Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Newman on Madigan: “I think it’s time for him to go”
Next Post: Four county sheriffs file suit to strike down state’s Trust Act
Posted in:
* The governor said a disaster proclamation is “our version of a state of emergency.”
This is a breaking story so this post will be updated. Watch the governor’s press conference live by clicking here.
The governor said the declaration would allow the state to tap additional federal resources and “reduces red tape across state government.”
“To be clear, this declaration will build on an already robust response that has been developed over many months,” the governor said.
“I know that this is a difficult time for people as we try to understand and respond to something this new,” he said. “I want people to understand this is going to effect your daily life,” but he said government at all levels are working on the problem. He pledged a daily press conference where information would be conveyed “honestly.”
He asked people not to hoard supplies, particularly medical supplies. He recommended that people check up on seniors and others who could be vulnerable.
“Look for helpers. There are always people who are helping,” he said, quoting Mr. Rogers.
Notably absent from the press conference is Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Her public health director is present, however. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and DuPage County Chairman Dan Cronin are at the event.
* On the new cases…
Full state press release regarding latest coronavirus cases: pic.twitter.com/hqOvSm5ByJ
— Dave McKinney (@davemckinney) March 9, 2020
* Press release…
Building on the state’s robust and coordinated response to COVID-19, Governor JB Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation today to unlock additional federal resources and help the state prepare for the potential of further spread. Issuing a disaster proclamation is the method of declaring a state of emergency in the state of Illinois, which 13 states across the United States have entered into.
“As we’ve said from the beginning, the state of Illinois will use every tool at our disposal to respond to this virus, and this is the next step in that commitment,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We stand ready to put the full weight of state government in preparation for a full-fledged response when needed and will continue to update the public regularly, responsibly and honestly as the situation evolves.”
The proclamation formalizes emergency procedures already underway across state government by activating the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), physically bringing together decision-makers from every state agency and the state’s highly qualified mutual aid network to deploy resources as necessary during this public health threat.
State and local partners benefit from a disaster proclamation in the following ways:
Allows federal reimbursement for state response costs
Allows use of State Disaster Relief Fund, covering direct state costs and reimbursements to Illinois National Guard and mutual aid groups
Allows use of the state’s mutual aid network, groups of public safety response professionals — including hundreds of health care providers and management professionals, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, emergency medical technicians and disaster response professionals — that are available to deploy to areas of shortage
Authorizes the Governor to activate Illinois National Guard reservists, some of whom may be doctors and nurses
Allows expedited procurement should it be necessary
Authorizes additional executive authorities to protect public health and safetySince January, the Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois Emergency Management Agency have been working with their local counterparts across the state to prepare for additional cases as expected.
Also Monday, IDPH and the Chicago Department of Public Health announced four new COVID-19 cases in Illinois, bringing the total to 11. (See attached medical information.) All four cases are in good condition. The first two cases in the state announced last month have recovered without known transmission to additional individuals. The remaining patients are in isolation either at home or in a hospital. As with every case, our federal, state, county and hospital-level public health officials are working to actively identify any individuals who came into contact with the patients.
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
IDPH is currently operating three testing labs statewide – in Chicago, Springfield and Carbondale. These state labs meet current need, and commercial testing expansion is anticipated this week.
In addition, a sample of patients who present with flu-like symptoms are being tested at 15 hospitals statewide: seven hospitals in Cook County, three hospitals in other areas of northern Illinois, three hospitals in Central Illinois and two hospitals in Southern Illinois to monitor for the presence of the virus in our communities.
Gov. Pritzker has been in communication with the CEOs of the largest insurance companies in Illinois. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and Cigna have announced they will waive the costs for COVID-19 testing. Medicaid and Medicare are also covering testing costs.
