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*** UPDATE *** NPR…
The COVID-19 viral disease that has swept into at least 114 countries and killed more than 4,000 people is now officially a pandemic, the World Health Organization announced Wednesday.
“This is the first pandemic caused by coronavirus,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Eight countries — including the U.S. — are now each reporting more than 1,000 cases of COVID-19, caused by the virus that has infected more than 120,000 people worldwide.
“In the past two weeks, the number of cases of COVID-19 outside China has increased 13-fold, and the number of affected countries has tripled,” Tedros said.
* Gov. Pritzker has been complaining about this as well…
As Washington state grapples with what may be the country’s worst outbreak of novel coronavirus, the absence of a COVID-19 emergency declaration from President Trump has hamstrung its ability to respond to the crisis.
The state would like to apply for a Medicaid waiver that would let Washington give people more options for where to receive care, so that it can lessen the pressure on its already overtaxed health system.
The problem for the state is that one of the types of waivers currently under discussion — a waiver known as 1135 — can be triggered only by the President declaring an emergency or a disaster under the Stafford Act, something he has notably failed to do, despite all signs indicating that the coronavirus outbreak stands to be a major public health crisis. […]
In past emergencies, Medicaid waivers, which could also be issued under 1115, have been useful tools for helping states to react to evolving situations.
The Bush administration approved Medicaid waivers to expand health coverage for New Yorkers after the 9/11 attacks and, after Hurricane Katrina, to streamline the process for Gulf coast states to cover people who had to evacuate from Louisiana.
Senate Democrats lead by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are preparing a letter formally calling for President Donald Trump to issue an emergency declaration to make more than $40 billion available to assist state and local governments’ coronavirus response, according to a Senate Democratic aide.
A prison watchdog said the Illinois Department of Corrections needs to make its plans for addressing COVID-19 public.
“Prison health is problematic on a good day,” the John Howard Association said. “In Illinois, ongoing litigation has both exposed and is working to remedy the unfortunate quality of and limited access to medical care available to people in our prisons. Court-appointed experts have submitted detailed reports pointing to the many inhumane and constitutionally violative practices around the medical care provided inside Illinois prisons.”
The statement included data from a poll done by the association from those who are in state custody and of 12,780 people who responded from 21 facilities between April 2018 and May 2019, 65 percent expressed dissatisfaction with medical care and 78 percent were dissatisfied with IDOC’s provisions of hygiene items such as soap and hand sanitizer.
“We are not medical experts and do not offer specific advice on disease prevention and treatment,” the statement said. “But as a prison watchdog and advocacy organization, we are concerned that the health of prisoners in the face of this new pandemic will not rank as a public health priority. […]
The Illinois Department of Corrections said Tuesday that no cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in prisons.
“The Department is modifying its current Pandemic Influenza and Continuity of Operations plans to ensure we are prepared for a potential outbreak of COVID-19,” IDOC spokesperson Lindsey Hess said. “People who are experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus, or who may have been exposed to the illness, may not be permitted to visit an IDOC correctional facility.”
* NCSL…
Public health quarantine and isolation are legal authorities that may be, but rarely are, implemented to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Ill people may be isolated to protect the public by preventing exposure to infected people. Quarantine may be used to restrict the movement of well people who may have been exposed to a communicable disease until it can be determined if they are ill. This could include people who have a communicable disease but do not know it or those who may have the disease because of close contact with ill people but do not show symptoms.
State and local governments are primarily responsible for maintaining public health and controlling the spread of diseases within state borders. Among other state public health emergency preparedness powers, every state, the District of Columbia and most territories have laws authorizing quarantine and isolation, usually through the state’s health authority. The federal government has authority as well, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to monitor and respond to the spread of communicable diseases across national or state borders, or if the state government is unwilling or unable to effectively respond.
The CDC’s authority to exercise quarantine and isolation powers for specific diseases derives from the federal Public Health Service Act and most recently, a series of presidential executive orders. Under these orders, federal quarantine and isolation powers currently apply to the following diseases: cholera; diphtheria; infectious tuberculosis; plague; smallpox; yellow fever; viral hemorrhagic fevers; influenza caused by new or reemergent flu viruses that are causing, or have the potential to cause, a pandemic; and severe acute respiratory syndromes (which may include COVID-19). On Jan. 31, 2020, President Donald Trump released a proclamation in response to the COVID-19 outbreaks suspending certain entry into the United States, specifically outlining medical screening and quarantine where appropriate.
