* WREX…

Illinois will begin receiving less COVID-19 vaccines in from the federal government in the near future.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker made the announcement Monday morning in Chicago.

“Illinois, like the nation as a whole, has reached a point where, by and large, all the people who were immediately eager to get vaccinated, have already been vaccinated,” Gov. Pritzker said. […]

Pritzker said health officials in the state have been expecting this to happen for “some time now.”

* Press release…

Today, State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) joined area veterans’ groups to demand more accountability and actions regarding the COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home, the deadliest outbreak at a state-run facility in Illinois history.

“The tragedy that occurred at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home shouldn’t have ever happened,” said Sen. Rezin. “The residents of the LaSalle Veterans’ Home served and protected our nation when we needed it, but when they need us to serve and protect them, our state failed them miserably.”

In response to this failure, Sen. Rezin has filed several pieces of legislation that would help prevent future devastating outbreaks from occurring and would open a truly independent investigation into the LaSalle Home’s outbreak. However, the bills have not received a committee hearing.

The legislation includes:

* Senate Bill 1471: requires facilities licensed and operated by the State to conduct outbreak preparedness drills.
* Senate Bill 2251: requires IDPH to have an onsite visit within one business day of an infectious outbreak at a veterans’ home. An outbreak is defined as two or more individuals who have contracted an infectious disease within 48 hours of the first diagnosis.
* Senate Bill 2252: requires the Auditor General to conduct a performance audit of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) and the Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) management of the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home.

“I have not been given an explanation on why these bills are being held,” said Sen. Rezin. “The fact that these important and potentially life-saving bills have been essentially blocked is embarrassing and disrespectful to the lives of the veterans we lost at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home.”

Additionally, after learning that Former IDVA Director Linda Chapa La Via and LaSalle Veterans’ Home Administrator Angela Mehlbrech refused to cooperate with the Inspector General’s investigation, Sen. Rezin has filed new legislation.

“When I learned that former Director Chapa La Via and the Home’s Administrator refused to cooperate with the OIG’s investigation, I was outraged,” Sen. Rezin. “How could we allow the former director of IDVA and the head of the veterans’ home refuse to answer questions about an outbreak that cost the lives of 36 veterans? It is unacceptable, and the state legislature needs to provide the Inspector General with the power to get the answers they need.”

Senate Bill 1445 would give the Inspector General the authority to subpoena former agency directors, senior administrator, or any other individual who, while employed at the Department, had the authority to implement policy action for the Department, an agency under contract with the Department, or any facility or program operated for or licensed or funded by the Department.

Sen. Rezin is urging the General Assembly to swiftly take up all of these critically important legislation before the end of spring legislative calendar.

“There may only be a few more weeks left in May, but there is still plenty of time for us to do the right thing, said Sen. Rezin. “There is still time to pass these bills. There is still time for us to help ensure that nothing like this happens again.”

* Good to see that not all restaurant owners are blind to the preferences of actual paying customers and aren’t heeding the ranters on social media…

Consumers once again have the choice to dine-in at their favorite restaurants but many are taking a pass, opting to eat al fresco.

That could explain why outdoor dining tents continue to pop up like spring flowers at local eateries even with 50% capacity now allowed for dine-in service.

“Even when COVID is over and we’re back to 100% (occupancy) the mood of the consumer is they still want curbside (take out) or outdoor dining,” said Joe Rupnik, owner of The Pasta House Co. […]

Lunch rush was just beginning on a recent day that clocked winds strong enough to garner a weather warning. Still, Rupnik noted over half of his customers opted to eat in the new tent.

* Center Square…

“Everyplace is different,” said Larry Troche, owner of Déjà Vu. He’s not ready to require dancers, staff, or patrons to show proof of vaccination.

“But I do require masks,” he said, “and I ask them to wear a mask, and if they don’t want to wear a mask, that’s their prerogative, but it’s my prerogative not to have them come in.” […]

Still, particularly in the sectors of food and hospitality, some employers are having a difficult time getting workers to return to the job, due in part to extended unemployment benefits.

For his part, Troche, who said he pays well, isn’t seeing it.

“Every situation is unique, but I am not having a lot of problems,” he said.

* Related…

* COVID-19 positivity rate in Illinois lowest in more than a month, and hospitalizations also down

* 15-Year-Old Illinois Girl Dies 2 Days After Testing Positive for COVID, Family Says - Dykota Morgan’s mother said the high school freshman was an athlete who played multiple sports and did not have any pre-existing conditions

* 5 things to know about the need for ongoing COVID-19 testing in Illinois

* Illinois’ Top Doctor Touts Safety of COVID Vaccine

* Illinois flu activity plunges amid pandemic

* Illinois Set to Move into Bridge Phase Friday. Here’s What That Means For You

* How the COVID-19 Crisis is Affecting Indian Americans