* Gov. Pritzker’s prepared remarks at an unrelated press conference today…
Before I take questions, I want to address the BA.2 Omicron subvariant, which is 30-50% more transmissible than the original Omicron and is causing surges in COVID caseloads in some places around the world. BA.2 was first detected in Illinois in January.
To be clear up front: Illinois is currently in a good place. The number of admissions and COVID patients in hospitals continues to stabilize and drop across the state – that is what I look at most closely.
That said, IDPH is watching the trend of this subvariant very closely. The virus is very much still here, and it isn’t going away. But with vaccines, the existing variants are manageable. However we’ve seen other countries impose new mitigations because of their experiences with this more transmissible subvariant.
With cases and hospitalizations low here, and with COVID threats seemingly off in the distance, the last few weeks has given us time to make sure we are prepared for a potentialnext wave – whether it’s BA.2 or any other variant.
Our state stockpile is nearly fully replenished. We have more 1.5 million rapid tests on hand, with a half a million more on the way in the coming weeks. I’m also calling on all schools to consider their current testing capacity and make sure they are prepared with a strong testing plan in place if we experience another surge. Testing allows you to monitor the prevalence of infection, which will help keep children in classrooms and keep educators and staff safe.
We are also talking to pharmacies and healthcare providers about increasing their inventory of the various FDA-approved oral BA.2 treatments in case you test positive. These COVID-19 medications are available with a prescription at most Walgreens and Walmarts in Illinois. However, for the pills to work, you must use them within 5 days of getting sick. Talk to your healthcare provider now to make sure they can get you the medication in a timely manner if you DO test positive.
It’s estimated that about 25% of current cases in Illinois are from the BA.2 variant, and although that percentage has been steadily rising, we have not seen a commensurate rise in cases or hospitalizations. In other countries, we’ve seen greater challenges from BA.2, which is why we are closely monitoring it. The world seems smaller and more connected because of COVID, so what’s happening elsewhere could possibly affect us here. For now though, things in Illinois are improving. If conditions here change, I’ll address the people of Illinois with needed actions. If you want to know about the current COVID-19 risk level in your community, the CDC produces a county-by-county transmission map for the public to stay informed. Just go to CDC.gov and you can enter your county to get more information. If you or your loved ones are considered “high risk” for Covid-19,protect them and yourself with masks and social distancing in public places, no matter what the community transmission level may be.
And of course: if you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, this is a great time to do so. That includes staying up-to-date with your booster.
We also know that boosters work for this Omicron subvariant to reduce the likelihood of hospitalizations and deaths, particularly for seniors. The key is: actually getting vaccinated and boosted. So go to vaccines.gov to find a first shot, a second shot, or a booster shot near you.
The most maddening thing about the last omicron surge was not being able to find rapid tests. Hopefully, that won’t happen again.
* New York Times…
At local, state and federal levels, the nation has been relaxing restrictions and trying to restore a semblance of normalcy. Encouraging Americans to return to prepandemic routines, officials are lifting mask and vaccine mandates and showing no inclination of closing down offices, restaurants or theaters.
But scientists are warning that the United States isn’t doing enough to prevent a new surge from endangering vulnerable Americans and potentially upending life again.
New pills can treat infections, but federal efforts to buy more of them are in limbo. An aid package in Congress is stalled, even as agencies run out of money for tests and therapeutics. Though less than one-third of the population has the booster shots needed for high levels of protection, the daily vaccination rate has fallen to a low.
Always bet on Congress to do stupid things like blocking that funding package.
* USA Today…
Key COVID metrics such as cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to drop almost every day, and are hovering around levels last seen in July before the delta variant surge.
Daily reported deaths have ranged from 1,685 to 2,076 daily in March after deaths of 3,000 or more daily for much of January and February.
The plummeting metrics have led to the lifting of state mask mandates—in schools and public buildings—in what officials consider a return to normalcy.
On Thursday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he expects cases to rise in the state due to surges seen in parts of Asia and Europe. But he said he doesn’t expect to reinstate “universal statewide mandated protective measures.”
- Demoralized - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 10:44 am:
I just honestly don’t think anybody will be willing to go back to any sort of mitigations. Mask wearing at the end of the last string of mitigations was starting to be a lost cause. Every time I went anywhere I would say that probably 75% of the people were not wearing masks, unless it was a healthcare facility. I honestly think things like mask wearing are a thing of the past for most people. I probably would be among the people that would no longer wear masks regardless of what the mitigations in place were. I’m vaccinated and boosted. I did my part. I fully support those that want to wear masks. I just won’t be one of them.
- Roadrager - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 10:49 am:
== I fully support those that want to wear masks. I just won’t be one of them.==
Then you do not support them “fully.”
