* Rockford Register-Star…
Winnebago County will allow restaurants and bars, child care businesses and youth programs, and churches to reopen June 1, Mayor Tom McNamara and Winnebago County Health Department Administrator Sandra Martell said Monday.
The health department will unveil recommendations on May 26 for how those businesses should operate beginning June 1, Martell said. The recommendations are being developed this week by some of the 15 advisory committees whose 140 members were appointed by McNamara and instructed to develop a plan to recalibrate the regional economy as the threat of the coronavirus wanes and all businesses eventually reopen. […]
Martell said Winnebago County has made great strides to “flatten the curve” of coronavirus transmission and that residents have taken social distancing and public health guidelines to heart during the pandemic.
Another reason for reopening sooner rather than later? Sustained economic pain and poverty associated with keeping businesses closed will ultimately harm public health, Martell said.
Winnebago County has three top-notch health systems that provide excellent care, but the county suffers from poor access to health care, obesity and several serious health disparities within minority populations. Those problems threaten to grow worse the longer the shutdown continues, she said.
Those health disparities will also contribute to a heightened impact of the virus.
Unlike Peoria County’s public health director, Dr. Martell is a nurse with no degree in epidemiology.
- Jibba - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:05 am:
“…keeping businesses closed will ultimately harm public health, Martell said.”
When you can quantify this in terms of deaths or hospitalizations, let’s talk.
- Eastside - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:11 am:
And unlike Peoria County, Winnebago County is on the border of a State that has less restrictions (or none).
- Demise - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:13 am:
They know the State can pull business and liquor licenses, right?
- So Blue - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:15 am:
Good luck Rockford. You are going to need it.
- Jimmy - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:20 am:
As understand it, Dr. Ezike doesn’t have an epidemiology degree either and she was running the Illinois show for quite a while. I would rather have a common sense smart person running the show and listening to all scientific options and developing a plan as I understand they are doing in Rockford.
- Matthew Dean - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:20 am:
And Dr. Ezike is a internist and pediatrician with no degree in epidemiology. What’s the point of that last statement?
- Anon221 - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:25 am:
Any business that re-opens, under the EO or against it, had better be prepared to open and stay open safely. Standards have changed. Customers may be much more discerning with their dollars and time.
- Jimmy - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:27 am:
Statement was in response to the above comment: “Unlike Peoria County’s public health director, Dr. Martell is a nurse with no degree in epidemiology.”
- Almost the weekend - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:28 am:
This is a result of Pritzker team going off script from the California and New York playbook, and trying to create his own Illinois plan. It’s going to get worse come June when the weather is nicer. And California and New York continue to open bars and restaurants before Illinois.
Be interesting if they switch their model, if numbers continue to decline.
- Lynn S. - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:30 am:
From the IDPH website, at this time Winnebago County has 1539 Covid-19 cases, and 39 deaths. The case count will probably increase when new totals are published this afternoon.
But yeah, let’s reopen…and see how this goes…
I sure hope she negotiated a rock-solid guarantee of at least 25% for her department’s budget.
Because otherwise, I’m forced to think that either someone threatened to fire her. Or she’s a Drumpfy with control of a critical government agency up there.
May the good Lord bless and protect the citizens of that county. They’re going to need that level of protection.
- Don't Bloc Me In - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:37 am:
I know Rich did not mean to downplay a nurse’s role. I have a late, close relative who was a nurse with an advanced degree in public health. She would be 100 now, and back in the day, she saw some stuff.
I don’t believe the quality of decision-making is a nurse vs. doctor thing. Both are able to make good and bad decisions. Local health departments have to operate in a political environment, big P and little p. There’s the board of health and the county board. I’d like to know more about what’s behind the decision.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:38 am:
“Unlike Peoria County’s public health director, Dr. Martell is a nurse with no degree in epidemiology.”
Not sure that the Executive director’s lack of a certain degree is germane to the quality of the overall Department. Winnebago County Health Dept is one of only 12 in the state that is Nationally accredited.
https://phaboard.org/who-is-accredited/
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:39 am:
Why are the good filtration masks not available? It’s been 2 months to figure out the supply chain. If we had those, then it would not matter if some areas want to be open or some nitwits don’t want to wear masks (I know, doffing and donning can be a challenge, but make some youtube videos, for Pete’s sake).
- Rabid - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:40 am:
War on poverty
- Peters Piece - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:44 am:
-but make some youtube videos, for Pete’s sake- I had my N95 mask professionally fitted and tested.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:45 am:
=== germane to the quality of the overall Department===
Peoria County put its epidemiology expert out front. That’s the point here.