PREVENTION FOR THE PUBLIC
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, public health officials urge the general public to take the same precautions as during flu season — with renewed vigilance:
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Cover your cough or sneeze
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
Clean often touched surfaces frequently
Maintain social distance (3 feet) between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing
Avoid visiting long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, especially if you’re sick
Stay home if you do not feel well
Plan a safe visit to the doctor if you experience any symptomsVulnerable populations – including people 60 years and older or those with certain health conditions like heart disease, lung disease, and weakened immune systems – are recommended to avoid large gatherings.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has a statewide COVID-19 hotline and website to answer any questions from the public or to report a suspected case: call 1-800-889-3931 or visit IDPH.illinois.gov.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 2:41 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Newman on Madigan: “I think it’s time for him to go”
Next Post: Four county sheriffs file suit to strike down state’s Trust Act
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Kudos to Gov. Pritzker for being on top of this and not playing games.
Especially for this: “Gov. Pritzker has been in communication with the CEOs of the largest insurance companies in Illinois. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and Cigna have announced they will waive the costs for COVID-19 testing. Medicaid and Medicare are also covering testing costs.”
Comment by Nick Name Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 2:57 pm
So: Who’s going out to celebrate St. Patty’s Day this weekend? Erin go bragh, am I right?
Comment by JB13 Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 2:58 pm
Have they said were the new cases are?
It seems two of them are linked to the 6th, so presumably cook county.
Should I read that the presence of DuPage county officials at the press conference as being a sign that one of the new cases was there?
Comment by Nick Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 3:07 pm
This is what leadership looks like. Thanks JB
Comment by Carol R Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 3:14 pm
Re: hoarding medical supplies, New York State (with underpaid prison labor) released its own brand of hand sanitizer
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 3:19 pm
I have pulled Republican ballots in the last three primary elections.
The Governor looked today like a steady hand steering the ship.
Comment by Bertrum Cates Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 3:32 pm
It’s a shame we don’t have this type of leadership, transparency and cooperation among public health agencies at the national level.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 3:33 pm
This is not what leadership looks like.
WHO has declared this a pandemic, JB cant even commit to paid sick leave.
San Francisco has banned gatherings over 1000 people, JB is letting an event with one million people practicing the opposite of “social distancing” go forward.
Even if no one over 60 shows up, everyone infected at the parade will go home and infect those at highest risk of serious illness or death.
JB’s only tangible step announced today was the closure of one polling place.
Declaring a disaster was just a recognition of the obvious, we should not give him a medal for it.
Comment by Math Counts Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 3:35 pm
Very good response, one of the best state-level responses I’ve seen - the Gov is trying to keep Illinois in the containment stage for as long as possible to give providers some lead time.
Comment by dbk Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 3:37 pm
===JB is letting an event with one million people===
City issues the permit for that. It’s not up to him, it’s up to Lightfoot.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 3:55 pm
=WHO has declared this a pandemic=
Fake news. They said today that the possibility of a pandemic is ‘very real’ but they have not yet declared one.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 4:13 pm
I am starting to think that the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is when the virus explodes in Illinois.
My brother told me that an Anglican Rector in D C have communion on Sunday and was diagnosed with Covid 19 on Wednesday. That is scary.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 5:25 pm
For those clamoring for enhanced sick leave, I ask those,”how much? For how long?paid by whom?
Speaking as a former small business owner, there wasn’t enough margin to cover even one extra paid day.
But I could agree to a special event unemployment check for a negotiated period of time.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 5:56 pm
Did you offer any sick time Blue Dog? Cause if not that’s pretty rotten
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 6:17 pm
Dem. Three personal days. Decent vacation plan. Fairly typical USW negotiated terms. Better bennies than I had as an active USW member. Pretty much pre-FEMLA(?).
Pretty rotten? Chinese robbed our patents and undercut pricing to darn near the point of bankruptcy.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 8:03 pm
Blue Dog. So you under cut AMERICAN labor. How did that work out for you? Everybody thinks Russia is are enemy, it is CHINA wake up people.
Comment by BETTY Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 4:48 am
Betty????
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 6:28 am
FYI:
1) As of 3/10/2020 City of Chicago still mandating that employees “swipe in” to work by hand on machines that are touched by everyone else. NOT SMART.
2) My doctor said yesterday that THERE ARE NO COVID-19 TESTS AVAILABLE. They do not exist in/for Chicago.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:35 pm