for a 28 day rolling average.
- RNUG - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 10:56 pm:
== Sure there are more questions like the boundaries but the 28 day window sticks out like a sore thumb. ==
I read somewhere the outside boundary for incubation of the virus is 21 days. If that is the case, it is likely they took that and added a 7 day (33%) safety margin to arrival at the 28 days.
- Rabid - Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 2:32 am:
Victim of the cure that does more harm than the virus itself. Are you serious mike? Brady is a cuomo fan in a new York minute
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 7:02 am:
=== If that is the case, it is likely they took that and added a 7 day (33%) safety margin to arrival at the 28 days.===
That’s part of my own speculation, as a “give and take” to move around the White House plan and phases.
- Rabid - Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 7:16 am:
Nobody is giving local control to downstate regions, he didn’t grant you statehood
- City Zen - Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 8:58 am:
==Why not use regional approach with distribution of state funding? The collars and Chicago fund the state==
And Hinsdale funds Harvey. If your point is to penalize those takers downstate, then the takers upstate should be penalized as well.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:08 am:
- City Zen - and “penalized”…
Nothing ever changes.
(Sigh)