- Ed Equity - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:45 am:
Florida has not had a spike. Neither has Colorado. In addition to scientists advising, they have ethicists, economists, and others weighing in because policy always needs to work “in balance”. Having only epidemiologists advising policy is out of balance and it seems the state knows it….or at least many parts of the state.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:49 am:
- have a common sense smart person running the show -
I’m not a medical doctor or surgeon but I did get an engineering degree and like watching surgeries on YouTube, if you want I can try to fix that brain problem you seem to be having.
- Pundent - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:49 am:
= I would rather have a common sense smart person running the show and listening to all scientific options and developing a plan as I understand they are doing in Rockford.=
What are the qualifications of being a “common sense smart person (beyond agreeing with you)?” When you get information you don’t like from your doctor do you go to a common sense smart person for a second opinion?
- RuralKing - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:50 am:
The well-being of a community consists of many factors. Economic, social, and biological. Finding a balance and a way to live with this virus in our midst is the trick. The draconian lockdown we have been submitted to in Illinois is unsustainable and other parts of the country and the world are opening up much quicker.
- Jibba - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:50 am:
“Florida has not had a spike.”
Florida is being accused of cooking the books. Maryland is having a spike. Other places will likely have spikes as time passes.
- Downstate - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:50 am:
Rich,
This is an innocent question…..Why doesn’t the Governor go to the legislature for the additional 30 days of order he is seeking? Doesn’t that make this whole thing go away with Bailey?
Again, I’m only wondering why the Governor doesn’t go for legislative support to add to the power of his directives.
Thank you.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:51 am:
- Having only epidemiologists advising policy is out of balance -
Having an expert on epidemics advising on policy during an epidemic is out of balance? Dude, can I be your financial adviser? Ever hear of the investment vehicle known as blackjack?
- Anon221 - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:54 am:
Ed Equity- “Florida has not has a spike.”
Might want to wonder a bit about their data considering what just happened…
“Jones’ removal from the project and her subsequent dismissal have raised questions about the impartiality and transparency of Florida’s COVID-19 dashboard.”
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/19/859119865/florida-ousts-top-covid-19-data-scientist
- Bowwow - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:56 am:
According to Wallethub, Illinois has the most restrictive covid policies in the U.S.. Another first for Illinois
- Jimmy - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:01 pm:
“Peoria County put its epidemiology expert out front. That’s the point here.”
Perhaps Illinois should have done the same.
- Norseman - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:01 pm:
A lot of research and analysis needs to be performed regarding the response to the pandemic. This will need to inform public health agencies and schools of the myriad of problems that need to be addressed.
I’m disturbed by the inconsistencies among the local health department responses. Because of the concerted campaign by the GOP against a public health informed approach, I fear undue political influence. I see this may be an unfair judgment to some of these professionals, which is why research is needed. Science and analysis should govern our response to this pandemic and help improve our response to the next.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:02 pm:
===I’m disturbed by the inconsistencies among the local health department===
Same, which is why we have a state DPH.
- PeoriaDem - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:05 pm:
“Peoria County put its epidemiology expert out front. That’s the point here.”
I’m very thankful we have a Public Health Director with that background, I’ve just never seen anything on this site about how Dr. Ezike (Who I think is doing a great job as far as I can tell) also has no back ground in epidemiology.
- RuralKing - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:05 pm:
There are plenty of examples of locations with many fewer restrictions that aren’t being overrun with hospitalization rates and deaths…Sweden, Denmark, France, Georgia, Florida, Colorado…i could go on.
- Jimmy - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:07 pm:
I’m concerned about the inconsistencies as well. Why is the Department of Commerce defining golf safety rules?
- Lynn S. - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:08 pm:
*solid 25% increase in her department’s budget
- jimbo26 - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:15 pm:
RuralKing might want to look at rates for Georgia and Florida again. Looks like some pretty good size increases. Looks like to me as cases rise there is a following rise in hospitalization.
- Jocko - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:18 pm:
==examples of locations with many fewer restrictions==
You might want to update your list. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/20/sweden-becomes-country-highest-coronavirus-death-rate-per-capita/
- dbk - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:19 pm:
OK, I’m confused. When/how was it decided that each county would issue its very own reopening plan independent of the IDPH Restore Illinois plan?
RuralKing: You might also want to read up on Sweden - it’s death rate is about 10 times that of its Nordic neighbors, and its economy has also collapsed. Double whammy, so to speak.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:28 pm:
Stockholm Inn will be my first stop.
- Anyone Remember - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:40 pm:
Continually amazed at the number of people trying to emulate Wilmer Krusen, M.D., Philadelphia, PA.
