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.
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Rep. Buckner’s mask story
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The governor was asked about Rep. Kam Buckner’s tweet thread today and I should’ve posted it earlier. Via @ThreadReaderApp…
The revelation of reality sometimes stings in the most unassuming ways. Last Friday, @GovPritzker’s Exec Order requiring facemasks for those who venture outside went into effect. This EO was the right thing to do to protect Illinoisians in the face of this deadly virus.
It is a responsible move that will save lives and those who are using it as a reason to “stick it to the establishment” or start a contrived fight over “personal freedom,” are misguided and out of line. This includes @VP Pence.
Yesterday, however, the mask reminded of the gratuitous & unwanted attn given to those of us of a certain demographic while engaging in normal social acts and how quickly the objective can turn into the subjective based on implicit bias and prejudice
I went to a store to purchase some items. I wore what I think many people would wear to the store on a Sun. (when there is no church): a hoodie, sweatpants & gym shoes. I also had on my facemask & gloves per the Order (I was dressed like many of the other shoppers I saw).
When exiting the store I was approached by a uniformed officer who questioned the items in my cart. I explained to him I had just purchased them from the store he saw me walk out of. He asked to see my receipt, which was deep in my pocket. As I looked for it, he waited
After 30 seconds or so, I found it and gave it to him. He barely glanced at it and then asked for my ID. I complied. He walked to his car and was in it for a couple of minutes and returned both the ID and my receipt.
When I asked why he approached me in the 1st place, his response was: “People are using the coronavirus to do bad things. I couldn’t see your face, man. You looked like you were up to something.” Which begs the question, what does someone who is up to something look like?
As scores of masked people walked in and out without encumbrance I was reminded of the reality that I have been programmed to show as much of my face as possible and use certain cues to disarm anyone who might have a learned inclination to be suspicious of my very presence.
Yrs before the murder of Trayvon Martin, experience dictated to me the dangers that may wait to assail me for simply having my hood up. Because I guess that’s what someone who is “up to something” looks like.
When I was a teenager, a mentor, in one of a series of “talks” that are given to black boys on how to maneuver a society that often looks at you as a threat first, told me to “dress like a prospect and not a suspect,” in order to avoid situations like this.
I am a 6′4′’ black male from the Southside of Chicago & when not in a suit, I’m likely in a hoodie, jeans & Jordans. & depending on the time of year, a myriad of tattoos may be visible. I am keenly aware of not looking like I am “up to something,” but should I have to be?
I can’t help, but think about whether or not my friends of different races ever got the “prospect not suspect” talk. How many of them needed it for their survival? I think I know the answer. I’ve struggled with whether or not to say something about this publicly.
It’s been heavy on my heart. Not because it’s novel. It’s not. It has happened to me before & will probably happen again. Not because I am indignant that my law degree or being a State Legislator didn’t absolve me from this type of interaction. I never expect that it will.
It bothers me most because I can’t help but think of the dangers that are inherent for a number of black men who are just adhering to the mask rule and by doing so, look like they are “up to something.” This is not in the least bit an absolute indictment on any group.
It is an indictment on the whole of society for creating a climate where this is normal and this is ok. Where @HenryLouisGates gets arrested for entering his own home. I’ve said it before & I am sure I will have to say this again as this virus shines an uncomfortable light.
COVID will not break us. It will only reveal to us what is already broken. There’s a lot to be fixed.
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* Let’s talk about this first of the four regions. Do you see any of them, can you look ahead and Dr Zika and think that any of those four regions on May 29 might be moving to phase three?…
Remember this is a data driven and science driven plan, and so everybody will be able to watch, it’s hard for me to just pick out a region and say, what will happen in the future. There have been a lot of things that have happened that no one expected, so it’s hard for me to point at a region and say this one might go first. But I think that people will be able to follow it every single day going on the IDPH website, they’ll be able to see what the metrics are and whether they’re meeting those metrics.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
* I thought we were already having gatherings of 10, why is it phase three that it’s only 10?…
We have actually have not we have essential gatherings of 10 that are available now things that fit in that essential category, but in the next phase it would be any gathering of 10 that people want to have.
* And then phase four is 50, not exactly a huge crowd either…
Again I’ll remind you, the virus is still out there and if maybe things will change. Maybe we will have a very successful treatment to offer to people and therefore we’ll be able to change the guidance for that phase. But as for now that’s what we see going forward.
* But to go from 50 to then everything’s open with phase five is a huge leap…
It is but remember that the gate for getting to phase five is that there’s a vaccine, or a highly effective treatment or that by virtue of herd immunity there just aren’t any new cases coming up.
* So schools, are you saying schools should not open until phase five?…
No, no schools can open in phase four, but again things going forward, Maryann will look different. There’s no doubt about it I mean already as you are walking the streets, you can see people are wearing face coverings. They will still need to do that in phase three, they’ll still need to do that in phase four if there’s no effective treatment that’s available, because people will still have the ability to get sick.
* It doesn’t sound important, obviously with so much going on and so many lives loss but when you say conventions festivals, let’s just say the word Lollapalooza so that folks who asked, you’re saying no way…
I’m saying that if you follow the data and you’ll look at how fast things could happen. I mean, like I said, if there is an effective treatment that comes out, and people can see that really you won’t get that sick if you get COVID-19, then I think, you know, all bets are off, you know you could, things could get worse.
* Let’s be honest, I mean we’re in May right now and that’s, July, August, that’s not going to happen…
I think people will make their own projections going forward about the likelihood of it. I’m hopeful, I must say when I see things like remdesivir getting approved and it having some effect for people who get sick, not you know not dying and you know being able to recover. That’s just one of 70 treatments that’s being examined right now and under trials. So I have some real hope that one of those or several of those will become available widely.
* We went from such few deaths the last couple of days, and still every single death is important. I’m not trying to minimalize, but to go to 176 is so many overnight are is every single one of those Dr. Ezike, are they all COVID… How are they classified because some are questioning truly are they all COVID related?…
Can I just answer it just the first part and then I’ll turn it over to the doctor, which is that one thing I think people should note is they should really look at a multi day average because, as you saw, we had 46 one day, and 170 to another and I even said yesterday, I think, in answer to a question from David McKinney, that you can’t look at one day’s results, and think that you know what direction things are going. And so you really need to look at a multi day average but I’d be happy to turn it over to Dr Ezike about the validity of whether somebody is considered COVID-19.
Dr. Ezike: No, everyone that is listed did have a test that was positive for COVID-19 so it’s not assumptions or guess there was a positive COVID test to confirm that that person had proven.
* Elizabeth Matthews at fox 32, again about masks, I do see facilities are being asked to bring in their own masks from home, even homemade masks at the Taylorville Correctional Center. Our inmates are getting face masks once a week, but not the staff. Is that what is being instructed from the state?…
Oh no that’s not being instructed, I don’t know why that would be I’ll certainly look into it, but I can tell you that we are providing PPE to every facility, Taylorville and every other facility that we control as a state to make sure that we’re protecting people who are either staff members at those facilities or residents.
* Several people have asked me about the Chicago Tribune article about a mutant more contagious coronavirus. Have either of you heard about this, is it possible that it’s a threat here in Illinois?…
Dr. Ezike: I’m not sure I’ve read the exact article that you’re referring to, but in my discussions with [garbled] I do understand that there are two very presentations that they’re seeing of this virus, so whether that’s different strains but there’s a much more lethal strain that’s harder to deal with on the ventilator they’re seeing. Just a more aggressive progressive illness that again the settings as they tried to adjust the settings on the ventilator they just can’t get the right ,settings to be able to help appropriately oxygenate these people and deal with the acute respiratory distress syndrome. And then we see others that don’t have that more malignant course and so I don’t know if that’s what you’re referring to, but I definitely have heard that described that this H variant and this L variant and so I know there’s some articles that have come out about that and I think that is that is well described in both the literature and what I’ve heard from clinicians, here in Illinois.
* Some businesses are already quietly opening with under 10 people and socially distancing, what kind of action might the state take against those businesses?…
Again what we’ve asked is local law enforcement, other officials at a local level should remind people that they can have their permits, their licenses removed from them for opening. There is action that the state can take and enforcement but we’re trying not to, we’re looking to ask people in their local communities to remind the folks who are going against the order that they’re putting other people at risk. And of course I think most people, as we know most people in Illinois are doing the right thing, and they won’t be patronizing those stores, knowing that they may be spreading the virus.
* Any reaction to President Trump last night speaking about cities and states that are run by Democrats, that the democrats in blue states are implying that they are the only ones asking for a bailout? Does Illinois need a bailout from the federal government, police, fire and teachers?…
It’s just so sad that the President has made this political. The fact is that every state, and I talked to Republican governors and Democratic governors, you can imagine what’s happened, in every state revenues have fallen off a cliff right because of stay at home orders or because people don’t want to go out those states that are dependent upon sales taxes alone and no income taxes. They’ve gone, you know, really truly into the deep end of the well. And then income taxes as you know in Illinois, we had to postpone collecting income taxes here, and did so because the federal government postponed federal income taxes until July. So everybody’s got this problem, it’s not a Democratic or Republican problem who are looking for more help from the federal government and we’re gonna get through this. Indeed, I was on a call with Governor Hogan, the Republican governor of Maryland, as well as many other governors with the White House, and we all were expressing the same thing which is, we’re all going to need help in this next package of relief, because remember states are providing states and local governments are providing the supports that people need. We’re the ones who are keeping the police on the streets were the ones who are, making sure that firefighters are available. We’re the ones who are providing the healthcare supports that people need when they’re having trouble with COVID-19 recovering from COVID-19, or just need to isolate because someone in their household may have COVID-19. And so we’re going to need help to make sure that we’re able to do all of those things. And going forward, this is not ending as you know this virus is still out there. And until we see a vaccine or a serious treatment, this is something that the states are going to be dealing with it is extraordinarily expensive.
What we’re looking for though is support for the lost revenues that all the states have experienced. Nothing more, nothing less. It would not go to serve to help pay the pension problems, they know that is not what I’m seeking.
* State Representative Kam Buckner, perhaps you’ve seen on Twitter, his profile, the story of what it was like for him shopping with a mask, when he left asked for ID. Question made you feel as if perhaps he was not there honorably. What do you think of that?…
Yeah, I’m saddened by it I read the tweets and truth truly I think this is happening.
And it’s something that we’re looking into. We obviously believe that there is discriminatory behavior taking place here, so we’re going to make sure that we try to address it.
* Greg Bishop wants to know as the legislature appears to be gearing up, outside of the budget and addressing laws with sunsets, what else should the legislature accomplish this year?…
You know, I can tell you that it will be at least before, my guess is before May, that there’ll be a relatively limited number of things that can get accomplished, just by virtue of how difficult it is to get all of those people together in one place and then to ask people to stay overnight, where they may need hotel rooms or something else. And this is a big state and representatives come from all over the state hours away. So it may be very difficult to do a lot during the month of May, and certainly while we’re in the stay at home order and need to remain in this order.
But you know there are things being talked about. A question was asked yesterday about the Chicago casino bill and whether that could get passed. There you have to prioritize all these things a budget certainly is a priority high priority. So I would suggest that we start with the highest priority and work our way down.
* Are the nurses hired from McCormick Place being reassigned to nursing homes?…
Dr. Ezike: We are in fact providing some healthcare personnel to a variety of locations where there is a staffing problem. You understand that, that when people are tested positive, staff at a facility are tested positive, perhaps multiple of them, they need to isolate and there aren’t a lot of healthcare personnel available these days, because everybody is dealing with this crisis. Every healthcare person, or every member of the healthcare profession, even those who are retired have come back into it and still there is a bit of a shortage here so we are providing wherever we can some help to these facilities.
