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Legislative leaders participated in briefings and conference calls with representatives from the governor’s office and Department of Public Health, among others.
Steve Brown, spokesperson for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said the situation is “unique.”
“I can’t think of any comparable situation, and managing the Legislature is a different breed of activity than managing a business, a newspaper, what have you,” he said. “We have citizens that come from all over the state to talk about issues they’re concerned about, and you’ve got to balance all of that alongside the public health, public safety, concerns.”
Madigan, Brown added, is handling the status of coronavirus in Illinois on a “day-by-day, step-by-step basis.”
* The federal government is just so messed up…
A day after President Donald Trump assured Americans that testing for the coronavirus is “expanding rapidly, day by day,” administration officials admitted Thursday that testing in the United States is lagging badly behind other nations, and they could not say when it will improve.
For Illinois, that means health officials will continue to test only the most seriously ill, or those who have come into contact with those diagnosed with the sometimes fatal disease.
“Here’s what’s happening. We’re not getting enough tests. We’re not getting enough test kits,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday, hours before Trump’s televised address to the nation.
* More…
Despite insistent promises from the Trump administration, coronavirus testing in the United States appears to be proceeding with a marked lack of urgency. An examination of state and federal records by Yahoo News finds that American states are, on average, testing fewer than 100 people per day — while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had tested fewer than 100 people total in the first two days of this week.
* Reuters…
President Donald Trump plans to declare a national emergency on Friday over the coronavirus outbreak, invoking the Stafford Act to open the door to more federal aid for states and municipalities, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Finally. Sheesh.
* Oh, man…
A USA TODAY analysis shows that if the nation sees a major spike, there could be almost six seriously ill patients for every existing hospital bed.
That analysis, based on data from the American Hospital Association, U.S. Census, CDC and World Health Organization, is conservative. For example, it assumes all 790,000 beds will be empty.
Since two thirds are not, the reality could be far worse: about 17 people competing for each open bed.
Emphasis added.
* A buddy texted me earlier that Sacred Heart Griffin, a private Catholic school in Springfield, held an all-school pep rally today “for a basketball game that won’t be played.” SHG had advanced to the state finals, but the IHSA canceled the tournament yesterday. I called the school and confirmed that the rally went on as scheduled.
That’s about 600 kids the day after this was decreed in Sangamon County…
The Sangamon County Department of Public Health has issued orders restricting large gatherings in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
The restrictions will limit indoor events to 250 people or less and outdoor events to 500 people or less starting Saturday. They will be in effect until at least April 14.
If that isn’t peak Springfield, I do not know what is.
…Adding… Oh, so now they’re worried…
Dear SHG Parents/Guardians,
Sacred Heart-Griffin High School is continuing to monitor developments with COVID-19. At the time of this email message there are over 205,000 students in Illinois alone who are out of school as a precautionary measure from various school districts. The situation is escalating at an alarming rate so we will be informing students at SHG today that they need to take home textbooks and any other learning materials they may need in the event that the school would close. As of this moment, we are planning to be open on Monday, March 16, but we want our students prepared in the event that we have to close our doors.
…Adding… And they’re closing…
As a preventative measure, all Catholic schools under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois will be closed the week of March 16. This includes the cancellation of all extra-curricular activities, social events and other school-related gatherings. We’ll offer an update by the end of next week.
* Tribune…
Amanda Kass, associate director of the Government Finance Research Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said the city’s budget could be impacted by “decreased revenue tied to immediate losses from things like decreased tourism and decreased public transportation ridership.”
“The budgetary impact may go well beyond 2020 as there may be long-term economic consequences from COVID-19,” Kass said. “How big an impact this has on the budget and how many years are impacted depends on how long the public health measures and warnings are in place — the longer it goes on, the greater financial impact.”
Chicago’s pension funds also could see strain, she said, as they rely heavily on investments as a source of assets.
“An economic downturn likely means a decrease in assets, causing an increase in the unfunded liabilities,” Kass said. “The economic impact of COVID-19 may cause a sharp decline in the pension systems’ finances (as happened with the 2008 financial crisis), which would in-turn cause a significant increase in the City’s required pension systems for the police and fire funds immediately.”
* More like this, please. From Rep. Mark Batinick’s Facebook page…
My office is starting a coronavirus helping hands programs. We need volunteers! While the coronavirus does not affect the majority of the population the elderly and those with underlying health conditions are at serious risk. We are strongly encouraging those groups to stay home. If you need to go out for any reason, please contact us to see if we can have one of our interns or volunteers do that for you. We can run to the store, library, etc. Our district is basically far west Will County and Eastern Kendall County. If for some reason we can’t help you we will try to get someone who can. Private message me if you need help or want to volunteer. Our office phone number is 815-254-0000. Thanks All!!!