- Not a Billionaire - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:49 pm:
Btw. We were in Peoria for grocery pick up and a lot there is legally open . And most people are wearing masks. They have a low rate. Manufacturing looks like it can open safely . The exception inn The meat places.I sure don’t see offices of schools or indoor dining.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:08 pm:
I think the folks that are concerned about Rich’s noting of Martel’s education and state issued medical credentials would do well to remember that our legislators have long felt fit to make clear distinctions between the qualifications of a physician and a nurse, even a nurse practitioner when it comes to license and practice.
Similarly there are significant differences between training and education for those two positions and this is without getting into the particulars of Dr. Ezike’s resume which includes an undergraduate education at Harvard, which is generally considered a big deal.
- RuralKing - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:13 pm:
Sweden’s death toll per capita is overall lower than the UK and Italy (those countries issued strict lockdowns while Sweden never did). They have had a spike, but are also developing herd immunity. The entire article is here
https://www.businessinsider.com/sweden-most-coronavirus-deaths-europe-per-capita-report-2020-5
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:16 pm:
===Sweden’s death toll per capita is overall lower than the UK and Italy===
From the article: Sweden recorded the most coronavirus deaths in Europe per capita over the seven days that ended Tuesday
- JIbba - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:24 pm:
Why is the Department of Commerce defining golf safety rules?
Gotta say that this is not in my top 100 concerns.
As to the list of places doing “better”, Florida is apparently cheating, Sweden is worst in the Nordic countries by leaps and bounds, and France had a harder lockdown than anywhere in the US. Other places have not yet opened for long enough to see the hospitalizations (2+ weeks) or deaths, or they are not testing enough to know.
Netherlands and Denmark didn’t lock down as hard because, as they put it, they were adults and could be counted on to do what was right (social distancing, etc.). Frankly, the US seems it cannot based on the nightly news and the example of Bailey.
- Huh? - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:44 pm:
“…keeping businesses closed will ultimately harm public health, Martell said.”
How does a “for rent” sign in a window make someone sick?
Extending Martell’s logic, a business that closes for the night or closed on sunday is harmful to the public health.
- Jimmy - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 2:00 pm:
The golf thing was just one easy example of one of the many inconsistencies in policy that have occurred since the beginning of this whole hooha. I totally agree with Rich that the administration would have been much better off by using other states as guidance,
- Norseman - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 2:10 pm:
=== Same, which is why we have a state DPH. ===
The problem is that IDPH has few options to effectively force the locals to do what it wants. I believe that pulling funding for the Local Health Protection Grant would be the most effective hammer they have. However, there are a number of rules regarding the communicable and environmental disease programs the locals must maintain to get the grant. Whether this one action is sufficient to find the LHD to be out of compliance and allow IDPH to stop the grant is an open question? Whether they want to pull money affecting so many elements of public health for this will be a big policy question for the Director. LHD funding, like so many units of local government, is not at the level it should be. The Local Health Protection Grant is not funded as it should be.
There will be a lot of thinking that will need to be done when post crisis time permits.
- logic not emotion - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 4:59 pm:
Sandra Martell is very smart and a very good health department administrator. There are adverse effects of the lock down. I’ve read that there have been increases in domestic violence, child abuse, suicides, etc. People unable to work and generate money to pay bills tend to get stressed. Continue that long enough without prospect of going back to work builds that stress to the point of boiling. Couple that with a very low number of cases in many area, and that anger / revolt against sound public health practice should be anticipated. Sandra utilizing common sense to try to get ahead of it and influence the public.
- Jibba - Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 7:36 pm:
Couple that with a very low number of cases in many area
Not the case in Winnebago…
- Lynn S. - Thursday, May 21, 20 @ 11:07 am:
“people unable to work and make money”
When all this is over, I would love to see a team of bright scholars in economics and social sciences do a study about the people who are engaging in domestic violence or child abuse or drug/alcohol abuse during the stay at home order.
Were these folks out of work, working reduced hours, working the same amount, or pulling overtime for increased demand for their occupation/business?
How did their income change, in the comparison of March 2019 vs 2020? April 2019 vs 2020? May 2019 vs 2020?
If the person lacked income during the time of the abuse, why? Were they for some reason ineligible for unemployment, and if so, what was that reason?
I have absolutely no doubt that there are increased incidents of child abuse and domestic violence going on right now. I’m absolutely horrified by them.
But I don’t think it’s a simple, the abuser has no income and is under stress. It may be more a case of, the abuser is spending more time with the victim. Or may have more time to drink or do drugs, which leads to them being abusive to others.
And the solution to “more time with the victim” or “more time to engage in bad habits” isn’t about income. It’s about the abuser and their behavior choices. Which will be much harder to fix.