…Adding… The executive order Pritzker signed today is here.
* From the governor’s daily COVID-19 press conference at the James R. Thompson Center…
It brings me great pain to announce that we have had three more deaths in Illinois associated with COVID 19.
One was a Will County resident in his 50s. A second, a Cook County resident in her 80s. And the third is a Florida resident who was visiting Sangamon County.
My heart goes out to the family and the friends of these patients. And I feel like I can speak for all of Illinois. When I say, we offer them our collective strength at this time. May their memories be for a blessing.
These moments will not get easier, nor should they. We are fighting this fight for every person in Illinois.
We’ve all lost something today.
Remember I’m using Otter for transcription, so pardon the typos.
* New executive order…
We’re also working hard to ensure that all our residents are able to get as many of the health care services that they need, even from the safety of their own homes. So today I’m signing an executive order significantly expanding telemedicine for both Medicaid and those who are private insured. This order will allow more providers to get reimbursed for these services and allow patients more flexibility and safety in getting the medical guidance and care that they need.
* Small biz…
Our small businesses are already hurting, and the root of that pain isn’t going to go away anytime soon. I’m pleased to announce today that my administration is offering relief to more than 20,000 small and medium sized bars and restaurants, all across Illinois by allowing a two-month delay in sales tax payments to the state, and to local jurisdictions, and we’re waving late filing fees and interest starting tomorrow, Friday, March 20.
* Tests…
As of yesterday we were able to do more than 1000 tests statewide and in just a few days will be increasing that to more than 2000 tests per day.
These tests are only discovering people who already have the virus. I know people are looking at other countries and even cities and jurisdictions around the United States and seeing the numbers rise significantly everywhere. But as we take action, we’re initiating a process that is intended to bend the curve.
* National Guard…
Earlier this week I activated the first members of the Illinois National Guard mission to join the fight against Cova 19. In total the guard is a force of really extraordinary citizens but they would call themselves ordinary citizens, but they’re 13,000 strong committed to amazing work, and they bring to our preparations key capabilities in logistics and transportation and even medical specialties in the short term the guard will be working to support our efforts to set up mobile testing units, allowing us to expand testing while ensuring that those tests can be administered in the safest possible way.
The guard is also doing critical work planning for the weeks and months ahead, including expanding our healthcare capacity by potentially refitting and reopening previously closed hospitals.
US Rep. Bobby Rush called on Pritzker to reopen a South Side hospital that was closed last year.
* Rumors…
I want to address some of the rumors that have been running around, essential services will not close interstates highways and bridges will stay open grocery stores pharmacies gas stations. These sources of fundamental supplies will continue to operate. There is no need to run out and hoard food gas or medicine, by what you need, within reason there is enough to go around as long as people do not hoard. We will never shut these services down.
And please, let’s all remember that these essential institutions don’t run on their own, the cashiers the gas station attendants, the truckers the pharmacists, the delivery workers the sanitation workers. These are all people who keep our state on track. So please take every opportunity that you can to demonstrate your gratitude to them.
* IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike…
Unfortunately we do anticipate additional deaths. Please everyone stay home as much as possible, so we can reduce the number of people who are infected, which will reduce the number of people who get serious illness, which will reduce the number of people who will lose their life.
Overall we have 422 cases in 22 counties across Illinois. The number of cases is rising exponentially with increasing laboratory testing in DPH labs, as well as in the commercial labs and the hospital labs, we did expect to see this rise as you test more, you will identify more
* Testing…
Testing will be performed for individuals who are part of a cluster of confirmed cases or possible cases among those who work or live in a residential congregate setting, such as the nursing homes testing at the IDP h labs will also be prioritized for people for hospitalized patients with unexplained pneumonia or from a residential congregate setting, serving vulnerable populations. Long term care facilities such as nursing homes with confirmed cases will increase the monitoring of those individuals and take aggressive infection control measures.
However testing of all individuals is not indicated.