Chicago public health officials told students from Vaughn Occupational High School that were showing coronavirus-like symptoms they could get tested in a tent outside the school, but a series of missteps left at least one student in limbo for several days. […]
The first problem arose because the student was not on the list of Vaughn students. School district officials have admitted this was an error on their part.
That prevented the student’s mother, who asked not to be identified out of fear of being stigmatized, from being contacted by city officials for days. When she reached out on her own, she said she was not given clear information on where to be tested. Her daughter is 18 years old and has an intellectual disability. She began showing symptoms over the weekend.
It wasn’t until Wednesday that the mother got the message that she could take her daughter to Vaughn to get tested. When she got there Thursday, the onsite testing center was gone. The Chicago Department of Public Health halted its site testing at Vaughn sometime earlier this week.
* We’re going to see lots more of these announcements, like it or not…
In the best interest of our members and the communities they serve, the American Case Management Association is canceling the ACMA 2020 National Case Management and Transitions of Care Conference at McCormick Place in Chicago, scheduled for April 6-9.
All previous media and press invitations have been canceled for this event.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a ban on all large gatherings of 1,000 people or more in Illinois as the number of coronavirus cases in the state continues to rise. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot echoed, saying, “All community events of more than 1,000 people are banned for the next 30 days in the city.” After 30 days, the mayor said the city will “reassess.”
ACMA members consist of nurses, social workers, physicians and other health care professionals affiliated with case management and transitions of care, many of which will be working diligently to support their organizations during the COVID-19 event. ACMA will continue to provide our members with virtual education and advocacy efforts which do not require mass gatherings.
Jon Vickers
Marketing and Communications Manager
American Case Management Association
Vickers said more than 1,500 attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and speakers were expected.
* Ugh…
There are 44 million Americans without health insurance and another 38 million with inadequate coverage. The COVID-19 test can cost anywhere from $900 to $3,000. This only covers the test, this does not include the cost of being treated if you test positive for the virus.
A memo circulated by Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential campaign said campaign staffers would be working from home and that voter outreach would be limited to phone-banking, texting and “virtual” events like a video town hall Biden has set for Illinois supporters on Friday.
The more traditional style of campaigning by going door to door to solicit voter support — dubbed parochially as a “precinct captain” kind of campaign — appeared to no longer be in the Biden campaign playbook in Illinois because of worries over COVID-19.
Biden’s rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, took similar steps Thursday, vowing an end to door-to-door canvassing.
The epidemic is also affecting institutions close to Pritzker’s own life. A Pritzker spokeswoman said “at least one” of the governor’s two children attends Francis W. Parker School, a private school in Chicago that WBEZ reported is closing its doors for two weeks. The governor was asked what his message is to parents who might not want to have their kids go to school.
“Well you’ve got to make decisions for your own family. There’s no doubt about that, but I would say that remember the guidance that’s been given by experts is large gatherings should be prohibited,” Pritzker said. “And so we’ve done that. We’ve suggested to schools all across the state. We’ve told them not to have major assemblies of their students. It’s OK to be in a classroom.”
* Let’s look at some closures…
Shedd Aquarium, one of Chicago’s leading attractions, will close for at least two weeks beginning Friday afternoon “in support of city and statewide preventative measures to limit the additional spread and transmission of the novel coronavirus,” the institution announced Friday morning. […]
Evanston-Skokie District 65 buildings are closing effective Monday, while Oak Park District 65 was closed Friday and moving to online instruction started Monday. Evanston Township High School students were scheduled to be in the school Friday, with a day off Monday and online instruction starting Tuesday, according to the district. Many south suburban public schools were restricting student activities because of coronavirus concerns, while Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, which serves more than 13 communities in the North Shore and northwest suburbs, has closed and is offering online classes. […]
Lincoln Park Zoo is closing its doors temporarily, and halting all events and programs taking place there until April 10, amid concerns about the coronavirus, according to the zoo.
* This is a bummer, but we’ll just have to deal with it…
The new measures will drastically alter Chicagoans’ social and cultural lives at the very moment they could most use some distractions. Most major sporting events, concerts and rallies shut down just as spring arrives. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he has asked professional sports teams “to cancel all of their games or play without spectators until May 1,” and they’ve agreed.
* OW is undoubtedly bummed out about this development…
Augusta National officials decided Friday to postpone the Masters because of the spread of the coronavirus.
The closures are now impossible to keep up with. Our live coverage post is probably your best bet.
…Adding… Plainfield canceled its St. Patrick’s Day parade. Click here.
* More stuff…
* Why closing Chicago’s public schools is such a hard decision — even if it seems necessary: “In some of these communities, if we take away a school — the only public good we still offer them — then we start to leave them to fend for themselves,” one expert said.