* How do we know this long plateau that we seem to be experiencing is not in fact, a baseline level of infection, until there’s a vaccine, or stronger mitigation?…
What I can say is that we’ve seen a directionally significant reduction in the R naught, you’ve heard us talk about that. We’ve seen directionally that coming down to a plateau in other places has led to a drop off on the proper side of the curve. And so we anticipate that this is not much different than that.
* How can a school with more than 50 students open safely in phase four? I’m assuming you’re saying that schools don’t have to abide by the 50 right?…
There would be strict IDPH guidelines for schools and we talked about this early on when we were trying to figure out if we needed to close schools or not, that, could you have classrooms of [garbled] kids meeting, if the restriction was 50 for example. And would that work and so the answer is IDPH is going to be working with schools on how they can best do this coming into the fall assuming that we’re in phase four.
* With the four regions, coming back to this news today, that you’ve identified Chicago and Cook County alone have by far the majority of the cases. How is it fair to a group, let’s say McHenry County with only 800 cases into that region when neighboring Winnebago county and Rockford had a close, 680, are these four regions set in stone? Are you willing to look on a closer county level?…
[This was done] many many many years ago as part of the IDPH plan for emergency medical services. That’s why they’re in the regions that they’re in. I know that someone living on the border of a county that might be in another region might have a differing opinion, but this is the way that the IDPH and public health professionals look at the state, because it’s really about hospital bed availability and the ability for us to manage a surge, if there are a surge of cases.
* Illinois base revenues in April fell $2.6 billion below last year. COGFA says it will put out revised estimates soon for FY 20 and 21. When will we see specific plans from the administration for adjusting this year’s and next year’s budgets?…
We’re again talking to members of the General Assembly, working together with them, I know they have plans, thinking about getting together in May. And so my hope is that we’ll be able to work together on a budget for the year. This is clearly the most unusual budget that anybody will have ever seen because, who has ever seen at least in our lifetimes. The drop off of revenue, because of a pandemic. And so there’s no doubt there’s going to have to be a lot of collaboration, even across the aisle to get things done.
* Where do things stand with your commitment to coordinate reopening with other Midwest governors, have you been meeting what will this coordination look like what areas are you focused on?…
Well, again, the coordination is a sharing of best ideas and a common set of of principles that we’re all operating on, that we don’t want to lift restrictions too fast and have a overwhelming of our hospitals, and so on, all the things that we’re talking about and you can see those reflected in the plans that other Midwestern governors have put out.
* Can you please explain in detail the testing and hospitalization thresholds to move from phase two, to phase three and then phase three phase four?…
I would just direct you to that there’s a plan that we put out and sent out to all the members of the media. If you don’t have it certainly our press secretary will send it to you. But that’s got the details in it.
Click here for that detailed plan.
* As regions of the state reopen if some are progressing through the phases in your plan more quickly than others, how do you address people moving between the different regions, would you implement restrictions to prevent infections between regions?…
We’re not restricting travel here. But this is an opportunity for people to start to move toward more normalcy, and certainly you know we want the entire state to enjoy more normalcy. And it’s just a matter of making sure that people who live in certain regions have access to health care, and that those hospitals are not overwhelmed.
* What are the state’s plans for operating nursing homes if workers follow through on their plans to start striking on Friday, has your administration talked to the owners who will ensure the residents care continues?…
We certainly have encouraged both sides to reach an agreement. I think there’s a desire on the part of both sides to reach an agreement. But, you know, but I wouldn’t put a plan out there. I think that they know that they must reach an agreement to make sure we’re taking care of our seniors.
* The Franklin Williamson bi-county health department has asked IDPH about enforcement guidance after West Frankfort Mayor Tom Jordan gave the go ahead to all city businesses to reopen. What guidance if any is IDPH offering?…
Dr. Ezike: So again, I have talked to local health department leaders, my local health department partners, they’re not they’re not law enforcement. We are trying to advocate the best things for overall the public’s health. I don’t want to put people in harm’s way by instigating altercations. I know that there is law enforcement that hopefully is supporting this order. supporting the measures and is going to be able to encourage people. It’s not anybody’s goal to round up people and put them in jail right. We don’t want to put somebody in a congregate setting to start with. So let’s just work together. We’re looking for people to take responsibility and do the right thing. We’re not looking to create a police state where we’re marching around and trying to put people in jail. We want to protect people’s health and we want everyone to help us do that and I hope that we can all understand why these things are in place so that we can affect the best possible outcome for the people of Illinois.
Gov. Pritzker: And I would just point out that elected officials who are encouraging people to gather to break these rules are in fact encouraging people to get sick. That’s what’s going to happen if you tell the people of your city, of your township, of your county to just go out and ignore these orders. These are doctors who are issuing these who are suggesting these things this is science and data. And I guess if you don’t believe in science and data and you’re an elected official, you’re not doing the public service that you ought to be doing for the people that elected you.
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*** UPDATE *** Click here to read the full plan in its entirety.
* Press release…
Building on data, science, and guidance from public health experts and after consulting with stakeholders across the state, Governor JB Pritzker announced Restore Illinois, a five-phase plan focused on saving lives, livelihood, and safely reopening Illinois.
“”We have to figure out how to live with COVID-19 until it can be vanquished – and to do so in a way that best supports our residents’ health and our healthcare systems, and saves the most lives,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Restore Illinois is a public health plan to safely reintroduce the parts of our lives that have been put on hold in our fight against COVID-19. This is also a data-driven plan that operates on a region-by-region basis, a recognition that reality on the ground looks different in different areas of our state.”
The five-phase plan is guided by public health metrics designed to provide a framework for reopening businesses, education, and recreational activities in each phase. This initial plan can and will be updated as research and science develop and as the potential for effective treatments or vaccines is realized.
The five-phase plan is based on regional healthcare availability and recognizes the distinct impact COVID-19 has had on different regions of our state as well as regional variations in hospital capacity. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has 11 Emergency Medical Services Regions that have traditionally guided its statewide public health work. For the purposes of Restore Illinois, from those 11, four health regions are established, each with the ability to independently move through a phased approach: Northeast Illinois; North-Central Illinois; Central Illinois; and Southern Illinois.
The five phases of reopening for each health region are as follows:
Phase 1 – Rapid Spread: The rate of infection among those tested and the number of patients admitted to the hospital is high or rapidly increasing. Strict stay at home and social distancing guidelines are put in place and only essential businesses remain open. Every region has experienced this phase once already and could return to it if mitigation efforts are unsuccessful.
Phase 2 – Flattening: The rate of infection among those tested and the number of patients admitted to the hospital beds and ICU beds increases at an ever slower rate, moving toward a flat and even a downward trajectory. Non-essential retail stores reopen for curb-side pickup and delivery. Illinoisans are directed to wear a face covering when outside the home, and can begin enjoying additional outdoor activities like golf, boating and fishing while practicing social distancing. To varying degrees, every region is experiencing flattening as of early May.
Phase 3 – Recovery: The rate of infection among those tested, the number of patients admitted to the hospital, and the number of patients needing ICU beds is stable or declining. Manufacturing, offices, retail, barbershops and salons can reopen to the public with capacity and other limits and safety precautions. All gatherings limited to 10 or fewer people are allowed. Face coverings and social distancing are the norm.
Phase 4 – Revitalization: The rate of infection among those tested and the number of patients admitted to the hospital continues to decline. All gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed, restaurants and bars reopen, travel resumes, child care and schools reopen under guidance from the IDPH. Face coverings and social distancing are the norm.
Phase 5 – Illinois Restored: With a vaccine or highly effective treatment widely available or the elimination of any new cases over a sustained period, the economy fully reopens with safety precautions continuing. Conventions, festivals and large events are permitted, and all businesses, schools, and places of recreation can open with new safety guidance and procedures in place reflecting the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Until COVID-19 is defeated, Restore Illinois recognizes that as health metrics tell us it is safe to move forward, health metrics may also tell us to return to a prior phase. With a vaccine or treatment not yet available, IDPH will be closely monitoring key metrics to immediately identify new growth in cases and hospitalizations to determine whether a return to a prior phase is needed.
As millions of Illinoisans continue working together by staying at home and following experts’ recommendations, the result has been a lower infection rate, lower hospitalizations, and lower number of fatalities than without these measures. As the state’s curve begins to flatten, the risk of spread remains, and modeling and data point to a rapid surge in new cases if all mitigation measures are immediately lifted. The governor and his administration continue to urge all Illinois residents to follow the state’s stay at home order and to follow the guidance issued by the state and public health experts.
Click here or on the image discussing the phases if you’re having trouble seeing the pic.
Discuss.
…Adding… I’ve asked what this “continues to decline” stuff means. For how long must these rates decline?
*** UPDATE 1 *** I’m told a multi-page plan is about to be sent out, so we’ll get the answer to that question I posed soon, apparently.
Pritzker clarified that Phase One ended on April 30. Phase 2 is where the state is right now.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The governor is going into more detail today…
IDPH will watch the identified health metrics closely to determine when regions have attained them so each can move from phase two, to phases three and four. And more specifically those metrics are:
First, a region must be at or under a 20% test positivity rate and increasing by no more than 10 percentage points over a 14 day period, and a region must have either not had an overall increase or must have maintained overall stability in hospital admissions for COVID like illness in the last 28 days, and a region must maintain the availability of a surge threshold of 14% availability of ICU beds of medical and surgery beds and ventilators.
Because May 1 marked the beginning of phase two in which we loosened and modified a number of mitigations, that is the first day for the 14 and 28 day measurement periods to begin, meaning that the earliest that a region can move to phase three is May 29.
Changes to mitigation strategies in each phase will impact the data in each phase. So the assessment period begins when each new phase begins. IDPH will be tracking each of the four regions on these metrics, and we’ll make that available data available online to you every day, so that the public can track it to. Importantly, just as public health indicators will tell us when to move forward at any time. They could also signal that we need to move backward. IDPH will be tracking metrics here as well, moving backward is honestly the last thing that anyone wants to do. But if the virus begins to attack more people or the healthcare systems are heading toward becoming overwhelmed in any region swift action will need to be taken.
We have named phase four “revitalization” because it is in this phase that everyone in Illinois will be rebuilding what school and work will look like for a while, until we reach the other side of this pandemic.
The only way that we can cross into phase five “Illinois restored,” with all the sectors of the economy running with completely normal operations is with a vaccine, or a widely available and highly effective treatment or with the elimination of any new cases over a sustained period of time.
It brings me no joy to say this, but based on what the experts tell us, and everything we know about this virus and how easily it spreads in a crowd, large conventions festivals and other major events will be on hold until we reach phase five.
* More from the governor…
I spent decades in business, so I understand the urge to try and flip the switch and reopen our entire economy. Here’s the problem: that switch simply does not exist with a virus that can’t currently be eliminated by medical science. And I won’t open the door to overwhelming our hospital system and possibly 10s of thousands of additional deaths by exposing everyone to the virus today just because a loud but tiny minority would like to indulge in that fantasy.
On that note, I do want to touch on the enforcement of these phases at the state level. We don’t have the capacity or the desire to police the individual behavior of 12.7 million people. Enforcement comes in many forms. And our first and best option is to rely on Illinoisans working together to see each other through this pandemic. But we are also working with local law enforcement, and I’ve asked for their assistance to monitor for violations and consider taking actions when necessary, but that is not the option that anyone prefers.
It’s important to remember that we put this plan together not only because the state needs a plan, but because mayors need a plan, because small business people need a plan, workers need a plan every day Illinoisans need a plan. But this plan as vetted and data driven as it is, is a plan for responding to and recovering from a global pandemic in the 21st century, there is no modern day precedent for this. We are quite literally writing the playbook as we go. The scientists learn more about this virus every day. And we can, we will make our restore Illinois plan, smarter, as we move forward. I’m not afraid to redesign the playbook if the rules change.