We will not recommend test for every single resident or staff of an of a long term care facility rather we will take all the precautions necessary and as soon as any staff or resident develops symptoms, they will be isolated and treated. If they’re showing symptoms whether they’ve been tested or not, they will get the same treatments and the same appropriate measures will be taken to care for them.
Patients who do not fall into one of these categories for testing can seek care for their healthcare provider who can then move on forward with a testing at a commercial or a hospital laboratory.
* Press release…
There are 136 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) across Illinois. Five additional counties are now reporting cases; Jackson, Kankakee, LaSalle, Washington, and Williamson counties.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 422 cases in 22 counties in Illinois. Cases have occurred in ages 9 to 99.
* Today’s graph…
None of the fatalities were in nursing homes.
* On to questions for the governor. How long will school closings last…
We’ve set a deadline, a date by which we think that students would go back but I also think that parents should be contemplating the possibility that that might be extended.
* What is the threshold for a shelter in place order…
Look, my expertise is not as a scientist or as a doctor, and so epidemiologists as well as those who are experts in public health, are those who I rely upon both here in Illinois and there are we have some of the best in the world here in Illinois. And I’ve also called others around the nation, so that I can better understand what are the things that they’re looking at. Many of the people in this field are very very concerned that the United States is not doing enough. I think you’ve heard that on television and we you know we’ve when we talk about bending the curve we say it like everybody understands but what we’re talking about is making sure that we don’t end up in the situation that Italy is in.
So when I make decisions about this this is about how do we operate faster and better than Italy, and then other countries that have seen this, you know, grow exponentially for a very long period of time. […]
Suffice to say that we’re evaluating every day.
Graph…
* IRMA has a list on their website that will include all grocery stores adopting special shopping hours for senior citizens and other vulnerable populations. This will be updated frequently. Click here.
* Pritzker was asked about reopening closed hospitals and expanding beds…
There are two types of hospital beds that we’re looking for. One is the NIC badge I mean rooms. I, and the ability to serve the people that are in those rooms. So two types one is those who are COVID-19 positive, who need to be treated for COVID-19. And then there are those who have some other illness that they’re in the hospital for, and they will need a bed, and we’re trying hard to stand up more of both of those types of beds, the more that we can alleviate the existing infrastructure of non COVID-19, the more likely we are to be able to serve the vastly increasing population of those who are tested positive for COVID-19. So we are, as I say we’re reopening hospitals. We’re looking at all the hospitals right now inventorying how to reopen them so we’ve got people on site in many cases, looking at you know remember there’s plant and equipment that you have to turn on it isn’t just as easy as turning the lights on. And then we’ve also got to have the healthcare personnel to move into those hospitals to make sure that we’re serving people properly. And then there are existing surgery centers and other places that have the potential to provide beds for for people that that aren’t normally places that would just accept a COVID-19 or other kind of a patient so we’re again outfitting those folks but but they also have nurses and doctors that are on staff and so they have a little more capability to begin with. All together so we’re, we’re working hard with all the hospitals to and you know that you know we we no longer have elective surgeries, going into our hospitals so that alleviates many of the beds, and also frankly puts a financial burden on the hospitals themselves who, you know, subsidize other care by doing elective surgeries often so anyway that’s that’s a lot of what we’re looking at. And we’re going to continue to look at, even more expansion that may include things like literally building a field hospital in Illinois and in various places. We’re also looking at how do you alleviate some of the intake that goes on at a hospital for people who really don’t need a bed sometimes they are put in a bed anyway to, you know, or were a month ago or two months ago, how do we alleviate some of that who could really convalesce for example at home, and not be in the hospital, and just evaluating, you know what, what does that look like how do we encourage that.
* A front group for the anti-graduated tax forces demanded today that Pritzker pull the proposal off the ballot. Pritzker’s response…
I would just say this is not a time for politics. We have too much to do to save people’s lives. We’re not focusing on, you know, legislative initiatives, other than focus right now on what it will take to provide the health care, and the unemployment and the services that people will need in what is going to be an increasingly difficult moment for everybody.
