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Dr. Ezike says people need to “step up and stop looking for somebody else to do the job that we individually have the power to do”

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Illinois

* IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike today…

We can still affect what happens a couple of weeks from now by making sure there aren’t new people getting infected, making sure somebody doesn’t get infected tomorrow by wearing our mask and by keeping our distance and limiting… If we keep doing everything we’re doing and not changing, then no measure that we can do at the state level is going to have, going to allow us to have enough beds. Right?

And so the power, everybody’s saying, ‘What are we going to do?’ What are you going to do? Individuals need to take the responsibility to control this virus. And I’m really wanting people to step up and stop looking for somebody else to do the job that we individually have the power to do.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 3:31 pm

Comments

While I appreciate the sentiment that Dr. Ezike has shared, I don’t think that I have much individual power to shut down a bar that is holding a super spreader event without being charged with a felony because where I live the police would arrest me for trying to do the job they’ve refused to do.

Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 3:42 pm
We need consistency rather than politicians deciding some activities and business are more politically valid than others.

Comment by PrairieStateSense Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 3:44 pm
Ad nauseam. It’s been said too many times, but paradoxically can’t be said enough. So many people view a mask as weak or government oppression, making it harder for all. Thankfully we will get national leadership soon, but many will still rebel.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 3:55 pm
Dr. Ezike is a state treasure.

==We need consistency rather than politicians deciding some activities and business are more politically valid than others.==

If the state were to shut down places based on the science, we would close bars, restaurants, and churches, and prohibit indoor gatherings of more than ten people. Everyone who could work from home would be sent home. There was, and continues to be, significant push back on those actions.

The decision to close some things down and not others has political implications and is, therefore, political.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 3:56 pm
Pot-

That was my point. Thank you.

Comment by PraireState Sense Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 3:57 pm
Pot-

Please be more inclusive in your language. Say ‘houses of worship’; not churches. My Mosque closed today

Comment by PraireState Sense Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 3:59 pm
I appreciate this sentiment as far as it goes, but consistent with Candy’s comments above, I personally did not have the power to implement a contact tracing program at any point in the last eight months. I personally don’t have the power to pass legislation that would help those suffering from pandemic, like lifting the ban on rent control, as the governor campaigned on. I don’t have the power to convene the legislature so that they can do literally anything at all that might help ameliorate the worst economic and public health crisis in a century.

I will keep wearing my mask though, so there’s that.

Comment by Bubble Popper Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 4:01 pm
Ask not what your country can do for you… etc.

Now, when do we get to use the executive branch of state government defined in our constitution to erase these sheriffs positions who are openly refusing to enforce any of these rules? Because that would be a great start to fixing the problems this disaster has exposed.

The same goes for about 80% of county health departments, who for lack of a better description seem to have been taken over by their local chambers of commerce.

What we need is a recoupling of consequences with their associated actions. I can’t believe I have to even think of treating adults like children, but here we are. I’m tired of being negatively impacted by adults who insist on behaving like children, because they are being shielded from any consequences to their behavior to avoid ‘being political’. Whatever that means.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 4:02 pm
Imagine if Donald Trump went on national TV with Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Mitch McConnell (all wearing masks and maintaining distance) and implored everyone to wear masks and stay home as much as possible for a few weeks. They then pass a bill with funds for shuttered businesses and their employees. That would be a great start to controlling the virus.

However, individual actions determine the course of the pandemic. Until we can convince individuals to act responsibly for the good of themselves and others, we will all suffer.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 4:02 pm
Amen!

Comment by Opening Day Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 4:03 pm
My family is already acting as safely as possible. We are holding on for a vaccine to provide protection. I don’t see a safe world till next July.

I think 3 weeks of everybody being as safe as possible would give our nation a chance to cut transmission and stabilize. But we won’t get it. Our nation is much less than I thought it was.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 4:03 pm
Dr. Ezike,

You’re a good soul, thank you.

Oswego Willy

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 4:04 pm
I continue to be baffled by the hypocrisy of people who talk about personal responsibility and then refuse to be responsible.

Comment by Notorious RBG Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 4:08 pm
My response when I heard her say that was, “YES(banned punctuationx3). And then I read some of the commenters here, and this story came to mind-

That’s Not My Job!
This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

***
Don’t discount even the small things you do, and if you feel a business needs an “intervention” call the authorities and encourage other like-minded individuals to do so. The tide of public opinion is changing as this disease digs into our communities. Maybe,just maybe, the police or health department or mayor or states attorney will finally realize they need to become a somebody, too.

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 4:11 pm
After one week of in-person learning, I know of at least 12 people either out with covid or under quarantine from one building. Time to close the schools.

Comment by Shane Falco Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 4:14 pm
Shane Falco

Are those 12 people in the entire state or just a district you are aware of?

Can we close indoor water parks first?

Comment by PraireState Sense Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 4:17 pm
One building in one district.

Comment by Shane Falco Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 4:18 pm
We have the power to NOT patronize establishments that remain open. We have the power to wear masks and socially distance. If everyone does this, then it does not matter if the restaurant refuses to close, no one will come.

Comment by illinifan Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 4:20 pm