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* I was exposed to covid twice over the two-week break. I had mild symptoms that went away quickly both times. I’ve been tested three times so far (both rapid and PCR) and all came back negative. That was great news for me, but the experiences gave me an up close and personal look at the national testing shortage and it’s bad. Really, really bad. I was also kinda grumpy because I had to isolate Christmas eve and New Year’s eve.
The whole world saw how fast this omicron variant was spreading. “Everybody has it,” was a constant refrain I heard from friends all over the state last month - and these are people who generally try to be careful about their behavior.
And since so many people seem to have it, even more are getting tested far more often as they either feel symptoms or learn that someone they’ve been in contact with has tested positive.
So, basic arithmetic dictates that as this virus inevitably spreads ever wider, many more tests are going to be needed. The 500 million tests promised by President Biden will be too little and very likely way too late to deal with this need. To say the feds dropped the ball bigtime would be a massive understatement. I ordered four rapid tests through the mail early on, used two, gave one to a friend and have just one left. I’m hoarding that one.
* I happen to believe that fully vaccinated and boosted people (like myself) should not have to suffer consequences for following the rules. Unfortunately, a small and stubborn and ignorant minority is jamming up our local hospitals to the breaking point. From the governor’s office…
From the end of November to end of December about 91 percent of hospital admissions for COVID were those who are not fully vaccinated.
* Speaking of hospitals…
Northwestern Memorial Hospital oncologist https://t.co/pnakxE3Zw5
— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) December 31, 2021
"Hospitals cannot end this pandemic on their own. They need the continuing help and support of the public. The best way to support your hospitals is to get vaccinated." AJ Wilhelmi, IHA President & CEO. https://t.co/SEWikto586
— IHA (@IHAhospitals) December 31, 2021
"Those who reject all of the measures to reduce this disease are the ones who are perpetuating the crisis" https://t.co/scm7IIdkFr
— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) December 31, 2021
* And while we’re on the topic of those who “reject all of the measures to reduce this disease,” here’s a Champaign News-Gazette editorial…
State Sen. Darren Bailey, a leading Republican candidate for governor of Illinois, thinks Gov. J.B. Pritzker should stop haranguing Illinoisans to get vaccinated.
State Sen. Darren Bailey, a Republican candidate for governor from Clay County, thinks Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “rhetoric is abhorrent and has no place in any civil discussion.”
Pritzker’s sin? He urged Illinoisans who are unvaccinated to get the COVID-19 vaccine so that they don’t take up a hospital bed that could be used by a cancer or heart attack patient.
“The role of government is not to coerce and control residents, but to educate them and provide them with resources to make the best decisions for themselves and their families,” Bailey charged.
Which is exactly what Pritzker, health care professionals and even other Republican governors are doing.
* Back to tests…
Thousands of COVID tests for Chicago Public Schools students and staff members have been deemed “invalid” as the district prepares for a return to classrooms following the winter break.
With cases across the state and within the district surging, CPS reported 35,590 tests were completed between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1, but 24,843 were ruled “invalid,” according to data posted on the district’s website.
According to the Chicago Teachers Union, many parents received emails from the company handling the tests saying some samples were deemed “unsatisfactory” after being delayed in transit to the lab because of holiday shipping issues and weather.
“Delays between sampling and actually processing those samples ended up spoiling test results,” the union said in a release.
Ugh.
* We’ll have more later this afternoon.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:23 am
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The voice of science logic, and reason (including former Senator Wilhelmi) against mindless ideology. Sadly, too many are listening to the latter. It took a middle-aged parishioner landing in the hospital (and now an extended rehab stint) for people in my church to take vaccinations, distancing, and masks seriously. Covidiocy is decimating many parts of Illinois, and our leaders should be commended to speaking out against this.
Comment by Ares Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:31 am
They had everyone send the tests in through FedEx, but FedEx couldn’t handle it and didn’t know what to do with them.