He then went on to give a pep talk to the state.
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2,122 new cases, 176 additional deaths
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
[Headline was fixed. Sorry!]
* Dr. Ezike at today’s briefing…
To date, we have run a total of 346,286 tests for COVID-19, with 13,139 being reported in the last 24 hours.
Today we are reporting an additional 2122 new cases of COVID-19 here in Illinois, for a total of 65,962 cases. Unfortunately I’m also reporting the largest number of fatalities reported in a single 24 hour period with 176 deaths which brings us to a total of 2838 lives lost in Illinois associated with COVID-19.
Regarding hospitalizations, in the hospitals throughout the state we have 4780 people who were reported to be in the hospital, of those 1266 patients were in the intensive care unit. And of those Intensive Care Unit patients 780 were on ventilators.
On the recovery front, cases who responded to our survey continue to report recovery from this deadly virus. 47% of those surveyed within 14 days from their positive test report illness recovering. 74% of individual surveyed 28 days after their positive test, no longer experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and are reporting recovering.
* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 2,122 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 176 additional deaths.
Bureau County: 1 male 90s
Clinton County: 2 female 80s
Cook County: 1 female 30s, 1 female 40s, 4 males 40s, 3 females 50s, 6 males 50s, 8 females 60s, 20 males 60s, 5 females 70s, 17 males 70s, 18 females 80s, 15 males 80s, 11 females 90s, 8 males 90s
DuPage County: 2 males 50s, 2 males 60s, 2 males 70s, 2 females 80s, 1 male 80s, 4 females 90s
Kane County: 1 male 40s, 2 males 50s, 1 female 60s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
Kankakee County: 1 female 90s
Kendall County: 3 females 80s
Lake County: 1 male 40s, 1 male 90s
Macoupin County: 1 female 40s
Madison County: 1 female 80s
McDonough County: 1 female 90s
McHenry County: 2 females 90s
Randolph County: 1 male 60s
Rock Island County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 60s, 1 male 90s
Sangamon County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
St. Clair County: 1 male 60s, 2 males 70s, 2 females 80s, 1 male 80s
Union County: 1 male 80s
Will County: 2 females 70s, 3 females 80s, 5 females 90s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 65,962 cases, including 2,838 deaths, in 97 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have processed 346,286 specimens for a total of 13,139.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Oscar got his first haircut today since I don’t know when. The poor fella’s hair was matted, so off it went…
* The Question: Wellness check! How are you holding up?
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* I missed this story last week, but saw it in Hannah Meisel’s roundup today. Here’s Andrew Maloney at the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin…
Schiff Hardin received $591,857.95 for investigating sexual harassment complaints in House Speaker Michael J. Madigan’s office. Madigan hired Schiff partner Margaret “Maggie” A. Hickey, a former federal prosecutor and state executive inspector general, to audit the speaker’s office’s handling of complaints about bullying and harassment by Madigan’s former chief of staff and others.
The contract, worth $625,738 during fiscal 2019, extended to complaints made to and against other House Democrats and included an “overall review of the procedures of the Office of the Speaker for handling such complaints” as well as providing for “advice and counsel” on the subject. Hickey was hired in June 2018 and released a 200-page report in August 2019, substantiating claims of bullying and inappropriate comments against ex-staffer Tim Mapes.
“During this investigation, Ms. Hickey interviewed more than 100 people, including current and former [s]peaker’s [o]ffice workers, legislators and others involved in Illinois politics and the Capitol workplace. Specifically, Ms. Hickey interviewed more than 80 current or former members of the [s]peaker’s [o]ffice — including workers on the [s]peaker’s [s]taff and in the Office of the Clerk of the House — and more than 12 representatives from the Democratic [c]aucus,” the executive summary stated.
“Ms. Hickey and the Schiff Hardin team also reviewed thousands of documents, including personnel files, emails, text messages and legislative transcripts and journals.”
Linda Yun, a Schiff Hardin spokesperson, said in an emailed statement, “As of today, March 18, we have billed the Office of the Speaker approximately $606,000 for work performed under the contract effective July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. Maggie Hickey has demonstrated tremendous leadership since joining Schiff Hardin as a partner two years ago, and her work continues to enhance our national white collar defense and investigations practice.”
Her report, released last August, is here.
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* Roll Call…
Most of the 10 most vulnerable House members are still Democrats, who are defending their majority. But with six months until Election Day, two Republicans join the list. […]
Republican newcomers include Illinois’ Rodney Davis, who clung to his seat during the 2018 Democratic wave and faces the same, well-funded opponent this year. […]
Davis held on by the slimmest of margins during the 2018 wave that swept Democrats into the majority, so he’s no stranger to tough races that attract a lot of outside money. His bid for a fifth term once again finds him up against Betsy Dirksen Londrigan and offers Democrats one of their few opportunities to oust a Republican. The race will be hotly contested, with health care taking a prominent role in the messaging. Dirksen Londrigan had a slight fundraising advantage with $1.6 million on hand on March 31 to Davis’ $1.5 million.
* Rodney Davis fundraising email…
***Urgent: Please read!***
Friend,
Today, Rodney Davis’ seat was listed as a “Top 10 Most Vulnerable” and Democrats are circling the wagons saying that they expect to flip it in November.
Our opponent Betsy “Leftwing” Londrigan wants to win here. If elected, she would be a key ally for Nancy Pelosi and the far Left. We can’t allow this to happen.
We wouldn’t be calling on you if this wasn’t urgent. Londrigan is using the Pelosi’s campaign arm, the DCCC, and its digital fundraising machine to outraise us by bringing even more national attention to this race.
Our team knows that nobody will fight for Downstate Illinois more than Rodney. Even during these unprecedented times, he is working across the aisle to make sure that Illinois has the resources it needs to help its citizens get through this pandemic.
Meanwhile…. Nancy Pelosi is eating ice cream in her kitchen and pushing a partisan, far Left agenda that is stalling much needed action in Congress.
It couldn’t be any more clear who the problem is. The far Left would rather watch America suffer than work with President Trump and GOP leadership to do what’s right.
Our opponent has already been endorsed by the far Left in D.C. and if she were to win this seat, it would mean that Nancy Pelosi would have another vote in her hands.
We need your help in this fight, Friend. Can you rush in $25, $15, $10, $5, or even just $1 to help us fight back against the unlimited resources of the far Left?
Rush in $45 to help Rodney Davis fight back! >>>>
Rush in $25 to help Rodney Davis fight back! >>>
Rush in $15 to help Rodney Davis fight back! >>>
Rush in $10 to help Rodney Davis fight back! >>>
Rush in $5 to help Rodney Davis fight back! >>>
Rush in Another Amount to help Rodney Davis fight back! >>>
Thank you,
Team Rodney
Downstate Illinois is the #1 target for Democrats this year, can we count on you to rush in $15, $10, $5, or even $1, to help Rodney win this race?
Donate Today!
P.S. Make sure you are following the CDC’s guidelines to protect yourself from Coronavirus!
* Betsy Dirksen Londrigan fundraising email…
We know that so many in our community have been impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19. We greatly appreciate you being a part of this incredible team, and please only consider contributing to our campaign if you are able to do so. Stay safe and healthy!
Richard — We have HUGE breaking news to share: Roll Call just named Rodney Davis one of the top 10 most vulnerable members of Congress and IL-13 the one seat in the entire country most likely to flip from Republican to Democrat in 2020.
Flip IL-13 blue
In 2018, Betsy came within less than one point of beating Rodney Davis and her rematch this November is poised to be just as close. Roll Call is calling our race one of Democrats’ “few opportunities to oust a Republican.”
Bottom Line: Protecting and expanding our Democratic House majority starts right here in Central Illinois.
With Rodney Davis now being named one of the most vulnerable members of Congress and a pure toss-up race by several election forecasters, Washington Republicans and their corporate and special-interests backers will amp up their efforts to protect Rodney Davis — and we need to be ready, Richard.
We’ve relied on this grassroots team every step of the way to ensure we have the resources we need to flip IL-13 blue. Will you step up with a contribution of $3 or more to help us raise $5,000 by midnight so we can build on this incredible momentum?
* DCCC…
“It’s no surprise that Congressman Davis ranks high on the list of ‘most vulnerable’ incumbents,” said DCCC Spokesperson Courtney Rice. “Between Davis’ continued attacks on Central Illinoisans’ health care and his record of putting special interests first, come November, Rodney Davis will find himself on a one-way, first-class flight back to Illinois.”
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* The Illinois Retail Merchants Association is receiving regular updates from its members about the issues around the new face-covering requirement in the governor’s revised executive order. I asked them to send me a roundup. Here it is…
DeKalb - Consumer Wearing Hunting Knife Refuses to Wear Mask
Have had 3 or 4 customer issues about asking them to wear a mask. One was somewhat disturbing. Very large man about 6 foot 6 with what I believe was a hunting knife told me that he would not wear a mask and we can’t legally ask him to put one on and he was going to shop in the store and asked how I was going to enforce it.
DeKalb—Employee is Assaulted
ASD politely reminded a male customer who was not wearing face protection of the Governor’s facial covering order. The male customer became agitated as customers near the area made inappropriate comments towards the male customer. The male customer then caused a disturbance in the store, stating that he is a disabled veteran and that he does not need to follow the Governor’s order. An associate who overheard the male customer yelling walked into the aisle where the male customer was standing, the male customer then took the glasses off of the face of our associate and threw them to the floor, knocked over a display and threw a cantaloupe bowl in the direction of another associate. The male customer then exited the store.
Peoria—Law Enforcement Officer in Uniform Refuses to Wear Mask
A police officer visited the grocery store without a mask. Several customers and the store manager challenged him on it. The officer told them he was making a political protest. The manager asked him to leave which he ultimately did but how do you get enforcement help when the police aren’t abiding?
Romeoville #1—Customer Threatened to Get a Gun
A customer was asked to wear a mask/face covering by an AP associate who was monitoring the door and the customer became irate. The customer then threatened to go to his car and get his gun and shoot the associate.
To make matters worse…
Romeoville #2—Mayor Advised Law Enforcement to Arrest Retail Workers Not Enforcing Mask Requirement
The Romeoville Mayor sent a police officer to let me know that going forward, we must refuse any individuals at the front doors that are not wearing a mask. If not, the store manager in charge will be arrested for reckless endangerment. He did not have any documentation of the sudden change.
Champaign—Law enforcement refuses to respond to mask calls.
Carbondale—Employees Threatened
I want to share with you the issues we are having at our Carbondale store around the face covering mandate. This is putting our Teammates and Customers in harm’s way. We have already had several issues at this location as we attempt to enforce this. The issues arise not only between Customers and our Teammates but also between Customers. The public is on edge and even a passive approach has sent several Customer’s over the edge to a point they are shouting at our Teammates. Our Teammates fear for their safety. When someone refuses to comply, we have had complying Customer’s verbally attack the non-compliance Customer. We should not be the police or enforcers. My fear is that these instances will escalate into a situation where someone will get hurt.
Bloomington, Champaign, Urbana, Springfield, Pekin and Peoria—No enforcement.
No enforcement will take place without stores placing a no trespass order on a customer.
Woodstock—Customers Verbally Abused Employees
Thru the first day and a half we have had approximately 10 customers who were verbally confrontational. I have not heard of or seen any police presence regarding the matter either.
Carbondale - Consumer Fights
We just had two customers getting into an altercation at my self-checkouts over why one guy had to wear a mask and the other did not. The younger gentleman walked up to the self-checkout attendant and asked her why the older gentleman was in the store without a mask. The older gentleman turned around from his self-checkout and said I will tell you why. The younger man said get out of my face and then it got heated. In the end the younger gentleman wearing a mask threw his items at the self-checkout attendant.