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* Oh, man…
The outbreak of the respiratory virus began in China and was quickly spread around the world by air travelers, who ran high fevers. In the United States, it was first detected in Chicago, and 47 days later the World Health Organization declared a pandemic. By then it was too late: 110 million Americans were expected to become ill, leading to 7.7 million hospitalized and 586,000 dead.
That scenario, code-named “Crimson Contagion,” was simulated by the Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services in a series of exercises that ran from last January to August.
The simulation’s sobering results — contained in a draft report dated October 2019 that has not previously been reported — drove home just how underfunded, underprepared and uncoordinated the federal government would be for a life-or-death battle with a virus for which no treatment existed.
The draft report, marked “not to be disclosed,” laid out in stark detail repeated cases of “confusion” in the exercise. Federal agencies jockeyed over who was in charge. State officials and local hospitals struggled to figure out what kind of equipment was stockpiled or available. Cities and states went their own way on school closings.
Go read the whole thing. The draft report is here. Chicago and Illinois participated in that exercise, but I don’t know if they were ever given the results.
* Politico…
President Donald Trump on Thursday put the onus on governors to obtain the critical equipment their states need to fight the coronavirus pandemic, telling reporters that the federal government is “not a shipping clerk” for the potentially life-saving supplies.
Appearing at the daily press briefing of the White House coronavirus task force, the president defended his decision to invoke the Defense Production Act — which would allow the administration to direct U.S. industry to ramp up production of emergency medical provisions — without actually triggering the statute.
“Governors are supposed to be doing a lot of this work, and they are doing a lot of this work,” Trump said. “The Federal government is not supposed to be out there buying vast amounts of items and then shipping. You know, we’re not a shipping clerk.”
The president’s remarks amounted to a rebuke of governors’ recent pleas for more robust federal intervention amid the rapidly spreading outbreak, which they warn will soon overwhelm local health care systems if hospital beds, face masks and other necessities are not soon furnished in significantly greater numbers.
*Hard sigh* As a buddy of mine just said, “There is an actual federal stockpile of things like PPE to ship to states. That is what they do.”
*** UPDATE *** Speaking of supplies, here’s the IHA…
The Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) today issued a plea to the leaders of associations for the construction industry, dentists, veterinarians, and other groups that may be able to help the state’s more than 200 hospitals protect their healthcare workers as they care for COVID-19 patients. IHA is asking the organizations to donate face masks or N95s to their local hospitals.
“Hospitals all over the state are in jeopardy of potentially running out of critically needed protective medical supplies,” said Illinois Health and Hospital Association President and CEO A.J. Wilhelmi. “With continuing uncertainties about global and U.S. supplies of face masks, we urgently need to find alternative supplies, no matter where they are, so our hospitals can continue to provide life-saving care to current and future COVID-19 patients.”
The text of Wilhelmi’s message is as follows:
Subject: Illinois Hospitals Need Your Help - Request for Face Masks (N95s)
I am making an unusual, but critically important personal plea to you for help.
As you may be aware, Illinois hospitals and health systems are facing a critical shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as they care for increasing numbers of patients with COVID-19. Yesterday, the number of COVID-19 cases in Illinois nearly doubled to 288. We anticipate that the number of cases will increase dramatically in the coming days and weeks, exhausting all the PPE at hospitals, including gowns, gloves, eye shields and, especially, medical masks (specifically, standard surgical masks and N95s, which have NIOSH or FDA approval, including expired N95s).
PPE is critical to protecting our frontline healthcare workforce from infection when testing and treating patients for COVID-19, keeping our dedicated physicians, nurses, technicians and others in our hospitals where they are needed most.