Comment by Ok Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:33 am
I don’t see why the unvaccinated, who make up more than the Lion’s share of hospitalizations, should get priority over people who had surgeries scheduled. I’m not saying turn away unvaccinated people. I am saying if someone needs to be turned away, it should be the unvaccinated person before it should be someone who had a life-saving surgery scheduled.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:34 am
The GA and the Gov’s office need to crack down now on all of these fly-by-night pop-up testing operations that are providing inaccurate results. They’re scammers, and this is an emergency
Comment by NotSoccermom Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:36 am
But “Dr.” John Catanzara says the vaccine isn’t really a vaccine, just a “treatment at best”.
Comment by JoanP Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:37 am
Calm down
No one who was scheduled to get a LIFE saving surgery is being snubbed for an unvaccinated Covid patient
Only elective surgeries are being postponed
Comment by Ted Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:38 am
===Calm down
No one who was scheduled to get a LIFE saving surgery is being snubbed for an unvaccinated Covid patient===
You’re a bit cavalier about others health.
I know “freedom, ‘Merica, no one is being hurt”
Geez, Louise.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:40 am
but remember this: “If you don’t test, you don’t have any cases,” Trump said at a June 15 roundtable discussion at the White House. “If we stopped testing right now, we’d have very few cases, if any.” Horse, barn door.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:41 am
===Only elective surgeries are being postponed ===
Yeah, metastatic colorectal cancer surgery is just like breast implants. Right.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:43 am
I suppose “metastatic colorectal cancer surgery” is elective in that one can elect to have the surgery, or elect to die, Ted.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:45 am
@Ted But many people who need life altering surgery are having to postpone, again, because hospitals are too full of the unvaccinated.
And who are you to say what’s not life saving? People who postpone surgery are more susceptible to things a healthier person could resist.
Maybe if you had to go without, you’d have more credibility. Maybe. But I doubt it.
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:45 am
“The role of government is not to coerce and control residents”
Why have any laws and enforcement then? Talk about arguing like a child—as in spoiled with privilege.
Let’s see us break the law in a manner the “law and order” crowd doesn’t like, and see how fast we wind up in trouble.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:46 am
Watching our public response to the current wave impacting us now compared to the one at the end of 2020 gives me the impression that somewhere along the line a lot of our public health efforts just sort of gave up and our failure as a society to take this as seriously as we should is quickly developing into a very loud and very clear message to our healthcare workers whether or not it is the one we are meaning to send.
We’re telling them that we don’t really care about them or what their lives have been like for the last 22 months and in Illinois they have been especially bad since the end of summer and the impact of the pandemic on hospitals and physicians providing direct care for COVID-19 patients didn’t let up when our other metrics improved. The availability of the vaccine has allowed us to better shift blame onto individuals who have just refused to be a part of how we collectively address this pandemic but we have turned our healthcare providers into our pandemic bag holders.
In March of 2020 we shut everything down to “flatten the curve” and in January of 2022 we are marching full speed into a crisis that could overwhelm our ability to provide healthcare and creating a work environment for our healthcare provider that treat COVID-19 patients that just isn’t sustainable and will forever negatively impact their lives. In 2022 our posture is pumping the curve like it’s a meme stock or cryptocurrency.
We labeled them heroes so we could pretend like the punishment we’re putting them through is an honor deserving of praise.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:51 am
It’s not just surgeries being cancelled. I am in cardiac rehab at a hospital after a cardiac procedure. That rehab has been put off until at least the 17th, instead of the three times a week I was going in for it. This is intended to help with recovery, but the nurses who staff it are needed elsewhere. The harm being done by those denying science ripples well beyond what is easily quantified.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:53 am
Ted, Our health care systems are on life support. Any patient entering an ER will face limited access (COVID/car accident/stroke, etc.). Many ERs have 9-10 hour waits to see patients. They triage the most critical but a person can move from stable to critical quickly, especially with COVID. ER staff are having to do double duty and treat the incoming as well as the patients who are being housed in the ER due to no available beds. Patients can be housed in the ER for days. Throw in delayed surgeries due to lack of beds as well as staff and you have a crisis. This has been created by a nasty virus and contributed to by individuals who see their rights as more important than anything even if it means their neighbor is harmed. It is time for all to step up to the plate.