Fairview Heights - Miscellaneous Incidents
Following up on mask incident(s) this morning. We have had a number of customers not wearing face coverings, and when our greeter mentions the governor’s mandate they have been cussed, flipped the bird and insulted. The most egregious was a man who got out his phone and started taking pictures and video of our greeter, then confronted our exit person. I went out to change our sidewalk sign which had just arrived, and he was still outside taking video and accused us of denying him food.
IRMA is not asking for a total repeal of the requirement, but it’s clearly concerned with the facts on the ground.
* Related…
* The vital importance of wearing masks: For example, in Hong Kong, only four confirmed deaths due to COVID-19 have been recorded since the beginning of the pandemic, despite high density, mass transportation, and proximity to Wuhan. Hong Kong’s health authorities credit their citizens’ near-universal mask-wearing as a key factor (surveys show almost 100 percent voluntary compliance).
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Demand For Dialysis Soars Due To COVID-19
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
The Illinois Kidney Care Alliance (IKCA) consists of health advocates and professionals, community and patient groups, health providers and businesses focused on raising awareness about those who suffer from kidney disease.
As hospitals prepared to care for patients with COVID-19, another unanticipated medical complication has emerged — kidney failure. Approximately 20-40% of those most severely ill due to COVID-19 have developed acute kidney injury.
IKCA advocates for those who suffer from kidney failure and their families. Patients currently on life-sustaining dialysis or waiting for a functioning kidney are among society’s most vulnerable people. IKCA urges dialysis patients to continue their treatment and to adhere to social distancing during these challenging times. For more information, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or visit our website.
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State delays $1.2 billion bond sale
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bloomberg…
Illinois delayed the planned auction of $1.2 billion of short-term debt as it faces record-high penalties to borrow on Wall Street because of the deep financial hit the state is being dealt by the coronavirus shutdown.
The worst-rated state had planned to sell about $1.2 billion of short-term tax-exempt general-obligation debt on Wednesday, its first borrowing during the pandemic, to ease the revenue shortfall in the last two months of the fiscal year. The deal has been moved to “day-to-day status,” meaning it will be sold if market conditions warrant.
With the economic slowdown raising the risk of Illinois having its bonds cut to junk, investors have driven the yields on its two-year debt to nearly 4 percentage points above benchmark, far exceeding every other U.S. state.
The timing of the sale was a little “strange” because there are a lot of short-term unknowns with state finances, said Daniel Solender, head of municipals at Lord Abbett & Co., which owns Illinois debt as part of its $27 billion in municipal assets under management.
“It’s not a complete surprise they delayed it,” he said. “There is the Fed program which hasn’t really been set up yet and states are still waiting on what Congress is going to do.”
This was supposed to be a bridge loan. The state would pay it back within a year.
…Adding… Related…
* County looks at other options besides furloughs: Macon County has just about enough money to last them through the June payroll.
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* As you already know, Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) has withdrawn his request for a TRO against the governor’s executive order. But the governor is pressing ahead with the Illinois Supreme Court…
The Governor maintains his request for supervisory relief under Rule 383, which included a request for a stay of circuit court proceedings. Given the changed circumstances brought about by Bailey’s decision to consent to the vacatur of the TRO he had sought and obtained, the Governor now seeks under Rule 383 resolution of the underlying legal question presented by this case—that is, whether the Governor acted within the scope of his authority under the Illinois Emergency Management Act (“Act”), 20 ILCS 3305/1, et seq., and the Illinois Constitution when he issued disaster proclamations and executive orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic—and a stay of the circuit court proceedings pending resolution of this supplemental motion.
More info about Rule 383 is here.
* Reasoning…
As detailed in the Governor’s April 29 emergency motion, the exercise of supervisory authority is appropriate here because the normal appellate process will not afford sufficient relief and because the resolution of the underlying legal question presented will have a profound effect on the Governor’s response to the public health emergency presently facing Illinois. The dissolution of the TRO, which will prolong the normal appellate review process, only heightens these considerations.
Indeed, the deleterious effects of the circuit court’s order—even though dissolved—will not cease unless and until this Court makes a definitive pronouncement on the scope of the Governor’s authority to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Illinois residents during a global pandemic. As one example, there are already indications that the uncertainty over the lawfulness of the Governor’s emergency actions has caused individuals to stop complying with the stay-at-home directives. Two days after the court entered the TRO, a COVID-19 positive individual living in Bailey’s district visited three stores in violation of the stay-at-home order. And on May 1, 2020, protestors gathered in Chicago and Springfield in violation of the stay-at-home order. Additionally, the initial entry of the TRO has caused litigants to file similar suits seeking relief from the stay-at- home orders. Similar lawsuits will likely follow in Illinois courts, which are already minimizing operations, and lead to a patchwork of conflicting orders when concerted guidance is needed. […]
Moreover, the mootness doctrine does not prevent this Court from reviewing whether the Governor acted within his authority. Courts of review generally will not decide questions that are moot, in the sense that “the issues involved in the trial court no longer exist because intervening events have rendered it impossible for the reviewing court to grant effectual relief.” But a reviewing court may decide issues that are moot under various exceptions to mootness, including the public interest exception, and the exception for issues capable of repetition but evading review. Accordingly, to the extent this Court determines that the underlying question is moot, it is not precluded from reaching the question because both of these exceptions apply here. […]
(T)here is unquestionably a likelihood of future recurrence of the question raised in this case. Bailey agreed to have the TRO vacated, but he did not voluntarily dismiss his case with prejudice. So in this case alone, the question is likely to recur. And, again, other litigation will certainly present the same question. Resolving that question sooner rather than later, after a period of needless uncertainty about whether the Governor’s executive orders are legally authorized, will greatly serve the public interest. […]
Indeed, Bailey, apparently seeking to manipulate the court system to his advantage, has reserved the right to have the same issue decided against the Governor. But he should not be given a veto over where, and when, the courts ultimately decide that issue. Instead, this Court should now take the issue that he first raised (and reserves the right to raise again) and decide it for the benefit of the Governor and all the people of Illinois.
…Adding… Chicago Daily Law Bulletin…
Bailey’s attorney Thomas DeVore said his client intends to file an amended complaint by the end of the week.
His initial complaint argues the governor cannot exercise his emergency powers beyond 30 days, and that the state’s authority to quarantine is delegated to the Illinois Department of Public Health and local health departments.
“I feel their request for the supreme court to intervene under these facts is unprecedented and is an insult to the honorable circuit court,” DeVore, an attorney with Silver Lake Group Ltd. in Greenville, said in an email.
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The consequences of reopening too soon
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WSIL TV…
West Frankfort business owners now have the option of re-opening stores and restaurants. Mayor Tom Jordan says city officials will not fine businesses if they decide to reopen. […]
West Frankfort businesses will have to continue following safety measures, such as social distancing, hand washing, and wearing a facial covering or mask.
Mayor Jordan says several businesses have told him that, although they welcome the choice to reopen, they’re nervous about going through with it.
“The governor has some authority. I mean, the beauty shops are worried about their licenses. The liquor stores are worried they’ll be fined and have their liquor licenses taken.”
As we discussed yesterday, all state licensed businesses better think twice about this.
Also, how do you cut someone’s hair from six feet away?
* The governor talked yesterday about businesses that reopen in defiance of the EO….
Well, I was a businessman before I became governor, and I have to tell you that I would not want to defy the executive order because I believe that I would be taking on liability if I did that. […]
It would not surprise me if insurance companies are found to not be required to cover you when you are defying essentially state law or state executive order.
And, remember, the executive order derives from state law.
* The businesses also need to think about local public health enforcement. I called the Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department today and asked them what they were going to do…
We’ve put in a call to the Illinois Department of Public Health about what they want us to do as far as enforcement and we’re just waiting on a response from them.
I’ve asked the governor’s office for a response. I’ll let you know when I hear back.
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COGFA: “Perfect storm” slams April revenues
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* COGFA…
A combination of COVID-19 impacts, delayed tax filing deadlines, and comparative drop-off due to 2019’s “April Surprise”, all conspired to dramatically derail receipts as base revenues fell $2.740 billion. After managing to avoid much of the virus’ effects on March revenues, as foreshadowed in last month’s briefing, the impact on April’s receipts was unavoidable. In addition, the “tax day” deadline change to July 15th delayed approximately $1.3 billion in final payments into next fiscal year. And finally, the one-time nature of 2019’s “April Surprise” related to a surge in non-wage income taxes and federal sources, exacerbated this month’s comparative decline. April had the same number of receipting days as last fiscal year. […]
Gross personal income taxes fell a whopping $1.977 billion, or $1.678 billion on a net basis, while gross corporate income taxes dropped $482 million, or $377 million net. Again, the decreases were fueled by effects of COVID-19, tax day deadline changes, and the phenomenally strong performance of income taxes in April 2019. Sales taxes, after holding up in March due to receipts in “the pipeline”, couldn’t escape the economic shut down, as gross receipts dropped $143 million, or $146 million net. […]
Overall transfers fell $35 million for the month. Lottery transfers dropped $21 million as ticket purchases were likely impacted by stay at home orders. Other miscellaneous transfers were off $10 million, while no riverboat transfers were recorded as the Gaming Board has suspended casino operations [and video gaming] until further notice. Federal sources suffered a sizable $490 million downturn in April, despite increased Medicaid reimbursement percentages rising 6.2% due to the recently federally passed Families First Act. The decline in federal sources is largely tied to the “April Surprise” of 2019, whereby a voluminous amount of reimbursable spending was made possible due to the one-time surge of income tax receipts.
Personal income tax receipts dropped 48.5 percent below last April. Corporate income tax receipts fell 57 percent. Sales taxes were off 19.6 percent. Lottery receipts fell 29.6 percent.
* Fiscal year to date…
Excluding proceeds from the Treasurer’s Investment program as well as interfund borrowing, after incorporating April’s dramatic falloff of receipts, base general funds revenues have turned negative for the year—dropping $1.001 billion below last year’s levels [when those two items are included, the decline grows to $1.139 billion]. […]
With two months remaining in the fiscal year, gross personal income taxes are now down $1.113 billion, or $913 million net. Gross corporate income taxes are off $377 million, or $273 million net. While gross sales taxes are clinging to a $61 million gain [$102 million net], it is also expected to soon fall into negative territory. The performance of the remaining revenue sources continue mixed, but have experienced a combined $126 million decline.
Aided by gains associated to Refund Fund and Capital Projects Fund transfers, overall transfers to the general funds are still up $404 million. Federal sources, which have experienced wide monthly swings in performance this fiscal year, are now down $195 million.
Fiscal year to date, personal income taxes are down 5.8 percent, corporate income tax receipts are down 15.2 percent and sales taxes are up 0.8 percent (but that’s a lagging indicator because of how the taxes are remitted). Lottery receipts are down 17.2 percent and the state’s casino take is off 15.2 percent.
Income tax proceeds for the Local Government Distributive Fund were down $129 million in April vs. last April. Proceeds are down $75 million fiscal year to date.
* Related…
* $37.2 million in recreational pot sales in April
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House starts slowly bringing back staff
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Subscribers got the full memo yesterday. Here’s Ben Orner at Capitol News Illinois…
The Illinois House is taking the first steps to reopening its Capitol operations during the coronavirus pandemic.
A memo from Jessica Basham, chief of staff to House Speaker Michael Madigan, said that while staff have been working remotely for several weeks “there are certain functions that were not able to be performed while physically absent from the buildings.”
