* Mike Miletich…
Rep. Darren Bailey’s court battle against Gov. JB Pritzker will return to Clay County Thursday afternoon.
The Xenia Republican is cutting his Florida vacation short to make it back to court. However, Bailey’s spokesman says he won’t get tested for COVID-19 “on the advice of his doctor.” Jose Durbin explained Bailey has no symptoms and stayed in Florida less than 48 hours. Bailey’s Attorney, Tom DeVore, says he won’t get tested either. “I’m feeling fine and don’t see a need for a test.”
Is he being advised by Dr. Kevorkian?
* And the local GOP is throwing an indoors party…
A theory is going around that some of these southern/southwestern outbreaks could be due to people going back inside to recreate in order to escape the heat outside.
* Related…
* Florida shatters records with over 10,000 new COVID-19 cases in single day: In June, Florida infections rose by 168% or over 95,000 new cases. The percent of tests coming back positive has skyrocketed to 15% from 4% at the end of May. Florida, with 21 million residents, has reported more new daily coronavirus cases than any European country had at the height of their outbreaks.
* Pence To Visit Tampa As Florida COVID-19 Cases Surge
* Florida’s COVID-19 cases have exploded since DeSantis OK’d reopening plan: Since the governor made the announcement on June 3 that bars, movie theaters, bowling alleys, arcades and auditoriums could begin to reopen at 50-percent capacity indoors with strict sanitation and social distancing guidelines in place – and full capacity outdoors – Florida’s COVID-19 numbers have skyrocketed, with a four-digit increase every day except one, which fell just shy of the 1,000 mark.
* Covid-19 Cases Hit Record at Florida Long-Term Care Centers
* Florida’s COVID-19 surge leads to tighter restrictions for some Caribbean visitors: Targeting Florida’s surging coronavirus infections as a public health threat, two Caribbean destinations joined the Bahamas Tuesday in changing their entry requirement for tourists traveling from the state — and elsewhere in the United States.
* ICUs full at three Lee, Collier hospitals as coronavirus cases continue to rise: Three of Southwest Florida’s nine acute-care hospitals had no available intensive-care unit beds for adults on Wednesday, in part because of growing numbers of coronavirus cases.
* Coronavirus in Lee County: What you need to know Thursday, July 2: Those new positive cases resulted from a total of 1,088 tests reported Wednesday by the state for Lee County. That’s a positivity rate of 32.5%. Lee crossed 5,000 COVID-19 cases on Sunday. It took just four more days for the county to easily surpass 6,000. That’s one more day than it took for Lee to go from 4,000 cases (June 25) to 5,000 (June 28).
* Publix confirms 21 additional stores in Central Florida impacted by COVID-19
- Roadrager - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:45 am:
Someone give this jerk a bottle of Lysol and a syringe already. Who’s his doctor, Leo Spaceman?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:48 am:
I need to head out here shortly, but to *this* post;
If you head to a hot spot in this country and return to Illinois and don’t, within 3-4 days, get tested and force yourself to do a 14 day self-quarantine…
What a truly horrible choice you are making towards everyone who isn’t you.
This type of Covidiocy makes my blood boil.
Be respectful and responsible.
- Southern Illinois Teacher - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:48 am:
They might want to be careful about bragging about the air conditioning.
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/06/air-conditioning-may-be-factor-in-covid-19-spread-in-the-south/
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:49 am:
If he’s not tested then he doesn’t have it. Right?
- Roadrager - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:52 am:
==They might want to be careful about bragging about the air conditioning.==
Teacher, that’s the point of all this. They’re doing all the wrong things and rubbing it in the faces of others to get a rise out of the “enemy.” It’s cruel and it’s selfish and it’s the main thrust of national Republicanism right now. Maybe they’ll pass a giant lollipop around the room and all take a lick, then go in for a big group hug to own those libs, for certain.
- The Way I See It - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:57 am:
And then there’s this:
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/02/andy-biggs-disband-coronavirus-task-force-348048
- 1st Ward - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:00 pm:
Plausible and probable explanation is his Dr. watches OAN.
- Pearly - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:01 pm:
How did we, of all the civilized countries on earth, get stuck with this massive contingent of politicians who actively try to pretend science doesn’t exist? Conservative or liberal, just about everyone else in the world is handling this better. This is a uniquely American psychopathology that sheer willpower can overcome scientific and economic reality.
- billy boy - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:01 pm:
I bet the next door neighbors to Baileys office were not invited over they have Biden signs in their front window
- NIU Grad - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:07 pm:
I had to go to their page and check…their profile picture is literally the elephant with Trump’s hair in a stylized graphic…
- Wensicia - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:10 pm:
This sounds like an Alabama style COVID-19 party. Is there a prize for the first attendee who tests positive for the virus afterwards?