* Southern Illinois schools weigh options amid COVID-19 pandemic: “This is like snow days on steroids,” Donkin said. He said it’s not just a question of how much of summer break this could eat into, but also a question of childcare. Donkin said the decision to cancel school, even for one snow day, isn’t always easy because he knows the impact it can have on families. Not everyone has the fortune of having paid sick leave, and the decision to stay home with a child who doesn’t have school could lead to financial hardship.
* Treasurer Pappas closes office at noon today to safeguard health of taxpayers and employees: “We have not had a case of the coronavirus in our office and I want to keep it that way,” Pappas said. “While it is of surpassing importance to protect our employees and visitors to the building from this virus, it is important to continue serving taxpayers.”
* SIU cancels events expected to draw 25 people or more
* NASCAR, cricket, darts among gamblers’ choices as coronavirus crimps Illinois sports betting launch
* What’s a mild case of COVID-19 feel like? Similar to a cold or flu, experts say
* 6 tips for dealing with anxiety over the coronavirus
* A look at the advantages, pitfalls of working from home
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 12:10 pm
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Way to go, SHG. Holy Shlamoly.
Comment by Nick Name Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 12:31 pm
=== undoubtedly bummed out===
“A tradition unlike any other”
This makes me heartsick to the event, and for the kids for “Chip, Drive, and Putt”, and after hosting such a successful Women’s Amateur on the hallowed fairways and greens, and reversing, or at least trying to reverse so much by promoting women’s golf, it’s a tough one, especially for me.
Others have their thing, Masters Week is really-really my thing.
It’s prudent. It’s important. It’s a bummer.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 12:33 pm
The Daily podcast had a very good episode this morning on coronavirus. They’ve been doing some fantastic work with a reporter Donald McNeil tracking the pandemic, what it means, what individuals can do to stay safe.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/podcasts/the-daily/coronavirus.html?showTranscript=1
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 12:34 pm
” More like this, please. From Rep. Mark Batinick’s Facebook page”
My wife just got home from shopping for someone who should be a shut in due to her health. Let’ imagine it was like last January, when the temperature was 20 below, for at least another month. Please check on the venerable segments of the population, if you can as we are all in this together.
Comment by a drop in Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 12:39 pm
Close CPS. Mobilize the Illinois National Guard to disburse meals at multiple stops within school boarders. Gotta have a quick app written to allow real time update of claimed meals by students registered in the school.
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 12:41 pm
Rep. Katie Porter, in a superb cross-examination, got the CDC head to commit to free testing yesterday.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dem-rep-katie-porter-cdc-chief-to-commit-to-free-coronavirus-testing
Of course, tests have to be available.
Comment by Keyrock Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 12:47 pm
Kudos to batnick. The state should create an emergency Coronavirus defense fund and open it up to the public to contribute to it; maybe the campaigns can all pledge $$ to a fund since they want to use their funds for everything else and charities are already acceptable donations. Just saying. Nice job rep batnick. Also everyone, HS and younger ppl are always looking for work experience. Perhaps some people could hire the kids of parents to fill shifts or to perform other functions (sort of like an emergency youth ccc program). Just some quick thoughts.
Comment by ;) Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 12:50 pm
=The new measures will drastically alter Chicagoans’ social and cultural lives =
Indeed. It seems as though every few minutes I get another email about a cancellation or closure.
The Chicago Symphony has cancelled all concerts through April 12.
The Newberry Library is closed.
The Art Institute has cancelled all public events, as has the Smart Museum.
The Court Theatre has cancelled the runs of “The Lady from the Sea” and “An Iliad”.
The U of C’s Graham School is “excited to take our full course offering online for the Spring Quarter”. (Seriously, that’s a quote from their email.)
And outside of Chicago, my 50th college reunion has been cancelled, and that has bummed me out most of all.
Comment by JoanP Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 12:51 pm
The Hideout will be closed through end of March
Definitely the right thing to do.
I hate it.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 12:55 pm
We are all going to be missing things important to us in every day life, but the rules are different now. Use the extra time to help out neighbors or improve yourself mentally or physically. The forced slowdown can be turned into a positive.
Comment by SSL Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 12:56 pm
I’ve been trying to push my political organization to integrate text messaging, initially as a way to reach people, especially younger people, not answering phones or the door. Foot dragging, to say the least. Would have been useful.
Comment by VerySmallRocks Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 12:57 pm
Some good news for schools. Zoom is making their app free. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2020/03/13/zoom-video-coronavirus-eric-yuan-schools/?subId1=xid%3Afr1584121337310fah&fbclid=IwAR2ybKAXPdjdBsp_ZHrRtrbGkm59dqW0YSIF8gy1S8wvtNLMDtN1xdyactI#3c34e6f44e71
Comment by jimbo26 Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 1:03 pm
===Some good news for schools. Zoom is making their app free.
I seriously wonder whether they can handle the traffic coming their way. While there are other products out there, most institutions are thinking about Zoom because it’s reliable and easy to use.