Authority. The Department of Public Health has supreme authority over declaring new or modifying existing quarantines. A county board of health should be created with responsibility for control of contagious diseases, including the use of quarantine for areas within the county not incorporated. Corporate authorities of municipalities have jurisdiction for quarantine extending one-half mile beyond corporate limits. Local health authorities shall establish quarantine of contacts of someone suspected of carrying a disease that requires this action.
Penalties. Whoever violates or refuses to obey any rule or regulation of the Department of Public Health shall be deemed guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
Police Power & Limitations. Persons who are or are about to be ordered to be isolated or quarantined and owners of places that are or are about to be closed and made off limits to the public shall have the right to counsel. If a person or owner is indigent, the court shall appoint counsel for that person or owner. Persons who are ordered to be isolated or quarantined or who are owners of places that are ordered to be closed and made off limits to the public, shall be given a written notice of such order.
* Roundup…
* Meet the two women leading Illinois’ coronavirus response - A former general and a former medical director of the largest juvenile detention center in the country have one of the most important tasks in Illinois right now: dealing with coronavirus.
* NCSL Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources
* Coronavirus in Illinois updates
* Running list of Chicago-area closings and cancellations because of coronavirus
* Chicago Closes Senior Centers As Coronavirus Spreads, But Free Meals Still Available For Pick-Up Only
* Election officials expect more mail-in ballots, early voting amid coronavirus worries
* UI exploring online classes in wake of coronavirus: Indiana University, Harvard, Ohio State, Columbia, Princeton and colleges in hard-hit California and Washington state have already announced shifts to online classes.
* Coronavirus spread cuts blood donations; Illinois blood supply providers ask for help
* DuPage taking steps to reduce courthouse visitors amid coronavirus fears
* Wisconsin workers who take Metra to Chicago worry about coronavirus exposure
* Local leaders take coronavirus fight into own hands absent federal direction: New York officials moved Tuesday to seal off a region where a growing cluster of cases posed a heightened risk of transmitting the virus, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo saying the fast-changing situation merited “a special public health strategy for New Rochelle.” In Massachusetts, a blue state with a Republican executive, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency and legislative leaders said they plan to allocate $15 million for containment efforts. While some blue state governors have conspicuously avoided criticizing Trump, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker didn’t hold back Tuesday. Pritzker assailed vague Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance about avoiding large crowds, complained about the U.S. not using tests that were released by the World Health Organization and cautioned that Trump is downplaying the seriousness of the virus. “I am very frustrated with the federal government,” he said. “We have not received enough tests. We’ve been told for days and that the commercial labs will be coming on line. Just again today I was told they’d be coming on line in a matter of days and we haven’t seen it.”
* MSNBC: Illinois gov. frustrated by government response to coronavirus
* Stocks fall with Trump stimulus missing: “Every day we get whipsawed back and forth, and what we’re seeing today is general disappointment that fiscal policy is not at all clear in how it’s going to stimulate the economy.”
* United warns shock from virus could rival 9/11 financial fallout: “Hope is not a strategy,” says incoming CEO Scott Kirby, who predicts the travel downturn will be deep.
* Email crash impeded HHS response to coronavirus: The episode has exacerbated tensions inside a department that’s already been split by intense fights between HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS chief Seema Verma while it strains to coordinate the government’s response to the viral outbreak.
* True number of U.S. coronavirus cases is far above official tally, scientists say: Researchers estimate that by March 1, the virus had already infected about 1,000 to 10,000 people who have not yet been accounted for. At the start of this month, about 80 U.S. cases had been confirmed and officials were still expressing confidence they could contain the new virus.
* Trump’s former pandemic adviser: ‘We are 10 days from our hospitals getting creamed’: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), who is overseeing one of the country’s largest clusters, said “if you do the math” there could be 64,000 cases of COVID-19 in the Evergreen State by May, while New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the positive cases in the city are “coming in so intensely now” that public officials are struggling to keep up with them. He said he wasn’t in a position to give the media a “detailed case breakdown” because of the rapidly changing number.