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:12 pm:
Anonymous - death rates are not going up commensurate to the new cases. Reasons for that could be that the new cases include a higher percentage of younger people and that we now have several treatment options for the worst-cases and likely better practices in general.
But don’t fall for the “look at the death rate” excuse of Trump supporters (not saying you are). Even people who weren’t hospitalized are reporting serious lingering side effects. There’s reports that having C19 increases your risk for diabetes. There’s so much we don’t know about this thing - scientists have really only been “on it” for 4-5 months.
- Commisar Gritty - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:28 pm:
@Cheryl44 “If he’s not tested then he doesn’t have it, right?”
I just got word from the White House that this is correct.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:28 pm:
“How did we, of all the civilized countries on earth, get stuck with this massive contingent of politicians who actively try to pretend science doesn’t exist?”
Gradually — then all at once.
– MrJM
- Big Mike - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:31 pm:
I wonder if they will serve Cool Aid at the Republican meeting
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:32 pm:
“Reopen now” has been such a disaster. Certain people in Illinois won’t stop pushing us toward danger. Now certain early reopen people are scrambling for masks and having to do press conferences. The president is the last person to issue support for masks, literally the opposite of leadership. If things were going well the Florida governor, vice president and others wouldn’t be doing press conference and trying to spin this into something better than it is.
- OneMan - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:33 pm:
Why do I suspect that his doctor also says that Camels are the best to smoke due to protecting the T Zone.
Having attended many Republican events I can safely say that most of the attendees are in one or more risk groups. I am not sure what the logic is in exposing your base to health risks.
- Northsider - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:34 pm:
I’m not a lawyer, but at what point does this grandstanding Covidiot cross the line into criminal negligence and/or reckless endangerment?
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:35 pm:
Why bother with masks and distancing? Stop testing and this all goes away.
Also: The Earth is flat, 10,000 years old, and not impacted by human activity.
- efudd - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:36 pm:
Man, this dude is just begging Karma to make an example out of him.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:39 pm:
BTW, the Clay County Hospital has 20 beds, no ICU.
- On Point - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:40 pm:
Not defending Rep. Bailey as he is objectively an idiot.
The testing dynamic, however, isn’t as it is being advertised in all counties. In my downstate county one cannot simply show up and be tested. If there are no symptoms, et. al. health care facilities will not test you as they still have limited test kits.
This is inexcusable, but true. I had an employee last week who had to travel 80 miles round trip to be tested in another County.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:50 pm:
===In my downstate county one cannot simply show up and be tested.===
Which county? Can you let the Governor’s office know do they can fix that?
- On Point - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:54 pm:
Have been in frequent contact with the local Health Department and IDPH since experiencing this dynamic. It isn’t isolated. Most providers will not simply a test on a walk in basis. My person was a front line healthcare provider.
Alarming and mind boggling come to mind.
- Old Shepherd - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:58 pm:
I find it funny that the Clay County GOP invited people to “socialize” at their headquarters. Couldn’t they come up with a more right-leaning term?
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:58 pm:
Having seen a lot of doctors over the years, and far be it from me to criticize them for making money, but the next time one of them says to me “eh, let’s skip that test for that condition you might have” will be the first.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:03 pm:
===It isn’t isolated. Most providers will not simply a test on a walk in basis. My person was a front line healthcare provider.===
This seems really important. Where exactly? Maybe if you highlight it here they may get more of a response.
It sounds like you are getting nowhere calling.
Instead of being more obtuse, you could help by highlighting the lacking
Thanks.
- PublicServant - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:03 pm:
Only three flags in the announcement? Must not be very patriotic down there in Covid County.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:05 pm:
Can we just admit this is a death cult.
Every action I have seen, every decision they have made, is to cause more death.
In the long run the outcome is obvious. In the short term it is not going to be enjoyable to live through.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:07 pm:
=== Alarming and mind boggling come to mind.===
I hope you share your experience, if you think it’s alarming and mind boggling, letting it go as a passive comment here seems…
- Hard D - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:09 pm:
Bailey isn’t the only irresponsible elected official in the State. The Mayor of Orland Park went into hiding for 2 weeks and went to Colorado. While he was gone numerous articles appeared in the papers and online criticizing his job performance and for using public funds to file a suit against Pritzker and the state. He was asked yesterday about rumors he tested positive for Covid and left the state to quarantine. He said that what he does on his time is his business. His office had 2 people test positive last week and he’s still making employees work at the village.
This type of behavior from elected officials is disgusting and extremely dangerous to the citizens these 2 clowns come in contact with.
- Testing 1 2 3 - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:12 pm:
So are people in favor of quarantines coming out of Florida? Because our Governor is opposed as he was for New York.
- Dozer - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:18 pm:
He realizes he can be infected, be asymptomatic and infect oth….oh never mind!