Earlier this week, you may have seen or heard that Vice President Mike Pence asked all construction companies to donate unused/packaged N95 masks to their local hospitals and to limit ordering more:
“We would make one specific request, and that is we would urge construction companies to donate their inventory of N95 masks to your local hospital and forgo additional orders of those industrial masks…Because of what the president asked to be included in legislation moving through the Congress, those industrial masks that they use on construction sites are perfectly acceptable for healthcare workers to be protected from a respiratory disease.” (See a news story on the Vice President’s remarks at a White House press conference)
In addition, there may be available N95 masks from dental offices or other healthcare facilities that have been temporarily shuttered because of the COVID-19 crisis.
On behalf of more than 200 hospitals and health systems across Illinois, I ask you to donate N95s to your local hospitals. We greatly appreciate any help you can provide to protect healthcare workers as they provide life-saving care to patients during this crisis. Thanks for considering, and please let me know if you have any questions or need more information.
* Meanwhile, here’s some headlines from the Tribune’s very good COVID-19 page…
Metra cuts weekday schedule in half as coronavirus causes deep ridership drop
Chicago police and paramedics just announced their first coronavirus cases. How are they dealing with COVID-19 on the front line?
Chicago orders coronavirus patients, people showing symptoms, to stay home
Suburban Cook County coronavirus cases rise to 75 with 17 new infections
Professional licenses expiration dates extended
Illinois General Assembly cancels session
Lightfoot addressing the public tonight in broadcast from City Hall
Illinois unemployment claims skyrocket as coronavirus pandemic causes workplaces to shut down
As day cares shut down, parents must juggle child care and working from home
ER doctors at Rush Oak Park Hospital test positive for coronavirus as village issues ‘shelter in place’ order
* SJ-R…
Springfield COVID-19 updates: Closings, cancellations, help available
* This is not good, but it’s going to happen in lots more places, so prepare yourself…
One staff member at the Church Creek senior living center in Arlington Heights has contracted the COVID-19 coronavirus, the center said Wednesday.
* Sun-Times…
Labor leaders in the Chicago area and nationally Thursday urged private employers to pay workers during furloughs and called for federal legislation to ensure the continued flow of money and benefits to people — and not corporations — as the nation’s economic paralysis spreads because of the pandemic.
“Workers are making sacrifices right now,” said Robert Reiter Jr., president of the Chicago Federation of Labor. “We cannot let those sacrifices be in vain.”
He called on private employers to help their staffs. “This is a time when folks have to step up,” Reiter said.
Also, click here for an informational thread on prisoner release.
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* We’ve already talked about how Sen. Dave Syverson and Rep. John Cabello, both Winnebago County Republicans, are upset at Gov. Pritzker’s order to shut down bars and restaurants.
They’ve been harshly criticized by other local leaders, but they’re sticking to their opposition. Here’s Richard Bodee at WREX…
We asked both Sen. Syverson and Rep. Cabello about their thoughts on social distancing, the preferred method the CDC recommends people use.
“It’s not for me to question the medical experts who say that,” Sen. Syverson says. “Do the [right] things, wash your hands, social distance.”
“If the people who want to open their business, keep it open, we should let them do that,” Rep. Cabello says.
We tried to ask Cabello if he stood by that, even if it meant hurting people who are immunocompromised.
“I’m not a doctor,” Cabello says.
OK, you’re not doctors. How about listening to some doctors?
…Adding… Some advice from actual doctors…
* Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) initially questioned the need for parade cancellations and the restaurant/tavern shutdowns and implied that the virus was a Chicago problem so the measures shouldn’t be applied to the entire state and also wondered if the governor actually had the power to take his actions. Well, the Eastern Bloc member has completely changed his tone. From a March 16 press release…
State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) continues to monitor the on-going situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in Illinois. At the daily press briefing by Governor JB Pritzker, 105 cases have been confirmed in Illinois including those who have recovered, and two more counties have identified people who tested positive for the COVID-19, Peoria and Will.