* Up to 70% of Germany could become infected - Merkel
* Coronavirus ‘Containment Area’ Created Around N.Y. Cluster
* Taiwan has millions of visitors from China and only 45 coronavirus cases. Here’s how.
* If you’re working from home, make sure you do this: (Y)ou need to remind yourself to get up and walk around at least once per hour.
* ADDED: ‘It’s Just Everywhere Already’: How Delays in Testing Set Back the U.S. Coronavirus Response: Later that day, the investigators and Seattle health officials gathered with representatives of the C.D.C. and the F.D.A. to discuss what happened. The message from the federal government was blunt. “What they said on that phone call very clearly was cease and desist to [Dr. Helen Y. Chu, an infectious disease expert in Seattle],” Dr. Lindquist remembered. “Stop testing.”
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 10:34 am
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Previous Post: *** UPDATED x1 *** More on the latest AVR snafu
Next Post: HDems gonna HDem, but the schtick is really getting old
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meanwhile, a potential mumps outbreak is starting in plainfield…
https://patch.com/illinois/plainfield/plainfield-south-hs-parents-alerted-mumps-case-school
Some places just refuse to accept modern medicine.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 10:38 am
” Wisconsin workers who take Metra to Chicago worry about coronavirus exposure”
So do Illinois workers who take Metra to Chicago… Just saying
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 10:38 am
Having worked in a prison if this thing gets in there it’s going to be a tragedy. Limiting visits will help but not sure how well it’ll stop staff.
Hope it works.
Comment by Mason born Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 10:44 am
Related question: What are folks doing or hearing about public meetings and town halls convened by elected officials? Given what we’re learning, it would seem wise to cancel them.
Comment by Interested observer Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 10:52 am
Well I for one think all of us deserve a two week respite to stay at home and take it easy for a while. I’ve been training my whole life for social distancing it looks like all that hard work is about to pay off.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:02 am
===What are folks doing or hearing about public meetings and town halls convened by elected officials?===
There is a local open to the public ‘chat with the chiefs’ with Oswego and plainfield officials.
They are still planning on having it, and were advertizing it as recently as yesterday.
Some places are barreling head first into ignoring everything about what is happening in the world around them.
These officials are acting incredibly recklessly, for reasons I can only assume are to try to pretend like everything is fine and there is no reason to worry.
The problem of course is that when the facade over reality finally collapses, and it will, this path will only amplify the eventual panic.
Getting information out and talking to people like adults, while presenting factual information - much like when a tornado warning is issued, is how this should be approached. It isn’t, and in my eyes such behavior is a dereliction of duty.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:05 am
To the post,
Wow, what a post.
Thanks Rich for this one-stop post that breaks down so much going on, and allows a looking at it without searching all over and missing something.
This virus isn’t the flu, and it’s a serious health matter, an emergency that should be treated as such for those most vulnerable. Educating ourselves and helping others is a major way to keep things from spreading.
Wash your hands, avoid contact when possible, be smart in your choices.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:07 am
Second, OW. This is a very good roundup. Thank you.
Also, I want to scream. It is insane that state and local govs are doing the heavy lifting - all the lifting - on this. This is literally the point of having a federal government.
Comment by lakeside Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:18 am
- This is literally the point of having a federal government.- maybe, just maybe, the states are overreacting.
Comment by Salty Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:26 am
- Salty -
Dr. Fauci of NIH says that coronavirus is “ten times more lethal than the seasons flu.”
The current administration is concerned with the economy while undercutting honest medical assessments, almost instantly rebuffing the medical experts. The states are trying to fill what the administration would like to downplay.
Questions?
(Tips cap to - lakeside -)
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:29 am
=== maybe, just maybe, the states are overreacting.===
OK. Tell us why you think that, Salty. What are your REASONS? Please be constructive.
Comment by Moe Berg Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:33 am
–maybe, just maybe, the states are overreacting–
There’s no way to tell in the absence of sufficient testing kits /tests. State health departments and policy makers are flying blind.