“Starting this week, about 30 staff are being directed to come into the office, with not more than about 10 staff in on a given day,” she wrote. “Most staff members will be in the office 4 hours or less per week, and no one is expected to be in more than 10 hours per week. Social distancing will be maintained at all times, and a cloth face covering will be provided to each employee.”
The Senate has had a skeleton crew operating throughout the recess.
* Meanwhile…
State Rep. Margo McDermed joined her colleagues in a letter asking Gov. JB Pritzker to call a special legislative session to work on opening up the state amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The House members said Pritzker should call the special session if House and Senate leadership “continue to refuse” to allow the Legislature to meet, according to the letter.
* And…
A draft version of guidance [for reconvening the GA] from the Illinois Department of Public Health obtained by the Chicago Tribune suggests attendance at future meetings be limited to state employees. Members of the public, including lobbyists and witnesses, can communicate electronically, with only legislators present for votes.
State police should screen everyone entering for signs of a fever and regularly sanitize all commonly touched surfaces. The guidance also suggests lawmakers 65 and over should consider avoiding traveling to Springfield for the session. Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan is 78.
“The priority is safety for everybody concerned,” Madigan’s spokesperson told the Tribune. “I don’t think there’s anything new as it relates to anything that would approach a timetable.”
Thoughts?
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New, more contagious strain identified
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* LA Times…
Scientists have identified a new strain of the coronavirus that has become dominant worldwide and appears to be more contagious than the versions that spread in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study led by scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The new strain appeared in February in Europe, migrated quickly to the East Coast of the United States and has been the dominant strain across the world since mid-March, the scientists wrote.
In addition to spreading faster, it may make people vulnerable to a second infection after a first bout with the disease, the report warned.
The 33-page report was posted Thursday on BioRxiv, a website that researchers use to share their work before it is peer reviewed, an effort to speed up collaborations with scientists working on COVID-19 vaccines or treatments. That research has been largely based on the genetic sequence of earlier strains and might not be effective against the new one.
Go read the whole thing. The study is here.
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Breen overreacts (of course)
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From yesterday’s media briefing…
* Yesterday the pastor at the church in Lena Illinois had services with dozens of people attending. Will the Illinois State Police enforce the court ruling next weekend or will you request the county do something to enforce that order?…
We have always asked local law enforcement, local officials to enforce these orders. And the best way to do that of course is a reminder to the pastor and to the parishioners that they’re putting themselves and others in danger by holding a service like this. The pastor filed suit, that suit failed. And it’s because people do have the ability to worship, and we’re trying to simply to keep people safe during this time of a global pandemic.
* So will you urge, I’m sorry if I missed it, will you urge local officials both in Chicago, which was going to bring me to my next question, and in any other county that is defying the gathering the stay at home and the gathering order of no more than 10 people. Will you urge authorities to step in and do something more than disperse?…
We’re asking them to disperse, so that’s the most important thing. We just don’t want people getting sick. Nobody, it’s not an intention that people will go to jail. I will say, however, that if people are persistently defiant, they can be put in jail. And I’m not suggesting that that’s the best answer or the first answer, but it is something that’s an option for local law enforcement.
* Rock River Times…
Lawyer for Lena church fires back at J.B. Pritzker over comment about jailing stay-at-home violators
A Chicago lawyer who filed a civil lawsuit against Gov. J.B. Pritzker on behalf of a Lena pastor fired back at the governor Monday, claiming Pritzker threatened churchgoers with jail for defying Illinois’ stay-at-home order.
“Pritzker’s latest threat of jail for people of faith is outrageous, and we will seek immediate relief from the court of appeals to defend our clients,” said Peter Breen, an attorney with the Thomas More Society.
Dude, your client ignored a federal judge’s ruling as well as the executive order.
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Open thread
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Please keep it Illinois-centric and be nice to each other. Thanks…
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* After briefing reporters on hospitalizations, ICU and ventilator use, Gov. Pritzker praised and thanked educators and then took questions from reporters.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
* Yesterday the pastor at the church in Lena Illinois had services with dozens of people attending. Will the Illinois State Police enforce the court ruling next weekend or will you request the county do something to enforce that order?…
We have always asked local law enforcement, local officials to enforce these orders. And the best way to do that of course is a reminder to the pastor and to the parishioners that they’re putting themselves and others in danger by holding a service like this. The pastor filed suit, that suit failed. And it’s because people do have the ability to worship, and we’re trying to simply to keep people safe during this time of a global pandemic.
* So will you urge, I’m sorry if I missed it, will you urge local officials both in Chicago, which was going to bring me to my next question, and in any other county that is defying the gathering the stay at home and the gathering order of no more than 10 people. Will you urge authorities to step in and do something more than disperse?…
We’re asking them to disperse, so that’s the most important thing. We just don’t want people getting sick. Nobody, it’s not an intention that people will go to jail. I will say, however, that if people are persistently defiant, they can be put in jail. And I’m not suggesting that that’s the best answer or the first answer, but it is something that’s an option for local law enforcement.
* There were nearly 1000 CPD dispersals over the weekend, but zero citations and you of course as you just said you defer to local authorities but what are your, what’s your reaction to that number of dispersals in Chicago and what do you feel needs to happen, and does it concern you that this could lead to a resurgence?…
It does concern me and people should really understand that if our numbers flatten and get better, and that’s where we seem to be at right now, it’s because people have followed the rules. And to the extent people are not following them and gathering in groups they’re going to spread the virus and they’re going to cause us to go back into a previous executive order, or more stringent lockdown than what we’ve had, if in fact there’s a spike of cases as a result of people not following the rules. So again we want to encourage people to do the right thing. I’m sorry that the police have had to break people up like that, I know that there’s, it’s attractive when the sun is out for people to go out and gather in groups, but I want to remind everybody that it’s a mistake. Right now, the only way that we can defeat this virus because we have no vaccine. And we have no treatment that keeps people out of the hospital. And so the result is the only way we can fight this virus is really by obeying social distancing obeying the orders that have been put in place.
* Would you like to see more citations issued as a deterrent?…
That is not something that I prefer. But as I say when if people are being persistently defiant I do think that local law enforcement needs to step in. But it’s up to the mayor and it’s up to the local law enforcement to make those decisions.
* We’re receiving, as I feel I say to you every time I’m here, we’re receiving literally dozens of complaints almost every day about people who can’t get onto the [unemployment] system, they get kicked off the system, no one answers the phone, have debit card problems, and you’ve said well we’re updating the system, we’re updating the system, but these folks, continue to tell us well it doesn’t seem like it. So what specifically is being done right now to make sure that the director the acting director of IDES is doing what he is supposed to do to help these people who are desperate?…
So let me begin by saying that we, we obviously are deeply concerned about anybody that is owed unemployment and somehow can’t file their claim, that is not something that’s intended and we’re certainly trying to work through any problems for people that have been persistently having difficulty. I will say that, that the system is you know I get the numbers of processed claims every day and the numbers of people who are being processed every day are very frequently in the 10s of thousands, which is vastly more than ever before. In fact, it’s a multiple of what even was occurring on a weekly basis and daily basis during the Great Recession of 08-09. So there’s an awful lot that’s being processed.
There’s also a multiple of phone lines that are being answered for people who are calling in. It’s still not enough, there are some people that call in persistently have to wait for some time on the phone before they can get ahold of anybody or because there’s a limit to the number of people can answer phones, they may not get ahold of somebody on a given day, I would encourage everybody to go online, that is how most people are multiple so people are actually getting through and filing their claims. So that’s what I would say when we’re doing that. I will say that the acting director and everybody that’s working in IDES is working overtime to make sure that it’s working as best it can, and they are working through there really isn’t a backlog at this point. So people who are having trouble there’s something there’s typically an issue with their claim which I understand, they need to use we have online tools that they can use, even if they can’t sign up online. There’s a chat function there’s an ability to message to IDES to let them know what your issue is and have somebody get back to you about it.
And I would just say one more thing, sorry Dana, just that later this week we’re going to review where we are with unemployment so you’ll have a much better a more holistic view of how we’re doing and what we’re doing, what we’ve done to address these issues.
* Have you ever thought of having the acting director come here so we could ask him questions directly?…
I haven’t but you know I’ve been focused as you know here for the most part on the directly addressing the virus.
* Thoughts on people who have been going into Indiana over the past few days for services they can’t get here?…
I think, to the extent that people are not social distancing, and accessing services in Indiana may have decided that they want to open those things up, I understand that there are risks associated with that and I would discourage people from doing it. But understand that people are free to to do what they want, as they may leave the state. I don’t control the state of Indiana, and they don’t control Illinois, but I’d rather be from here than there.
* Governor Cuomo today says he’s looking at opening regions of New York State on May 15, will you consider reopening regions, and if so, what is the criteria?…
We’ll be talking more about that. But suffice to say that I absolutely think of the state as you know it’s, we have a lot of different areas of the state, different population densities and so on. The most important thing though that I have pointed out to people is to think of the state not in the typical way that you think about regions, but rather about healthcare regions to think about how many hospital beds and that’s why I talk today about how many hospital beds.
Does a certain percentage availability mean because a spike in one area that happens to have 25 hospital beds available or 25 ICU beds available. If there’s a significant spike in that area 25 is not a big number. And so what we want to make sure is that we are able to handle a spike, because that’s what potentially could occur if we reopen things too fast.
And as to the setting a date, it sounds like another governor set a date for, I will say that it really needs to be based on data and metrics. My guess is knowing that Governor, that he was really talking about hoping that that might be a date in which they could do it but you really need to do this based on the data. And that’s what we’re following very closely and I want to open it as fast as anybody does. I just want to make sure that we’re doing in a safe fashion.
* With that and the data in mind, do we have to wait till May 30 to hear what your phased-in reopening plan is? And could you disclose some of the details before May 30 or do you plan to…
You don’t have to wait till May 30. We’ve been thinking about this and working on it for some time now to, to make sure that we’re going to give people a view into how the phases might work and how many phases there are and what would work in each phase.
He was asked a question about McCormick Place and where people can apply for contact tracing jobs. Mostly repeats of what he’s already said.
* Are there any regions of the state, where R Naught, the figure I guess you calculate rate of spread, Okay, where the R Naught is below one, and if so, what are those areas? And again, as I’ve asked, might those areas begin to open before May 30 but what are those areas?…
Yeah so we aren’t doing enough testing across the state now, we’re again I want to remind everybody we’re the second most amount of testing among the top most populous states, the top 10 most populous states, so we’re doing a lot of testing, but no state is doing enough testing. We need to vastly increase the amount of testing that we’re doing again even though we’re, you know, doing a lot, but it takes a lot of testing in order for us to get to an R naught number. But we do have a statewide number because of the number of tests we’re doing statewide. That number is down to about 1.2. We’re certainly trying to keep track of the you know what’s happening in each and every region. So, as things are coming down more things can be opened up.
* Is reopening the state’s economy conditional on the implementation of a mandatory tracing program, or for the mandatory tracing program to be completed and if so how long is that anticipated to take?…
I’m not sure what Greg [Bishop] means by a mandatory tracing program, but the tracing program, the contact tracing program is being worked on and built up, its completion is not a precondition to, you know, two phases. But, contact tracing is critically important for certain industries especially to make sure that if people can’t maintain social distance in some circumstance, then it’s a situation in which we would need a lot more contact tracing for that kind of an industry to make sure that people aren’t spreading it a symptomatically. So it’s, I understand the question, it’s not a mandatory contact tracing program but it is a program that will help us to diminish the spread. And we are trying to work spin it up as fast as possible.