“We need to continue to use common sense with personal hygiene and limiting the size of groups we are congregating around,” commented Rep. Bailey. “According to the Illinois Department of Public Health director, the most vulnerable people for experiencing the harshest reactions to the virus are the elderly, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems.”
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 12 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) across Illinois, on Monday, bringing the total to 105 in Illinois. No cases have been announced in the 109th District, as testing progresses, this is likely to change. We should expect this and it is not a reason for panic.
*** UPDATE *** WMAY…
The new Republican nominee for U.S. Senate questions whether the state and national response to the coronavirus pandemic has gone too far.
Appearing live on WMAY, former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, Jr. said if he were in the Senate, he would be asking whether it’s really necessary to shut down large numbers of businesses and make people stay at home… or whether those efforts should have been focused on just those who are most vulnerable to the virus. Curran admits he doesn’t have all the answers… but says there should have been more discussion about the measures being taken.
Everyone is vulnerable to this virus. Saying stuff like that is the exact sort of thing which encourages young people to crowd beaches.
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* Email to Illinois House Democrats…
Good afternoon, members –
Please be advised that the session days scheduled for next week will be cancelled; however, as I indicated in my communication earlier this week, the session schedule is “in flux,” and members should be prepared to return to Springfield to address urgent matters. Regarding the committee deadline for House bills, which was set for March 27, that will be extended to April 3; this and other deadlines will be reviewed and extended when needed moving forward.
Generally, members should be re-evaluating any and all travel plans, including those made for the weeks of April 5 and April 12 (the legislative spring break). This is not only due to the need to practice social distancing to safeguard the health of our communities, but also due to the possible need to return to Springfield for session during that time period.
Furthermore, we are planning to have a conference call for all caucus members. We’re planning for tomorrow, but still finalizing the details – more info on this will be sent to members as soon as possible. The agenda will include a status update on the progress of various working groups.
Take care and be well,
Jessica
Jessica Basham, Chief of Staff
Office of the Speaker
*** UPDATE *** The Senate has also canceled next week.
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* Team coverage at the Sun-Times…
Chicagoans braced for the threat of coronavirus and plenty of mishaps at polling places to vote in the 2020 primary election — an election with at least two tight races that could be affected by what could be more than a quarter of a million ballots yet to be counted.
Chicago Board of Elections spokesman Jim Allen late Tuesday said 200,000 early voting ballots had yet to be counted, and a “potential universe” of another 70,000 mail-in ballots could arrive to be counted in the next two weeks.
“We’re going to be counting for another two weeks, easily,” Allen said.
Allen explained that the city’s election board normally shuts down early voting the Monday before Election Day. It gathers all the memory chips from machines to be able to report out all early voting data, like “one big happy family of data.”
“This time we had early voting open on Election Day and serving as precinct [polling places], so now those precincts are coming in with all early voting data, going back to Feb. 19th,” Allen said. “That’s 200,212 ballots.”
Keep that in mind.
You can see some five-day-old maps for vote by mail applications here, returned mail here and early voting here to give you a rough idea of what’s out there.
* Regardless of the issues, the Associated Press declared Marie Newman the winner…
Challenger Marie Newman claimed victory over Rep. Dan Lipinski on Tuesday night in a rematch of their nationally watched Democratic congressional primary that was a battle between the party’s progressive and moderate wings.
The businesswoman from La Grange ended nearly four decades of Lipinski family control of the Southwest Side and southwest suburban congressional seat. The congressman’s father, William Lipinski, served from 1983 until 2005, when he engineered the appointment of his son.
“I am bursting with pride and gratitude for the amazing coalition who helped bring about much needed change in our district,” Newman said in a statement. “We are going to work together to lower healthcare costs, to fight climate change, and to continue building a hospitable community for everyone, no matter where you come from.
* Whatever’s left to be counted could be crucial in this race…
Ald. Edward M. Burke, the long-time 14th Ward Democratic Committeeperson, was in a close race to retain the seat against freshman state Rep. Aaron Ortiz, but his chief rival’s lead was growing.