All that said, good for them.
Comment by Archpundit Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 1:21 pm
Applause for Rep. Batinick.
Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 1:22 pm
- @misterjayem -
Feel for ya, especially because you know its importance.
Rep. Batinick,
Thank you for your leadership here, and also being a leader who is trying to be action oriented here for constituents mist in need, and giving those looking to help an outlet for that energy.
Well done, by you, and all those working with you during this time.
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 1:22 pm
CPS is in a tough jam. In thinking about the needs of low income kids they are delaying closure. Unfortunately thinking about public health is an issue of considering the needs of majorities, not minorities and need to close for the greater good. There is a strong need for the development of an education “triage plan” for special needs, low income, and other populations who will be in danger without school. Since we won’t likely get that from Betsy Devos, it is incumbent on the Governor and other education leaders to develop here locally. Urgently please.
Comment by Ed Equity Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 1:37 pm
City of DeKalb owns a building that houses a not-for-profit retirement home. It has also been a polling place for a long time. The election authority is the DeKalb County clerk, who is refusing to move the polling place and has reportedly said he’s willing to take court action to keep it open. The home is not a state-licensed facility, but some of the residents are quite elderly and/or have cardiopulmonary issues.
Comment by yinn Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 1:47 pm
I’m hoping before the end of business today the governor will do the right thing and close the schools. I don’t think adding an extra week to spring break will cause lasting harm to the students. Right now, cases of COVID-19 are increasing and there’s no such thing as social distance in a public school environment.
Please, if this President has to declare a national emergency, it’s time for the state to respond by closing all public schools.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 1:48 pm
=I don’t think adding an extra week to spring break will cause lasting harm to the students. =
Let’s face it. Closing the schools is unlikely to mean simply “an extra week to spring break”.
Most of the colleges and universities that are going online are telling the students not to come back after spring break, except to move out. (Some exceptions for kids who have nowhere to go.)
This thing isn’t going away any time soon. If CPS closed the schools today, they might not reopen until the fall.
Comment by JoanP Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 1:53 pm
Yes, JoanP, that’s a possibility, but isn’t better to close now and avoid numerous infections, or wait until it’s too late?
The Superintendent of Waukegan Public Schools District 60:
“A decision has been made to close all Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 schools beginning Monday, March 16, in order to best protect the health and wellness of all students and staff. All schools will remain closed through our Spring Break, and we plan to reopen on Monday, March 30.”
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 1:59 pm
Just saw this in the Trb: “CPS plans for providing student meals in event of school closures due to coronavirus” - so that’s good
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-cps-coronavirus-student-meals-free-lunch-20200313-ouemjjdqtjagfp5iwxmxjxnire-story.html
Comment by JoanP Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 1:59 pm
@Wensicia -
Sure, just pointing out that we shouldn’t expect the closures to be short.
Comment by JoanP Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 2:01 pm
VerySmallRocks - Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 12:57 pm:
Don’t text message political garbage
Comment by NIU Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 2:29 pm
Evanston cancels school until mid-April.
https://patch.com/illinois/evanston/evanston-schools-close-combat-coronavirus-spread
Comment by Lakefront Liberal Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 3:01 pm
Diocese took it out of SHG’s hands:
Please see the announcement from Diocese of Springfield.
As a preventative measure, all Catholic schools under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois will be closed the week of March 16. This includes the cancellation of all extra-curricular activities, social events and other school-related gatherings. We’ll offer an update by the end of next week.
Comment by SAP Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 3:02 pm
D228 announced they are closed for e-learning until the 29th. D228 is comprised of Bremen High, Hillcrest High, Oak Forest High, and Tinley Park High.
Comment by Yup Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 3:17 pm
Pennsylvania’s governor closed that state’s schools today.
https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/governor-wolf-announces-closure-of-pennsylvania-schools/
Comment by Rich Hill Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 3:21 pm
What a phony the Governor has been. He doesn’t hesitate to blast Trump and the federal government, but he has yet to address state workers at the Thompson Center. He has yet to allow teleworking for those employees who are capable of doing this and still do their job. The Thompson Center is a cess pool of filth on a good day. When is JB going to step up instead of making complaints?
Comment by Saving Face Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 3:58 pm
I hear Pritzker is planning to close all public and private schools in Illinois.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:01 pm
==If CPS closed the schools today, they might not reopen until the fall.==
They *won’t*, not “might”. There is literally no chance this has run its course by June
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:15 pm
The Sangamon County restrictions don’t go into effect until midnight Friday night. So SHG wasn’t violating anything yet. Of course, you could question the wisdom of what they did, but the county officials could have said “immediately” on Thursday, and they didn’t.
Comment by LongLostPoster Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:17 pm
my comment is caught in your filter, Rich (exclamation point)
Comment by Suburban Mom Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:35 pm