Comment by illinifan Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 11:54 am
I’m vaxxed and boosted and got it, probably Omicron. It was basically indistinguishable from a cold. I think we need to think about shutting things down again. The hospital system is the problem. It seems like for whatever reason policy makers are more willing to risk breaking the hospital system now that we are in year 3 of COVID. I believe we’re at the same level of risk to the hospital system as the November 2020 surge when things shut down again.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:03 pm
A fake COVID test site was busted in Fairview Heights over the weekend:
https://www.bnd.com/news/coronavirus/article257008832.html
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:05 pm
“No one who was scheduled to get a LIFE saving surgery is being snubbed for an unvaccinated Covid patient”
I think Mr. Weeks and his family would disagree.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/12/28/iowa-dale-weeks-hospitals-covid-sepsis/
Comment by Huh? Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:21 pm
== I think we need to think about shutting things down again. ==
I agree. At the very least reset the dial back to Phase 4 or that “Phase 4 Bridge” thing from last spring. As a start.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:21 pm
Hospitals, nurses and doctors are bearing the weight of this crisis. Others can pretend it’s not serious. We know otherwise.
Comment by Lew Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:21 pm
=== At the very least reset the dial back to ===
Without federal money to help workers and business owners, that would be a disaster.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:24 pm
==Without federal money to help workers and business owners, that would be a disaster.==
At this point I care more about public health and safety than I do about business. Especially those who refuse to enforce mask mandates.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:26 pm
- At this point I care more about public health and safety than I do about business -
Not surprising coming from a government employee.
Comment by Sploink Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:34 pm
===I care more about public health and safety than I do about business===
You’re forgetting the workers, who, unlike you, won’t have a job (or a pension, or health insurance, or…) during your little shutdown fantasy.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:34 pm
== I think we need to think about shutting things down again. ==
I think we will be shutting schools down and going to remote learning after omicron explodes through the larger school districts. I figure in about three weeks, maybe less.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:35 pm
===Not surprising coming from a government employee===
Exactly.
Also, if you’re properly vaxed and boosted, you are very likely to experience zero or minor symptoms if exposed. This is not March of 2020, or even March of 2021.
Also, too, if anyone thinks the problematic regions will obey a shutdown order right now, they’re outta their minds.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:37 pm
I am a double vaccinated first responder that currently has covid and am self treating at home. I’ve spent the last 4 days trying to find available monoclonal antibody treatment. None available whatsoever. The current government failed to stockpile the most successful treatment period. No excuses. Can’t blame that on past administrations.
Comment by Frankthetank Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:42 pm
People on Facebook are offering COVID tests out of their homes and garages. People are hustling COVID tests like pyramid schemes, “take this free test and then just give me back the specimen”. Fake websites taking money. Shady clinics ran by people that run it like a gas station convenience store
It’s the wild west folks. Our testing apparatus that ran so successfully in 2020 is now a mere shadow of itself. This is on every executive administrator at every level of government. Can’t blame this wreck on others. Own it and fix it
Comment by Jon Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:49 pm
===Our testing apparatus that ran so successfully in 2020===
Not defending the current regime, but that’s a ridiculous claim.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:51 pm
Certainly the Omicron explosion is terrible, but because of vaccines we are in a much better place than a year ago, and much more hopeful, as we can expect better therapeutics and vaccines. It appears more of “the usual” with the new variant, with the unvaccinated by far getting the worst of it. But today thankfully certain businesses will begin requiring proof of vaccination, a reward for those who’ve done the right thing.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:53 pm
==that’s a ridiculous claim==
Was it perfect? No.
Did it work? Yes. Absolutely yes.
Even in the peak in 2020, people waited in line and got their results within 72 hours. People are waiting up to two weeks for the result of a PCR test in the Chicago neighborhoods with the highest rates. Some clinics are using expired kits because that’s all they have.