- On Point - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:29 pm:
Vermilion County. It has been shared far and wide with health care officials, elected officials both local and State (at the highest levels), school officials who will be dealing with this on a huge scale in a couple of months, et. al.
Beginning yesterday, there is now one provider that will perform a test on a walk in no questions asked basis. Problem is, it is 5-7 days for the result at that provider. The next County over offers 24 hour turnaround, which is imperative for healthcare workers.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:31 pm:
===They might want to be careful about bragging about the air conditioning.===
This, 100 percent. They will kill themselves to own the libs. Republican opposition to the bare minimum things to do to protect ourselves is quickly morphing from (highly irresponsible) partisanship into mental illness.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:33 pm:
===However, Bailey’s spokesman says he won’t get tested for COVID-19 “on the advice of his doctor.”===
His doctor must, like Trump, think testing causes COVID.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:34 pm:
===Vermilion County===
Hopefully someone who is reading on this blog will address this in Vermilion County.
If it’s as backed up or unavailable as you say, the President himself said anyone who wants a test can get it anytime.
That has been told far and wide as well.
This needs to be addressed.
Testing, and then tracing is critical… let alone self quarantining for 14 days…
- Still Waiting - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:46 pm:
On Point is definitely on point with the description of testing in the east-central part of the state. You could add Edgar, Clark, Cumberland, and Crawford to that list. I have fought with health departments in more than one of those counties to get essential workers with exposure or severe symptoms tested to no avail. Using the state’s own language on who qualified for testing and only because they finally understood there was a whole chain of people who needed to isolate if there was exposure, which would have cascading consequences, I was finally able to get permission from one county for one person to travel to the hospital in Coles County for a test after the hospital there opened it up to the general public.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:50 pm:
Took a test at the drive thru in McLean County yesterday. Got results today. Very easy, and this was the one Pritzker was going to shut down earlier this year. Agree with OW, if there is a problem in Vermilion, raise a holy stink. We need more testing, not less, and certainly not moving goalpost barriers that turn people off or away from testing. Bailey is a fool, plain and simple. He cares more about his maschismo than his duty to his fellow citizens.
- Tired Teacher - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 2:06 pm:
Can we all chip in and send Bailey and DeVore back to Florida? My goodness, what is wrong with them? How can they be so reckless? Seems like they would be a good match for gov of Florida.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 2:07 pm:
Just trying to be helpful, but here’s the test site listed by the IDPH in Danville which is the county seat of Vermilion County.
Aunt Marthas Health and Wellness, Inc.
614 N. Gilbert Street
Danville, IL 61832
Hours:9:00am - 4:30pm
Days of Operation:Thursday - Friday
Requirements:Appointment required. Must meet testing criteria established by IDPH. Capacity is limited.
COVID Hotline:877-692-8686
Languages Offered: English and Spanish, as well as Language Line
auntmarthas.org
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 2:11 pm:
Also — that website is designed terribly to the point where I spent a moment thinking that the “State of Illinois Community-Based Testing Sites” were the only sites before noticing the 2nd list, “Testing Site Locations in Illinois” which requires a considerable amount of scrolling, or trying to navigate that map, to the point where I am amending my response above to note that there are — two — other testing sites in Danville.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 3:22 pm:
===How did we, of all the civilized countries on earth, get stuck with this massive contingent of politicians who actively try to pretend science doesn’t exist?
First, MrJM nails this, but we had plenty of warning with declining vaccination rates and increasing resistance to science based medicine. Just add a death cult to it and here we are.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 3:23 pm:
====Can we all chip in and send Bailey and DeVore back to Florida?
I hear Shark City needs a Mayor.
- jimbo26 - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 3:55 pm:
Maybe the twosome needs to go to Texas. “Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Thursday issued a statewide mandate requiring Texans to wear masks in public in any county with 20 or more positive covid-19 cases — a dramatic move that comes as cases in the state continue to climb.”
- billy boy - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 4:05 pm:
Bailey claims to respect peoples writes when the only thing he cares about is his self it goes in the family after all his father built a building that extended several feet into a cemetery no respect for other people
- On Point - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 4:31 pm:
Aunt Martha’s advertised walk in, same day testing but it didn’t actually begin until yesterday after it was brought to the attention of their home offices. An inquiry today indicated that the test would happen today, but the results would take 5-7 days. Still inadequate for front line healthcare workers.
Until yesterday, zero ability in Vermilion and a number of other counties as noted above existed to simply walk in an be tested. News reports and advertising to the contrary are/were simply false.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 4:35 pm:
=== Until yesterday, zero ability in Vermilion and a number of other counties as noted above existed to simply walk in an be tested. News reports and advertising to the contrary are/were simply false.===
I’d call the White House too. Maybe email. I’m serious.
Use the google, POTUS routinely said tests are available everywhere for anyone.