* From Speaker Welch’s chief of staff Jessica Basham…
I’ve been notified of a positive COVID-19 from the BoS Center. All members and staff who were at the BoS Center today, or around someone who was, should self-quarantine. I’m awaiting more specific information and instructions from DPH and will share them ASAP.
…Adding… From the Illinois Legislative Correspondents’ Association President…
Reporters:
Many of you have seen a copy of the memo sent out by the House speaker’s chief of staff this afternoon:
I’ve been notified of a positive COVID-19 from the BoS Center. All members and staff who were at the BoS Center today, or around someone who was, should self-quarantine. I’m awaiting more specific information and instructions from DPH and will share them ASAP.
Steve Brown told me he’s advised that this includes everyone in the building, so any media who entered the BOS Center for House action today, Thursday, Jan. 14, or who has been around someone who was, is advised to self-quarantine.
Brown says a rapid test, which most members and staff took daily during session, turned up a positive test this morning, but he has not been given any information about where the person was during the day or with whom s/he might have had contact. In other words, there is no more information available at this time. I won’t be able to answer any questions, and Steve won’t be able to answer any more questions.
I have asked him to keep me appraised as more information does become available.
If you’re champing at the bit for information, it probably wouldn’t hurt to call the Illinois Department of Public Health, since officials there haven’t gotten around to notifying everyone affected—it might urge them into action and to collect some answers.
John O’Connor
ILCA President
…Adding… The county is responsible for contact tracing.
- NIU Grad - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 2:10 pm:
I was getting very concerned about all the hugging and high-fiving I was seeing on the live feed…a mask can only do so much, especially when in close proximity to others.
- Anonamoose - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 2:17 pm:
Oy.
- 4 percent - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 2:21 pm:
Probably the media /s
- Smarty - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 2:25 pm:
Do the House Republicans have a statement on this?
It was their caucus that demanded members return to session immediately
- PublicServant - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 2:37 pm:
Well, are they at least going to attempt to contact trace? I mean they have video right? See who the affected person was near and all…
- Nagidam - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 2:45 pm:
===Do the House Republicans have a statement on this?
It was their caucus that demanded members return to session immediately===
I get the GOP is an easy target. The GA was coming back regardless and not because the ILGOP demanded it. There was something about 4 pillars and a historic Speaker election. More likely with the mask wearing and distancing there will not be an outbreak. But in a week or so we will know and then you cast dispersions.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 2:56 pm:
===More likely with the mask wearing and distancing there will not be an outbreak===
Except for all the people who crowded into a certain restaurant near the BOS Center last night.
- Nagidam - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 3:03 pm:
===Except for all the people who crowded into a certain restaurant near the BOS Center last night.===
Well I assume someone knows who those folks were. Contract tracing hopefully will tell the story if there is an outbreak from the BOS enter or from the large restaurant gathering. Privacy for the general public is standard. Most elected officials announce if they have COVID so we will probably figure it out.
- very old soil - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 3:07 pm:
The House Republicans will blame Madigan.
- Sweet N Sour - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 3:23 pm:
Speaker Welch and the pandemic he controls…
- blue line - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 3:27 pm:
c’mon, really? Why are people crowding into restaurants eating together? In this case, we cannot have nice things equals session is doomed.
- northsidenomore - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 3:31 pm:
Lots of type A personalities hard to keep them under wraps this long. The struggle is real.
- what!?! - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 3:35 pm:
===Except for all the people who crowded into a certain restaurant near the BOS Center last night.===
Um, what!?! SMH
- Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 4:12 pm:
==Except for all the people who crowded into a certain restaurant near the BOS Center last night.==
So Saputo’s was open? Noted
- SAP - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 4:40 pm:
I wonder if the person who tested positive was in the chamber on Wednesday, along with the Secretary of State, a Supreme Court Justice, our friends in the 4th Estate, and most importantly, dozens of legislative staff members. Not pretty.
- SandyC - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 7:11 pm:
===More likely with the mask wearing and distancing there will not be an outbreak===
Sadly, it’s a misconception that wearing a mask alone will protect one from COVID. Wearing a mask is for those around others, not ourselves. Secondly, distancing AND washing hands on a regular basis are part of the solution. If people aren’t doing all three, then the risk becomes higher.
===Except for all the people who crowded into a certain restaurant near the BOS Center last night.===
Come on, seriously? I’d expect better from our state. *eye roll*
- Cool Papa Bell - Thursday, Jan 14, 21 @ 9:34 pm:
In a building as large as the BOS Center is it medically necessary to ask everyone who was there to quarantine? That seems a stretch to me…
I absolutely believe that the press should have been there. However, I remember the argument that it was kinda no big deal because the building was huge and the could all be spread out on the second floor. So which way is it?