* Another question from Greg, what’s your recommendation for local governments on revenue losses should they be laying off staff and cutting budgets now, or should they follow the state’s example of no furloughs, and no immediate cuts?…
Well I think a lot of assumptions in there. I’m not going to tell local governments what they should do to meet their budget requirements but what I am doing is working hard to make sure that in Washington that they understand the damage that’s been done to all the states, and to all of the local governments, and particularly smaller local governments which really didn’t get very much out of a previous cares act. We need to make sure that we’re helping them so that they don’t remember you know it’s easy to say well gee, you should furlough a lot of people in order to deal with their budget problem, but remember what happens in a pandemic like this. We have a decreasing amount of revenue coming in and increasing need by people for the services that states and local governments offer, and that’s why we need help from the federal government to preserve those services.
* One of the plans being floated to reopen the country is to pivot our focus on protecting everyone to focusing on the most vulnerable. Is that something that you are considering as we continue to proceed throughout the month of May?…
Well we are protecting everybody everybody’s life is valuable. But I will say that we already are making extra effort for those communities that are most vulnerable you’ve heard a lot about what we’re trying to do to protect people in congregate settings which are often the most vulnerable right these are people who are physically or developmentally disabled, they’re people who are elderly, and may have other existing underlying conditions. You’ve seen that we’ve spun up more testing in areas where there are large African American populations or large Latino populations, which have a propensity to have comorbidities or a higher rate of positivity so. So we’re working on those populations that are most vulnerable even now, and we’ll continue to do that as we begin to open things up, and I think what you meant was might there be a shift, as we move forward from stay at home for all to making sure we focus on the most vulnerable only as a part of a reopening. Well, sure I mean I think we’re shifting, I mean that shift when you say shift I mean, I’m not going to shift away from protecting everybody but this idea of shifting the stay at home and saying only these people have to stay home. I guess that’s, everything is evolving. That’s what I would say and obviously at some point we’re not going to have the same order in place that we have now and we’re gonna be loosening things up. But as we do that, we’re going to be still paying extraordinary attention to those who are elderly and in these congregate settings. I didn’t mention of course the staffs in those settings, and even in our prisons the staffs in our prisons as well.
* Regarding McCormick Place was it too much too soon or a necessary precaution?…
You know it’s interesting if you go back to the day that we talked about the stay at home order on March 20 and Dr. Emily Landon stood here. She said the most remarkable thing and about the success of a stay at home order is that nothing happens, and that’s really this is a function of, guess what, a lot of people didn’t get sick and a lot of people didn’t die. And so that’s what it means that we spun it up because at the time we didn’t know whether we’d be bending the curve properly, and it turns out, we have. And so, thank goodness we and I said early on, my prayer is that we won’t have to use a corporate place or any of the alternate care facility and it’s still my prayer, people I want everybody understand. We’re not through this yet. We’re not done with this, the virus didn’t go away it’s still out there.
* Where is Dr. Ezike today?…
She had a family matter
* According to movement tracking data from Google, most of the stay at home behavior changes asked of Illinois like that going into workplaces avoiding public transit going to grocery stores as little as possible already happened in early March. If social behavior is now on the rise because of warmer weather and loosened restrictions and the new stay at home order and Illinois R naught value is still about one. How can we be sure we will ever get to an R naught value below one? Other places that have put in a stay at home order have gotten to an R naught value under one…
We’re headed in the right direction, we’re moving in the right direction. Still. And as to the point about the R Naught starting to move or people are being less mobile let’s say in early March, I just pointed out that the news about coronavirus was out there, remember that some of the first moves that we made in the state of Illinois occurred in the early March in the first week a week and a half of March. And so people began to see that this virus is out there, that people are getting sick and I think they they reacted naturally to that. And then, I think that’s evidenced by the way of how smart people are in our state. And the fact that people have followed the stay at home orders, other evidence of how terrific the people of Illinois are.
* There’s legislation being introduced in the General Assembly that would cancel rent for those who cannot pay it subject to the establishment of a housing relief fund that would in theory mostly be paid for by a second federal stimulus bill. is this something you would think it is this something you think would be wise to count on from Congress. Is there anything that they can do proactively either through state police or the Attorney General to prevent landlords, or ignoring the moratorium on evictions and evicting tenants?…
I’m not aware of the specific piece of legislation that’s being referenced here but I am very much in favor of alleviating the burden on renters across the state. It is true that Illinois, you know the budget situation for Illinois makes it extraordinarily difficult to provide a lot of relief, but we do have rent relief programs at the Department of Human Services, and we do want to do as much as we can with the federal dollars that we received to alleviate the burden particularly on working class families.
* Rich Miller is asking for your reaction to the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association warning that municipalities and businesses that reopen in defiance of the EO could face litigation? And also your reaction to the Illinois Department of Insurance statement that says businesses run the risk that an insurer could find reason within the policy language to deny COVID-19 related claims? What could potentially happen to state licensed businesses if they reopened in defiance of the EO?…
Well I was a businessman before I became governor and I have to tell you that I would not want to defy the executive order because I believe that I would be taking on liability If I did that.
[Sigh. He skipped two of my questions.]
* The mayor of East Peoria announced today that he is opening the city in phases starting this Friday, it will include salons. This goes against the stay at home order and the recommendations of IDPH. Is there concern that this could cause more cases? Will the state step in and prevent this? What about people traveling from nearby communities and then returning home?…
I think they’re running the risk that they’re going to infect people who work there, people who patronize their stores. And in defiance of this stay at home order it strikes me the point that we were just talking about insurance not covering you when you may have in business insurance but you will be subject to liability because it would not surprise me if insurance companies are found to not be required to cover you when you are defying essentially state law or state executive order.
[OK, so he did answer another question.]
* Illinois companies like Apple and Google have volunteered their tech to help with contact tracing. Has your office been in contact with any reps, do you have any privacy concerns and enlisting their help?…
So I’m very much aware, I think some of you know when I was in business I was in the technology business so I’ve followed it pretty closely and I’ll just say we’re looking at the technology that’s being proposed. It poses some questions about privacy. It’s not something that we’re currently looking at as part of the program that we’re building for contact tracing. But I’ll want to see more as the technology is presented and developed.
* Some small businesses have told us they may not survive the economic flow COVID-19 has delivered. Do you foresee any industries in Illinois that will no longer exist because of this crisis?…
I don’t know and I’m hopeful that that’s not what’s happening, but I can see that so many people are suffering. It’s why I’m so such an advocate of the, not just the PPP program but so many supports for small businesses because we want people to come back and reopen their doors. We’re going to do everything we can in the state to have that happen. Small business people are the bedrock of business bedrock of job creation in our state so they deserve our support.
* We know the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate call sessions. But you have the power to call a special session. What have you thought about doing that? Why or why not?…
I think the most important thing is that the legislature gets together safely. And like I’ve said before 177 members of the General Assembly plus staff. That’s an awful lot of people. That’s more than 10 getting together. And so the epidemiologists would express concerns about a group that large.
Having said that, there are ways to do it. We hope to provide support to the legislature as they have asked, how could they do it safely and we’ll continue to do that. We want the legislature to get together and they have the ability to get together and we’re providing again, epidemiological advice about how to do their best to keep everybody safe.
* Tennessee announced last week that it will begin mass testing of staff and inmates that state prisons, it appears Illinois has only tested about one to 2% of inmates. Is this adequate? Will you follow Tennessee’s lead and begin widespread testing in prisons and jails?…
The more testing we have available to us, the more we will be testing in all those congregate settings. But, you know, remember we also have nursing homes, we also have these developmentally disabled homes, and so many other areas that also need testing. So, again, it takes a lot more testing than we have today.
* Can you address the significance of today’s death total being the lowest since April 19? Also what reaction do you have to Saturday night’s federal court ruling in the beloved church case?…
As to the number of fatalities today, I would just encourage everybody to look at these things on a multi day basis, taking maybe a three, five or seven day average. I’m hopeful, when I saw this number today, I was hopeful that this was the beginning or a continuation of a trend that I’ve been praying for. But I think one day is not a helpful number to look at.
As to the ruling in the case of the church, I want to remind everybody that it’s important to get together with your fellow parishioners and your pastor, but we’ve asked people to do that in groups of 10. We’ve asked pastors to reach out to their parishioners and try to do that online or get it in small groups. Bible study in a small group, again socially distant, and you know we’ve provided other suggestions of ways that people could get together to have services. But getting together in groups of more than 10, I don’t think, I read that there were 60 or 80 people that got together at that one church in defiance of even the US Federal Court ruling. It’s an enormous mistake and I am very hopeful that we aren’t going to need to send teams in to do mass testing among the people who may be spreading the virus in their communities.
* We heard today the mayor is still advocating for a Chicago casino. Do you think that’s still a possibility and what are some options you and the state legislators are considering and making that happen?…
I’ve favored, getting that done, I think it’s the right thing to do. It may be difficult to do in the next month I don’t know, in the next few weeks. it depends on when the legislature gets together and how I will say that, you know, we have a whole year here, for the legislature to get together to handle legislation and I think as we again see more treatments available and as we have testing and tracing and PPE available, it will make it a lot easier for the legislature to get together throughout the year. Maybe in one day increments just to keep everybody safe, not needing to stay overnight and room together and all of that. But there’s a lot of the year here with which to address something like that and as I understand it, the Republican leaders are in favor, at least I’m aware that the House Republican leader is in favor of that casino, that Chicago casino bill, and I know there are a number of Democrats who are too so I would hope that we’d be able to get that done in, you know, sometime during the year here.
* How are the occupancy limits at stores being enforced and how well do you think people are complying with the new face covering requirement after the first few days?…
It’s really just a visual survey about face covering and and occupancy of stores. So I don’t have a report, an official report of that. But I will say just you know as I look outside as I see people walking on the street or in small parks or whatever around Chicago. I have seen that, I think the numbers seem to me to be about 70 to 80% of people are wearing masks or they’ve got a mask with them that they don’t have on their face, because they’re not around somebody else. So I think that’s pretty good adherence although I’d love it if everybody would do it.
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2,341 new cases, 46 additional deaths
Monday, May 4, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 2,341 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 46 additional deaths.
Cook County: 1 female 20s, 1 female 30s, 1 female 40s, 1 male 50s, 2 females 60s, 1 male 60s, 2 females 70s, 3 males 70s, 6 females 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
DuPage County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 90s
Iroquois County: 1 female 60s
Lake County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 70s, 3 males 70s, 2 females 80s, 1 male 80s
Macon County: 1 male 70s
Madison County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 90s
Monroe County: 1 male 70s
Sangamon County: 1 female 100+
St. Clair County: 1 female 80s
Will County: 1 female 30s, 1 male 50s, 3 females 70s, 1 male 80s
Winnebago County: 1 male 50s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 63,840 cases, including 2,662 deaths, in 97 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have processed 333,147 specimens for a total of 13,834.
* Gov. Pritzker today…
On April 5, we had 3680 COVID patients in the hospital. On April 12, 4091. On April, 19 4599. On April 26, 4672. As of midnight last night. May 3, that number had reduced to 4493. […]
On April 5 COVID patients occupied 43% of our 2709 ICU beds. On April 12, they occupied 39% of 2991 ICU beds. On April 19, 40% of 3134 ICU beds. On April 26, 34% of 3631 ICU beds. And as of midnight last night, 33% of our 3681 ICU beds, which when combined with the ICU beds occupied by non COVID identified patients leaves about 933 ICU beds available statewide. […]
In the Rockford region, 51.5% of ICU beds were available as of midnight, and that’s about 86 beds. In the Peoria region, 40.2% of ICU beds were available and that’s about 101 actual beds. In the Springfield region, 54.3%, or 82 actual beds. In the Edwardsville region, 27.5% or 25 actual beds. In the Marion region, 27.5%, or 41 actual beds. In the Champaign region, 44.9%, or 62, actual beds. And in Cook and the collar counties and the city of Chicago, 16.9% of ICU beds were available as of midnight, that’s 186 actual beds. In the southwest suburbs, 17.9% or 94 actual beds. In the West suburbs, 15.9%, or 77 beds. […]
We continue to keep our eye trained on the number of Illinoisans with COVID-19 who are on ventilators, and from a statewide standpoint, we’ve continued to see a slight downward trend on this metric, from 29% usage on April 6, then 25% on April 14 then 23% on April 26. And of the 4493 Illinoisans in the hospital, 763 are on ventilators, that means 22% of our total ventilator inventory is currently in use by COVID-19 patients. That’s a lot lower than we had expected at this point. And it’s because of the amazing work that people have done, staying at home and following our executive orders.