Ortiz — who ousted Burke’s brother, state Rep. Dan Burke, just over a year ago — is leading with 40% of the vote to Burke’s 33%, with 94% of precincts reporting. Alicia Elena Martinez trails with 27% of the vote.
The too-close-to-call race — for now — leaves Burke’s seat, which he has held since 1968, up for grabs.
Ortiz won his House race.
* Perhaps the same goes for this race…
Illinois Supreme Court Justice P. Scott Neville Jr. looked poised to hold the seat on the high court he inherited from the late Justice Charles E. Freeman, but a strong challenge from Appellate Court Justice Jesse Reyes meant there was no clear winner in the race late Tuesday. […]
With 92 percent of precincts reporting, Neville led with 24.4 percent of the vote. Reyes had 21.3 percent, Harris had 16.1 percent, McBride had 12.7 percent, Cobbs had 12.9 percent, Epstein had 7.8 percent, and Howse had 4.8 percent.
Neville is now up by 5.
* The state’s attorney’s race wasn’t close despite huge spending by Bill Conway…
With about 85% of precincts reporting at 10:30 p.m., Foxx had 48% of the vote and Conway had 33%. Two other challengers were polling a distant third and fourth.
* Press release…
State Rep. Yoni Pizer conceded to Margaret Croke in the race for 12th District State Representative on Tuesday.
“I congratulate Margaret Croke on her victory and a hard-fought campaign,” said Rep. Pizer. “I decided to step up and run because I believe strongly that representation matters. I was humbled and honored to be appointed the first-ever openly gay representative of the 12th District, which includes the historically LGBTQ community of Boystown. I intend to work with Representative-Elect Croke to ensure that it receives the representation we need and deserve.”
* Hannah Meisel…
Anti-gun advocate Denyse Wang Stoneback appeared to have defeated appointed State Rep. Yehiel “Mark” Kalish (D-Skokie) in a race that centered on the Democratic Party’s push to expand access to reproductive health care.” […]
In the 3rd District, appointed State Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado appeared to lead Chicago teacher Nidia Carranza, according to unofficial returns. Delgado had the support of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, while Carranza had the support of the Chicago Teachers Union.
In the 9th District, State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, appeared to lead former WGN radio host Patti Vasquez and Chicago Police Officer Joe Duplechin, according to unofficial returns.
In the Illinois Senate, appointed State Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) appeared to lead immigration attorney Ken Thomas, according to early returns.
* I think this is over, but we’ll see…
Illinois state Sen. Iris Martinez has a big lead in the Democratic primary for clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court. With 3,579 out of 3,668 precincts reporting, Illinois state Sen. Iris Martinez is heading up the four-way race, with 34% of the vote.
Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Michael Cabonargi follows in second place (27%), trailed by former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin (25.3%) and civil rights attorney Jacob Meister (13.7%).
That’s gonna mean another legislative appointment.
…Adding… Cabonargi has conceded.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Kinda…
*** UPDATE 2 *** Marie Newman…
“Earlier today, I spoke with Congressman Lipinski, who ran a tough race. I want to thank him for reaching out, and I’m hopeful we can work together in the coming months to fight for our community and to get things done for the Third Congressional District. I am so proud of the coalition we built in this campaign and I am looking forward to continuing to meet with people and hearing their concerns on the campaign trail over the next few months. Now, more than ever, we need to be unified and not divided. Let’s all stand together in this fight for better healthcare, a more equitable economy and solutions that improve everybody’s everyday.”
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Open thread
Wednesday, Mar 18, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Man, what a morning. Up really late, overslept a bit, lost my Internet connection, browser problems. You name it, I got it. Great timing, too. Be nice to each other. I’ll have another post up soonish. I need another cup of coffee first, though.
…Adding… And the coffee maker just broke.
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