- GoAwayBA2 - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:04 am:
“The most maddening thing”
I still think people’s refusal to wear a mask and get vacinated is the most maddening thing. 68% isn’t horrible but should be a lot higher IMHO.
- OneMan - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:13 am:
I think you are going to need things to get really bad before masks come back. Not saying that I agree with that, I think it is just the reality of the situation.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:15 am:
==That said, IDPH is watching the trend of this subvariant very closely==
All the more reason why I refuse to let my guard down (including giving up masking) and trying to limit my non-work social interactions (including doing church online as much as possible) for now. Maybe I’ll let my guard down when we get at least 85-90% compliance on vaccinations, and when there’s a mandatory vax requirement (with no testing opt out) for all of my fellow state employees.
- TheInvisibleMan - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:36 am:
== Every time I went anywhere I would say that probably 75% of the people were not wearing masks ==
The opposite for me. In fact, it was a rare scene to see someone without a mask when I went out. Most days it was everyone. Even now, many places are still wearing them.
Remember - the mask mandate was always and only for people who couldn’t figure it out on their own and needed to be told what to do. Many places and people didn’t need to be told and many people -myself included- still wear one when going shopping.
Some areas have higher concentrations of people able to figure things out without being told than other areas.
- Amalia - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:42 am:
I’m still wearing a mask in most indoor public settings. Not always, but mostly. if we each do a bit of that now, and of course, get vaccinated, perhaps we can hold the line on having too many folks really ill from the new variant. once you find a mask that is comfortable…the KF94 mask is really good….it’s easier. Fingers crossed. everybody stay healthy.
- Pot calling kettle - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:46 am:
Vaccinated, boosted, and still wearing a mask in most settings where there are a large number of people in a confined space (indoors). I’m not fond of masks, but I know they stop the spread of airborne viruses. It’s not over yet.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:59 am:
If and when the next surge comes, a number of people will want to wear masks and practice other mitigation measures. It is the common sense and civil thing to do, to care for one’s own health, and that of others. It’s a piece of cloth but to many, what they think is oppression. Heard war stories growing up, as practically all of us have, real horror stories, to compare to those for whom a mask is an unbearable burden.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 12:34 pm:
=The most maddening thing about the last omicron surge was not being able to find rapid tests.=
I don’t think they worked all that well. Pure anecdote, but I know at least a dozen people during omicron who tested negative on a rapid but then positive on a PCR, including all four members of our household.
- Demoralized - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 1:01 pm:
==Maybe I’ll let my guard down when we get at least 85-90% compliance on vaccinations, and when there’s a mandatory vax requirement (with no testing opt out) for all of my fellow state employees.==
Good luck living the rest of your life in a hole because neither of those things are going to happen.
- Demoralized - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 1:07 pm:
==I don’t think they worked all that well==
When I had COVID in January I had tested negative with rapid tests 3 times before I finally tested positive with a PCR test. I had been exposed, was sick and was certain I had it but the rapid tests just weren’t showing it.
I think the most important thing that can be done now as far as mitigations is continuing to push vaccinations and reminding people that they need to stay home when they are sick.
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 1:24 pm:
I see masks being worn everywhere around here.
And I plan to continue wearing one until the weather allows outdoor seating.
It ain’t over ’til it’s over.
And it won’t be over ’til the maskless folks stop getting sick.
- Roadrager - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 1:47 pm:
==reminding people that they need to stay home when they are sick==
Unfortunately, we live in a country where many people have a “come in or you’re fired” employer, paid sick leave is a luxury, and our President is trying to coerce people back into the office because of what he reads from David Leonhardt twice a week.
- Demoralized - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:04 pm:
==paid sick leave is a luxury==
That’s because the US needs to get up to the standards of other civilized countries and mandate paid leave.
- Groundhog Day - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:25 pm:
Still waiting for a vaccine for my 2 year old granddaughter. Until she is able to get her shots, I will have to be extra careful, including masking and avoiding crowds.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:52 pm:
==Still waiting for a vaccine for my 2 year old granddaughter. Until she is able to get her shots, I will have to be extra careful, including masking and avoiding crowds.-==
Same here, even though I don’t have kids.
- Peanut - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 3:16 pm:
My immune system does not work even with vaccines and booster. I had to take a leave from work as they are all unmasked in office, my area is in most days, and they wont let me continue to work from home- though I have dome so for almost two years.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 4:58 pm:
==My immune system does not work even with vaccines and booster.==
I feel the same way here too, although not to the extreme and situation that Peanut described, hence why I’m among the people hesitant to give up the guard as this new variant starts to rear its head.