* Press release…
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White tested positive for the COVID-19 virus yesterday.
Secretary White has mild symptoms and is conducting work from home while in quarantine. White is double vaccinated and twice boosted. He is following appropriate CDC and IDPH quarantine guidelines.
I’m told he’s doing well.
…Adding… JW isn’t the only one…
Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicago’s Department of Public Health Commissioner, has tested positive for COVID, a statement from the department said Thursday.
“Last night, for the first time in the pandemic, I tested positive for COVID-19,” the statement read. “I am experiencing some cold-like symptoms and fever but am otherwise well, which I credit to the fact that I’m fully vaccinated and boosted. I will continue to work from home while following the CDC guidelines for isolation.”
- Sox Fan - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 10:33 am:
I made it to June of this year before it finally got me. I thought that was impressive. August 25th is amazing.
Take care of yourself, everybody
- StateEmployeeThatIsNotInAFSCME - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 10:34 am:
Best wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery for Secretary White and Dr. Arwady.
All the more reason that I don’t want to let up on Masking and Co., although I am getting back to more public events like getting back to in-person church regularly, and even for a couple hours at the State Fair after work one night. But even then, the mask still gets worn.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 10:40 am:
Wishing safe, quick, easy and complete recoveries for both.
OW
It’s not over. Nope.
- Amalia - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 10:47 am:
All good wishes to Jesse White and Dr. Arwady. Re-upped my disposable mask cache a few weeks ago so still with that.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 10:49 am:
Speedy recovery to both.
I’ll probably mask when I head to the airport in a few weeks even though it’s not required but other than that no mask for me.
- Sue - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 10:52 am:
This newest variant is escaping currently available vaccines. Case numbers for infection are way underreported given the use of home testing. Curious that the politicos are relaxing requirements given the case numbers. Schools are likely to see large infection numbers are they reopen. I know more folks infected today( though with mostly manageable symptoms) then at any time since this all started
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 10:55 am:
I’ve managed to avoid COVID so far, although I probably just jinxed myself. Everyone else in my family has had it at least once.
I always wear a mask on the CTA or in airports, and I suspect I’ll continue doing so for a long time.
Best wishes to everybody who gets this virus. For many it’s mild, for others, it’s a terrible thing. Better safe than sorry.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 10:55 am:
==Curious that the politicos are relaxing requirements given the case numbers.==
The mitigations were meant to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. They aren’t anywhere close to that. We also have vaccines that protect us from getting really sick. The days of mitigations are likely over.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 10:58 am:
Demoralized is correct. Wake up, Sue. It’s 2022.
- yinn - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 11:07 am:
Best wishes for quick and full recoveries of Secretary White and Dr. Arwady.
Local schools have been in session one week and already one of my teacher friends has tested positive.
I’ve made travel plans for this fall but am beginning to feel stressed about them.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 11:13 am:
The contagiousness of this one is real. It blew through our house a few weeks ago like clockwork - spouse positive, four days later I’m positive, four days later one kid is positive. The only reason the other kid didn’t get it was because she had it a month earlier.
- Watertown - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 11:29 am:
In case anyone was wondering, my barber Dave got it too. Now I have to go to a kids school event this weekend looking really shaggy. Oh the humanity!
- Vote Quimby - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 11:32 am:
Speedy recovery wishes to both.
Are we sure this isn’t the Libertarian Jesse White? /s
- MoralMinority - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 11:32 am:
Best wishes for a speedy recovery Jesse White. Wish we had more government officials like you.
- Amalia - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 11:32 am:
Sue’s comment recalls a recent WaPo article about original antigenic sin, or as it is called in a more modern fashion, immune imprinting. Basically it’s all about how you first encounter a virus, through catching it or getting vaxxed. and how you combat it further on is a question for those making vaccines etc. interestingly, people who survived the late 19th century flu were more susceptible to the early 20th century flu and early 20th century flu survivors were more susceptible to the swine flu of the 1970s. it made me wonder about the whole idea of vaccine mixing making one more strong against the covid in question now as it proceeds. it’s mysterious even to scientists.
- froganon - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 11:47 am:
Best wishes for quick bouts and no long term issues to both and to all of the people who are back in the mix o f daily life. We’ve escaped it so far but we’re still masking and avoiding crowded places. Vaccines and masks work.(banned function and emoji’s)
- Levois J - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 12:36 pm:
That thing is still out there. Speedy recovery to both!
- Manchester - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 12:42 pm:
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Jesse White and Dr. Arwady. No, this isn’t over but I don’t think anyone wants to go back to wholesale mitigations. Thank heavens for the vaccines that keep most of us from serious illness.
- Avocado Toast - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 12:48 pm:
It’s sad that the norm is now “working from home” with COVID. Just rest.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 1:29 pm:
==That thing is still out there.==
That “thing” will be out there the rest of our lives and we are going to have these ebbs and flows every year. It’s time to accept that and learn to live with it.
- thisjustinagain - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 3:31 pm:
We also have to ‘just live with’ the fact that there is an entire segment of our population which is unable to discern reality from their conspiracy-theory world, and they materially helped spread a disease which killed over 1,000,000 Americans. The next time the country needs help, we know they won’t. And they are still as in denial as when the pandemic started.
- Bob Meter - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 5:15 pm:
Keep your masks on, friends.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 5:54 pm:
==Keep your masks on, friends.==
More power to you. But I’ll pass.
- Big Dipper - Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 6:02 pm:
==Vaccines and masks work.(banned function and emoji’s)==
Yup. Although there is a current right wing talking point that it has now been proven (citing nothing) that masks and vaccines made no difference lol.