Experience with epidemics/pandemics very strongly suggests that it’s better to be safe than sorry, which would urge that the strongest possible measures be taken at the earliest possible moment.
Comment by dbk Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:33 am
Approximately 93 deaths a day last year from the flu. No panic, no closures, no cancellations. Take precautions to slow down a new strain? Absolutely. But stop freaking out people.
Comment by Yep Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:34 am
=== maybe, just maybe, the states are overreacting===
Are other counties like Germany, South Korea, and Italy overreacting? Based on the actions of these countries and public health experts who are speaking on the disease, I think we’re heading for a very dangerous and disruptive period.
Comment by Interested observer Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:36 am
=== Approximately 93 deaths a day last year from the flu.===
Dr. Fauci of NIH says that coronavirus is “ten times more lethal than the seasons flu.”
===But stop freaking out people.===
Explain Italy.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:38 am
===Approximately 93 deaths a day last year from the flu. No panic, no closures, no cancellations. Take precautions to slow down a new strain? Absolutely. But stop freaking out people.===
People get flu shots every year to stop these numbers from rising.
Comment by njt Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:46 am
===But stop freaking out people===
If providing you information is freaking you out, then crawl into a cave or something and get off this website.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:47 am
Yet in the middle of the maelstrom, Taiwan gets it right. The most powerful and extensive government in the world does it so wrong.
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:50 am
- ten times more lethal than the seasons flu.”-
The statistics aren’t bearing that out. Because so many people have mild symptoms, it’s safe to say far more people are carrying this virus than we know,, we do have a reasonable count on fatalities however. With total cases likely a larger denominator than we know, the fatality rate is likely smaller.
-explain Italy-
This isn’t Italy, and we aren’t Europe. Different lifestyles and methods of social interaction, Europe is generally more densely populated, etc.
Comment by Salty Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:51 am
====Europe is generally more densely populated, etc.
So we shouldn’t be having large gatherings. Glad we agree.
Comment by Archpundit Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:53 am
Center Square “100 percent of the prisoners also said they were innocent”
So if you removed visitation for family and friends at State prisons, how will this go over? In all seriousness there is no easy answer for this problem. But a much bigger problem is tracking patient zero at the Prudential Center who tested positive in Chicago. Tracking that individual’s movements and people he/she had contact with is finding a diamond ring in Lake Michigan.
Comment by Almost the weekend Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:54 am
====The statistics aren’t bearing that out.
The flu is about 0.1% and Fauci is saying Covid-19 is about 1% but much easier to catch for several reasons including no vaccine and no built up immunity.
Comment by Archpundit Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:57 am
=== With total cases likely a larger denominator than we know, the fatality rate is likely smaller.===
And *you* opened with this?
===The statistics aren’t bearing that out===
Your speculation…
“With total cases likely a larger denominator than we know, the fatality rate is likely smaller.”
… is based on ZERO statistics.
===… is generally more densely populated===
Chicago is the nation’s third largest city. Illinois is the nations 6th largest state.
We ain’t no “open space” prairie.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:58 am
I also hear from people this will all vanish after November. Like this is about politics. Explain Europe. Explain Italy. They don’t give a darn about politics. Yes once we have a handle on what the virus is and how it works and a possible vaccine it won’t be as scary. It is the unknown and the death rate being higher than the flu that makes it scary. Time to get testing more available (yes it means more cases) so we can get a true handle not he mortality rate and identify better ways to limit the spread or ensure the spread is more balanced so the health care system is not overwhelmed.
Comment by illinifan Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:00 pm
Indiana Univ., ND, Georgetown and Univ. of Dayton have suspended face to face classes.
Comment by Because I said so.... Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:04 pm
The WHO has declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:08 pm
SLU is suspending on campus classes next week. Also, we are not Italy where it is still (or was until recently) customary to use the two cheek kiss as a greeting. We don’t do that here.
Comment by Captain Who Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:15 pm
All you “its just the flu” bros will be proven wrong in about 10-14 days time, based on the logarithmic growth rate.
Comment by Michael Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:36 pm
==Different lifestyles and methods of social interaction==
Tell that to the 70 Biogen employees.
Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:36 pm
The death rate from flu is about 0.04%.The death rate from COVID-19 so far is about 3%. That is a huge increase over flu.
Comment by My New Handle Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:43 pm
==maybe, just maybe, the states are overreacting==
Rich - can you give us one day of just all the swearing we want to get it out of our systems?
Comment by lakeside Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:51 pm
===all the swearing we want to get it out of our systems? ===
No. Try deep breaths and ignoring trolls.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:57 pm
==No. Try deep breaths and ignoring trolls.==
Fine, fine. But I’m keeping a list of my most savage burns in case this whole thing goes Mad Max and you change your mind.
Comment by lakeside Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 1:03 pm
===in case this whole thing goes Mad Max===
I’ll probably be too busy patrolling the perimeter to post. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 1:05 pm
=== all the swearing we want to get it out of our systems?===
=== No. Try deep breaths and ignoring trolls.===
Maybe a designated “screaming into the void” thread with relaxed rules on swearing and exclamation points as a compromise?
Comment by NotMe Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 1:05 pm
==I’ll probably be too busy patrolling the perimeter to post.==
I assumed that’s already what you were doing any time there’s an open thread. Is that not right?
[alright back to business. wash your hands everybody.]
Comment by lakeside Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 1:09 pm
Well, we can scream and swear while washing our hands the required amount of time, if it helps.
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 1:12 pm
===Maybe a designated “screaming into the void” thread===
That’s what the SJ-R is for.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 1:14 pm
The 2017-2018 flu season was particularly bad, with 44.8 million diagnosed cases, 800,000 hospitalizations and 61,000 deaths.
Here is how that compares to the current model for coronavirus:
2018 flu: 14% infection rate, 44.8 million sick.
2020 coronavirus: 40-70 percent infection rate, 132M to 231M sick.
2018 flu: 808,129 hospitalized, 1.8 percent of sick;
2020 coronavirus: 16 percent of sick hospitalized, 21M to 37M hospitalizations;
2018 flu: 61,099 deaths, 0.13% of sick and 7.5% of hospitalizations;
2020 coronavirus: 3.4% of sick and 21% of hospitalized; 4,5M to 7.8M dead.
Those are very tough numbers to wrap your head around. No one can imagine 4.5 million dead. Don’t try, really, your brain can’t really do it. It will go back to something more familiar, like the flu.
But based on what we know now, about 1 or 2 people we know out of every 100 is going to die, and whether it’s 1 or 2 depends mostly on whether we are willing to take extraordinary public health steps earlier.
Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 1:18 pm
Hard choices to be made…….Assume you are the CEO of Eli Lilly. It’s easy enough to let the management staff work from home. But do you stop your production staff from working? How do you tell that to the individuals that are relying on your anti-depression drugs?
We can go full-out quarantine, but there are consequences.
Comment by Downstate Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 1:43 pm
At every level of government and in the private sector, we have to demonstrate to ourselves that we can successfully respond to a public health emergency. That’s why we should try very hard to get ahead of this problem at its earliest stages.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 1:46 pm
Glad I “overreacted” ten days ago when I convinced my daughter to change her travel plans away from visiting Rome, which would have started Last Friday. She argued it was just like the flue and she is young and healthy. Just hoping she gets home this weekend before any more travel restrictions, which seem to be changing by the hour.
Comment by Retired ISP Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 2:03 pm
It is instinctive for many people to suggest measures to combat the spread of coronavirus are “over-dramatic” or “taking it too far”.
Having major changes to our daily lives is uncomfortable, absolutely. However, if we can save lives and prevent the spread by reducing public gatherings in the short term, it seems like a price worth paying.
Comment by CubsFan16 Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 2:04 pm
An old man told me to get on my knees and pray to god I didn’t fall ill during my bid in prison…because medical care was not something I could or should count on…and he was telling the truth..
Prisoners are used to dying from lack of medical care.
Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 3:51 pm
Not just in Chicago, but apparently the Department of Aging has ordered the temporary closing of all senior centers statewide until the virus subsides:
https://fox2now.com/news/illinois/illinois-orders-senior-centers-closed-due-to-coronavirus/
Comment by Leatherneck Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 8:15 am