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COVID-19 roundup
Monday, May 4, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Most people understand that the executive orders didn’t shut down society, the virus did. And here’s one more example of the virus’ impact…
For the first time since the Grant Park Music Festival was established in 1935, the institution will fall silent.
The festival has canceled all its events running June 10 through Aug. 15 in Millennium Park and across the city due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Just ensuring the safety of the (Grant Park) Orchestra and Chorus, the administrative staff, our production crew, our patrons – that really drove our decision,” said festival President and CEO Paul Winberg in an interview Monday morning.
“It’s just not safe or prudent to move forward with our festival season. This is going to have a tremendous financial impact on the organization. We’ve been busily trying to assess what that even would look like.”
No government ordered them to do that.
* Even so, some folks are still having trouble getting their minds around this…
The superintendent of a West Central Illinois expressed disappointment following the Illinois State Board of Education’s decision to cancel in-person graduation ceremonies statewide because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The ISBE issued a statement Friday in which it encouraged school districts honor graduates virtually, but acknowledged that virtual events may not be possible in all situations. Drive-in, drive-through and individualized ceremonies are permitted - as long as they abide by specific IBOE criteria and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Superintendent John Asplund of Galesburg Community School District 205 told WGIL radio that the district planned to hold an in-person ceremony prior to the state board’s order and would still like to have one once ceremonies are permitted.
* Tribune live blog…
Chicago reaches 1,000 COVID-19 deaths
If you get sick with COVID-19, is your employer liable? As businesses prepare to reopen, worker safety is a priority.
Nursing homes push for immunity from lawsuits as COVID-19 deaths top 20,000
Cook County Sheriff’s Office deputy dies of COVID-19
Food distribution pop-up sites start on South, West sides to fill gap during COVID-19 pandemic
Inmate who agreed to stay in Cook County Jail to avoid immigration trouble lost life to COVID-19 instead
* Sun-Times live blog…
Does Lightfoot’s Chicago Housing Solidarity Pledge do enough?
Galewood townhome that was site of viral party also hosted smaller gathering a month earlier
Coronavirus testing site opens in Back of the Yards
Miami Dolphins unveil plan to host fans in stadium amid coronavirus pandemic
In-person visits for parents of children in DCFS care have been suspended since March
Hours after cops broke up Lawndale party, 5 teens were shot at a gathering in the same block
Illinois sets new daily record by processing nearly 20K coronavirus tests, finding 2,994 new cases
Called to order: Supreme Court begins 1st arguments by phone
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FDA finally cracking down on antibody tests
Monday, May 4, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Washington Post…
The Food and Drug Administration, under fire for allowing more than 100 commercial coronavirus antibody tests on the market without review, moved Monday to assert oversight, saying the tests will have to pass agency muster, including meeting standards for quality and accuracy.
Officials said “unscrupulous actors” have been “marketing fraudulent test kits and using the pandemic as an opportunity to take advantage of Americans’ anxiety.”
The FDA action came after the agency was criticized for a March 16 policy that allowed commercial test makers to sell antibody tests after validating their own data and notifying the FDA. The result, some testing experts said, was a flood of products of dubious quality that confused hospitals, doctors and consumers — “a wild, wild West” environment, said Scott Becker, chief executive officer of the Association of Public Health Laboratories, which represents state and local public laboratories. He and others in the laboratory field urged the agency to exert its authority over the tests.
Antibody, or serology, tests are designed to identify people who may have overcome covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, including those who had no symptoms, and developed an immune response. They are not designed to detect active infections. Some officials tout the blood tests as a way to identify people who have developed immunity and can safely return to work. But many scientists say evidence is lacking that the tests can prove someone has immunity from the coronavirus or for how long.
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn emphasized those uncertainties in a Monday call with reporters. “Whether a test should be a “ticket for someone to go back to work as the sole item, my opinion on that would be no, because there are a lot of unanswered questions,” he said.
Go read the whole thing. Insane.
* And while we don’t even know how immune people are after they’ve been infected, having reliable tests is important for another reason…
The tests might also be used to identify potential donors of “convalescent plasma,” an approach in which blood plasma containing antibodies from a recovered individual is used to treat a Covid-19 patient, the F.D.A. said.
* Politico…
Last week, the American Medical Association called on HHS to restrict use of antibody tests to health providers trained to interpret their results and in epidemiological studies due to “growing concern” about the performance of several tests on the market. Until more is known about whether survivors of coronavirus infection emerge with any degree of immunity, people should not use the antibody tests to guide their decisions on physical distancing, the physician group cautioned.
The senior FDA official said the agency has had discussions with the AMA and hinted that government guidelines on the appropriate usage of antibody tests are forthcoming. Several members of the White House coronavirus task force have said it might be necessary for people to receive two antibody tests to cut down on the potential for unreliable results.
“Even a high-performing antibody test when used on individuals in a population that does not have many cases of COVID-19 infection — a population with low prevalence — may produce as many or more false results as true results because the likelihood of finding someone who has been infected is very small,” Shah and Shuren wrote. “This doesn’t mean the test is bad, but rather recognizes the inherent limitations of these kinds of tests.”
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So, you think Illinois’ order is harsh?
Monday, May 4, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* US News and World Report…
Italy on Monday relaxed some restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus after enduring the longest lockdown in Europe.
Following a roughly two-month shutdown as the pandemic intensified, the country reopened its manufacturing and construction industries. Access to parks and public gardens was increased, and funerals can have up to 15 attendees. Restaurants and bars are also allowed to offer takeout services.
Italy has basically reopened to where Illinois was under its original stay at home order, except for the 15 people at funerals.
And even with that heavy-duty Italian lockdown, the country has so far endured the deaths of 29,079 people, or 481 per million. As I mentioned earlier today, Illinois’ death toll is 204 per million.
…Adding… Thanks to a commenter for reminding me about this…
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Please define “continued to grow”
Monday, May 4, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Daily Herald…
The new numbers come as the number of people protesting or ignoring Pritzker’s stay-at-home guidelines continued to grow over the weekend.
About 100 protesters lined Randall Road in Algonquin on Sunday, a day after a demonstration in Fox Lake focused on restrictions limiting boat capacities to two people.
* Saturday’s Fox Lake “protest”…
Fox Lake dairy queen protest I think everybody is sick of it we want to make our own decisions about our future this is America
Posted by Lisa Davidson Senkiw on Saturday, May 2, 2020
If “everybody” is a handful of people standing outside a Dairy Queen, I guess she’s right.
The governor was actually asked about that protest yesterday.
* Click the pic for a wider image of the Algonquin protest, but here’s one of the signs…
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The vital importance of wearing masks
Monday, May 4, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a team of scientists writing in the Atlantic…
Research shows that even a cotton mask dramatically reduces the number of virus particles emitted from our mouths—by as much as 99 percent. This reduction provides two huge benefits. Fewer virus particles mean that people have a better chance of avoiding infection, and if they are infected, the lower viral-exposure load may give them a better chance of contracting only a mild illness. […]
Every infectious disease has a reproduction rate, called R. When it’s 1.0, that means the average infected person infects one other person. The 1918 pandemic flu had an R of 1.8—so one infected person infected, on average, almost two others. COVID-19’s rate, in the absence of measures such as social distancing and masks, is at least 2.4. A disease dies out if its R falls under 1.0. The lower the number, the faster it dies out. […]
Models show that if 80 percent of people wear masks that are 60 percent effective, easily achievable with cloth, we can get to an effective R0 of less than one. That’s enough to halt the spread of the disease. … Mask use in combination with physical distancing is even more powerful. […]
For example, in Hong Kong, only four confirmed deaths due to COVID-19 have been recorded since the beginning of the pandemic, despite high density, mass transportation, and proximity to Wuhan. Hong Kong’s health authorities credit their citizens’ near-universal mask-wearing as a key factor (surveys show almost 100 percent voluntary compliance). Similarly, Taiwan ramped up mask production early on and distributed masks to the population, mandating their use in public transit and recommending their use in other public places—a recommendation that has been widely complied with. The country continues to function fully, and their schools have been open since the end of February, while their death total remains very low, at only six. In the Czech Republic, masks were not used during the initial outbreak, but after a grassroots campaign led to a government mandate on March 18, masks in public became ubiquitous. The results took a while to be reflected in the official statistics: The first five days of April still saw an average of 257 new cases and nine deaths per day, but the most recent five days of data show an average of 120 new cases and five deaths per day. Of course, we can’t know for sure to what degree these success stories are because of masks, but we do know that in every region that has adopted widespread mask-wearing, case and death rates have been reduced within a few weeks.
More here and here.
According to Worldometers, the Czech Republic’s COVID-19 death rate is 23 per million people. The US death rate is 209 per million. Illinois’ is 204.
This is exactly why Rep. Mark Batinick pushed so hard for a mandatory mask requirement.
* But…
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday that his order requiring state residents to wear face masks went “too far.”
DeWine announced April 27 that face masks must be worn in stores — but after some Ohioans found the order “offensive,” he reversed himself the next day.
* Also…
An emergency proclamation issued Thursday in Stillwater, Oklahoma, requiring the use of face masks in stores and restaurants was amended Friday after threats of violence.
“In the short time beginning on May 1, 2020, that face coverings have been required for entry into stores/restaurants, store employees have been threatened with physical violence and showered with verbal abuse,” Stillwater City Manager Norman McNickle said in a statement.
“In addition, there has been one threat of violence using a firearm. This has occurred in three short hours and in the face of clear medical evidence that face coverings helps contain the spread of Covid-19.”
* Meanwhile, in Illinois…
* Public Radio…
A spokesperson for the ACLU of Illinois said courts have ruled that laws can be set in the name of public health, which makes Governor J.B. Pritzker’s order on face coverings enforceable.
Ed Yohnka said precedent has been set with vaccination requirements at public schools being imposed because they are considered to be for the good of public health.
“The important thing is that businesses and others can enforce the order, but they ought to do so with a recognition that there’s a lot of different kinds of face coverings, and that it shouldn’t be a reason for police interaction. And it shouldn’t be a reason for discrimination,” Yohnka said.
But…
Meantime, grocery stores cannot force people to wear masks while shopping, said Rob Karr, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants’ Association
“Obviously they’re gonna be complying with the request. They are gonna have to put up signs to ask people to comply. There will be some issues in terms of enforcement. I think there’s confusion. Some people thought that think that we can deny access, we can’t do that legally. So we’re not gonna be able to be the police in this matter. But local law enforcement certainly can,” Karr said.
A store is private property. There are, of course, reasonable public accommodation laws on the books, but anyone who believes they have a right to walk onto someone else’s property and not obey the owner’s rules is just not thinking right.
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* Fayette County Sheriff Chris Smith and Fayette County State’s Attorney Josh Morrison…
It is important for all Fayette County citizens and business owners to remember that the State of Illinois is in charge of many licenses and your ability to do business in the State of Illinois. While we can ensure you that your personal rights will be respected inside of Fayette County, if you violate the Governor’s Executive Orders, the State, not the County, has the ability to act on professional certifications and licenses you may hold. This means that while we may determine that you have not committed a criminal offense, any license you hold may be at risk if the appropriate State agency determines it should take action.
A list of state-regulated professions is here.
I checked with the governor’s office about this very thing last week and was told revoking a state license could be a complicated process involving local boards of public health. We’ll see where this goes, if anywhere. But it’s still a good reminder, even if it looks a lot like a good cop, bad cop type of thing.
Fayette County is in southern Illinois. Its county seat is Vandalia.
* The sheriff and state’s attorney also had some guidance about masks…
We will also respect property owners’ rights to make rules and policies for their properties. If a property owner or store has a policy that you must wear a mask, you must follow their policy or you risk them asking police to trespass you. Again, this is a property owner right, not a police rule.
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Our Democracy Could Be Decided By A Coin Toss
Monday, May 4, 2020 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Democrats, who have a supermajority in both legislative chambers, were assumed to control the 2021 remap. However, a move by the Census Bureau could delay population data being sent to the states until July 31, 2021 putting that control in jeopardy.
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Our democracy is too important to be left to a game of chance.
We need an independent, nonpartisan redistricting commission to determine maps that are fair and equitable for all communities across Illinois.
Let’s end partisan gerrymandering and create a process that gives power back to the people.
To learn more about the effort for Fair Maps (SJRCA18, HJRCA41) visit, https://www.changeil.org/policy-priorities/redistricting-reform/.
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* This has become a focal point of people like Reps. Darren Bailey and John Cabello and others on the right who are looking for a way to undermine the stay at home order…
[Woodford County State’s Attorney Greg Minger] calls the state ambiguous in its approach to the coronavirus. Despite the governor’s order, he points to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s 2014 Illinois Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan. He points to a brief section of the document that states, “Quarantine (a period of isolation to prevent disease spread) is not effective in controlling multiple influenza outbreaks in large, immunologically naïve populations, because the disease spreads too rapidly to identify and to control chains of transmission. Even if quarantine were somewhat effective in controlling influenza in large populations, it would not be feasible to implement and enforce with available resources, and would damage the economy by reducing the workforce.”
To the Journal Star, Minger acknowledged that a quarantine — defined by the state plan as involving people “believed to have been exposed to infection, for the purpose of preventing transmission of diseases” — differs from the stay-at-home order. However, from a public-health standpoint, he says the two approaches are essentially identical.
That 2014 document is here.
* The attorney for Reps. Bailey and Cabello also referenced the document in an interview with Rebecca Anzel at Capitol News Illinois as the reason for re-filing Bailey’s lawsuit…
The document he is referring to is guidance from the governor’s office and Illinois Department of Public Health detailing how stay-at-home restrictions are to be enforced.
“If you do not adhere to these Executive Orders, the Illinois Department of Public Health and Certified Local Health Departments have the authority” to require residents and businesses to comply, and it cites the statute creating the department.
According to law, if public health officials believe a person is a “danger to the public health,” they may quarantine or isolate that person “to prevent the probable spread of a dangerously contagious or infectious disease.”
That cannot be implemented, though, without the resident’s consent or a court order issued within 48 hours. The burden of proof to get a judge to sign off is significant — among other things, the department would need to prove that the community’s health is “significantly endangered” by the person it seeks to quarantine.
Those rules also apply to businesses the IDPH might seek to close due to health concerns.
“Local health departments got that letter,” DeVore said. “Why did our citizens not get this letter advising them of their rights to due process?”
Um, maybe take it up with your local public health department?
…Adding… Crain’s…
Bailey said the additional lawsuits are “just more proof” that the governor’s actions were unconstitutional.
“You can’t just let businesses sit in quarantine without due process,” he said.
The Xenia representative clarified that he’s not interested in turning over the executive order statewide. Rather, he thinks the decision to reopen should be made by county health departments.
“Never have I suggested that we need to open the whole state up,” he said. “We should obey the law, but let local health departments make decisions based on what’s going on in their areas.”
* Phil Luciano got some clarification from IDPH…
However, the IDPH says there are key differences. For one, the 2014 plan “is specific to pandemic influenza, not pandemic coronavirus,” the department said in a statement to the Journal Star.
Further, according to the statement, “If you read through the larger document referenced, you will see that quarantine is just one of the many tools available to public health officials in preparation, response, and recovery from pandemic influenza. The stay-at-home order is not a quarantine.”
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* With a hat tip to WMAY, this is from Springfield’s Route 66 Drive-In Theater’s Facebook page…
We got the go ahead to open drive in so we will open on May 8 for the weekend and then maybe more nights the following week. Tickets will have to be presold and will be done through our website. My capacity will be half as have to park every other spot. Concessions will be done through app called FanFood and then will pick up at pick up window. I recommend downloading the app before you arrive. It will be going live this week for you to take a tour. We will be showing a single feature rather than double to keep rest room use down. Playground will be closed. Guests need to stay in there vehicle and park facing forward. No hatches will be allowed up. More details to follow.
The governor’s latest EO appears to forbid the reopening…
All places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, including but not limited to… movie and other theaters… shall be closed to the public
* But DCEO has issued guidance that allows it…
Drive-in movie theatres can operate on a limited basis. Cars must be parked in every-other spot to ensure a minimum six-foot distance between cars. Patrons are not allowed to sit outside of their vehicles to view the movie. To the extent possible, reservations and payments for the theatre should be made in advance online or over the phone. To the extent possible, concessions should be ordered online or over the phone and be available for curbside pickup. Restrooms should have sufficient soap and hand sanitizer, and shall be regularly sanitized. Drive-in theatres should also follow the social distancing guidelines set forth in the order.
I may go to a movie, but I am not going into a public restroom. If the urge strikes, I’ll just drive on home.
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* My Crain’s Chicago Business column…
The Illinois General Assembly hasn’t been in session since March 5 because of the international COVID-19 pandemic.
Some legislators have passed the time posting recipes on social media. Some Republicans have lately been holding online press conferences demanding the supermajority Democrats and the Democratic governor do what they want.
A couple of House Republicans have filed lawsuits against Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order and have been rewarded with more publicity than they could’ve ever dreamed of.
A large number of legislators, however, have been diligently working on actually governing. Both chambers have set up “working groups” of members who are tackling issues like the budget, infrastructure projects, education, gambling, energy, etc.
Not all, but from what I can tell, the vast majority of working group members are doing their best to figure out how to deal with this crisis in difficult circumstances.
Some legislators have jumped head-first into community work. Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, has been distributing face masks to first responders and even retail businesses. Batinick also spent days convincing Pritzker to impose a face-covering mandate in his revised executive order, which took effect May 1.
Freshman Rep. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, says she has over 350 factories in her district, and almost her entire focus throughout this crisis has been attempting to protect the health and safety of workers in those factories, many of whom are immigrants. Villa is the daughter of immigrants, and she recently told ProPublica Illinois that several people in her own life work for local factories, including a food-processing facility that was shut down by the Kane County Health Department after pressure from Villa and others.
When Villa first started hearing reports of problems at the factories, she says, she called her local mayors, health departments, the governor’s office and even the manufacturers themselves. “I was trying to figure out how to do this,” she tells me.
Click here to read the rest before commenting, please. Thanks.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
In the wake of a recently-reported death of a worker at Smithfield St. Charles from COVID-19, State Representative Karina Villa is calling for an immediate investigation into what Smithfield plant management did to protect the worker from getting sick.
“While the Governor’s office, the Attorney General’s office, IDPH, and county health departments have taken concrete steps to implement processes which keep workers safe at manufacturing facilities, we can’t ignore what has already happened to workers at these plants,” Villa said. “We keep hearing more and more about how negligent plant management has been to their employees at Smithfield and at other facilities. It’s disgusting.”
In light of recent reports that Latinos are now the most adversely affected by the spread of COVID-19 of any demographic group in Illinois, stopping the spread of COVID-19 in predominantly Latino essential workplaces is more urgent than ever before. While rules are being implemented to protect workers from further workplace malpractice, workers, especially Latino workers, need advocates in their corner.
“Latinos are dying in disproportionate numbers because factory owners and management can’t be bothered to care about the people who work for them. The Governor and IDPH have instituted a lot of rules which help these employees, but that doesn’t change what they have already had to go through. I will continue to work with the UFCW and all unions who represent essential workers to ensure that they are kept safe and hold those responsible for preventable disease spread and death accountable.”
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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
A recent poll shows Illinoisans strongly approve of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak in Illinois and an even higher number supports his stay-at-home order.
The We Ask America/Capitol Fax poll of 800 registered voters taken April 23-24 found that 71% approve of Pritzker’s handling of the state’s response to the outbreak, while just 23% disapprove.
A whopping 77% support the stay-at-home order, while only 18% oppose it and 4% don’t know. And 59% say they strongly support the order, while just 8% strongly oppose it.
Meanwhile, the state is split on President Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic. While 48% support his response, 49% disapprove; 3% percent didn’t know.
A strong plurality of 48% say they worry that states might lift their stay-at-home orders too soon, while 29% say they worry states might be too slow; 23% don’t know.
The results included really bad news for suburban Republicans, who already appeared headed for yet another harsh November before COVID-19.
President Trump performed poorly in the suburbs in 2016. The GOP’s suburban losses mounted in 2018, and 2020 was looking like it could be even worse. Republican legislative leaders have not yet raised the sort of money they’ll need to fend off suburban Democratic challenges.
According to the poll, 52.5% of collar county voters disapproved of President Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak; 47% approved.
Those same collar county voters approved of Pritzker’s handling of the crisis 76.5% to 17%. Those are better marks than Pritzker received from suburban Cook County voters, whose split was 70.5% to 25% That’s notable because Republicans have already lost a lot of their foothold in suburban Cook, but still had significant strength remaining in the collars. If that poll is right, and those numbers hold… whoa.
But it gets worse.
Another 57% of collar county voters were more worried that states might lift their stay-at-home orders too quickly, versus 22% who worried they’ll lift them too slowly. Again, those are “better” numbers than suburban Cook voters, whose split was 54% — 23%.
And 81% of collar county denizens supported Illinois’ stay-at home-order, while just 17% opposed it. Again, those are better numbers than among suburban Cook County voters, who backed the order 77% — 20%.
“80 percent issues” have long been pretty nearly impossible to find in this fractured country. They are campaign unicorns. Using issues in that percentage range can very effectively “move” voters one way or another. And, perhaps unsurprisingly considering the other results, more collar county voters “strongly” supported the order (62%) than suburban Cook voters (56%).
Polls are just polls and subset numbers are less reliable than the full poll. But after looking at several national surveys and polling from other states, it’s difficult not to conclude that these gubernatorial stay-at-home orders are, at least for right now, a new “third rail” of politics.
Opposing them appears to carry great political risk in urban and suburban areas.
Now, throw the lawsuits against the stay-at-home order filed by Republican state Reps. Darren Bailey and John Cabello onto the fire, and you can see why suburban Republican legislators are reaching for the antacid.
The Republican legislative leaders are powerless to stop this behavior. As they’ve steadily lost suburban seats, Downstaters have become a much more powerful voice in the party. And they’re increasingly taking a hard-right turn since the ascension of Donald Trump.
I asked House Republican Leader Jim Durkin’s spokesperson if Durkin supports or opposes these lawsuits. “Leader Durkin is not planning on filing any lawsuits and as a firm believer in the judiciary system, he will follow the court’s decision on this important issue.”
Not exactly a profile in courage there, but, if present trends continue, Durkin may not have many suburban members left after November and he’s up for reelection as caucus leader next January. Not that anyone appears to be craving to take his job at the moment.
Things can always change. The reason “80 percent issues” are so rare these days is because people changed their minds.
It seems unlikely that suburbanites are going to line up behind the current leadership of the stay-at-home opposition, however.
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