Comment by Jon Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:54 pm
===Even in the peak in 2020, people waited in line and got their results within 72 hours===
Not true.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:54 pm
An argument on Capitol Fax is not going to sway policy on the pandemic response at this point. People have either made their peace with what they have done, justified it, or are employing any number of ego defenses to avoid thinking about it.
We should own this disaster collectively because we have collectively caused it. “Well, I wore a mask” or “Well, I wanted things to shut down again” are just measured responses of denial.
We have done this to ourselves and this crisis has been 22 months in the making. This is us. This is what we do and we can at least be a little thankful that it appears the Omicron variant is less deadly, especially for those who have been vaccinated and received booster shots. We have again been very lucky as our actions as a society have made this outcome inevitable.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:56 pm
I think it’s outrageous that as we approach the beginning of the third year of this pandemic that testing continues to be a problem. I should be able to go get a test anytime I need one and be able to do it right away. There are very few test sites around me that offer same day walk up testing. And, even when you get a test if it’s not a rapid test you have to wait at least a couple of days for the results. That’s insane. This country has been a complete and total failure when it comes to testing.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:57 pm
===testing continues to be a problem===
More like a miserable failure. Why hasn’t the government stockpiled tests? Another question: Is Biden’s 500 million promise drying up tests right now?
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 12:58 pm
“This is on every executive administrator at every level of government.”
Disagree. How is it Pritzker’s fault that tests are available? Does he own a covid test manufacturing company?
The tests are commercially manufactured. When there was a decline in cases, they shut down the production lines. Now with cases escalating in exponentially, reopening and ramping up production is going to take time.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 1:03 pm
Tests seem to be readily available in Springfield, same day brain swabs anyway.
Comment by Sploink Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 1:08 pm
500 million tests may be just a drop in the bucket. From a November 2021 Kaiser Family Foundation report- “If everyone older than 11 were tested twice per week per the UK’s recommendation, we would need 2.3 billion tests per month. If just half the U.S. population tested weekly, that would translate to a need for more than 150 million tests per week, around 600 million per month.” And this was pre-Omicron. https://www.kff.org/report-section/rapid-home-tests-for-covid-19-issues-with-availability-and-access-in-the-u-s-issue-brief/
And, IDPH is taking more control over the contact tracing work- https://www.wcia.com/news/local-news/idph-changes-contact-tracing-guideline/
Comment by Anon221 Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 1:24 pm
===may be just a drop in the bucket===
No “may” about it.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 1:26 pm
Rich- Agree.
Comment by Anon221 Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 1:31 pm
I thought this morning we were talking about not “coerceing” residents of the state to not steal cars or high end items. The ILGOP can’t be the party of law and order but only choosing which laws they would like to follow.
Comment by Publius Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 1:47 pm
===Covidiocy is decimating many parts of Illinois, and our leaders should be commended to speaking out against this.===
Spent the week between XMas and New Years Day in Oklahoma City, and other than McDonalds employees (corporate policy, perhaps), public mask wearers were almost nonexistent. The occasional gray hair at WalMart (with walkers / canes / oxygen tanks) & some families at Barnes & Noble were the few visible masks. Having gray hair seems to have exempted me from comments about wearing a mask.
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 1:51 pm
If reports out of South Africa, Denmark and the UK are any indication, the end of the pandemic may soon be upon us. While being vastly more transmissible than delta, omicron appears to be noticeably less severe with fewer needing ventilation and fewer deaths. That being said, Covid most likely is never going away but will be endemic like many of the other bugs that plague humankind. Remember, the virus that cause led the flu pandemic of 1918 did not disappear but mutated to something less deadly after about two years. If we are fortunate, Covid may flow the same path. I have a feeling we will soon find out.
Comment by Captain Who Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 2:11 pm
Would that Illinois could adopt an app like the state and city of New York, in which people easily preload their phone with their photo ID and vax card. A friend just returned from there and said the app made it incredibly easy for citizens to use, and businesses to enforce.
Hopefully Illinois will tackle this opportunity with a little more speed than the debacle of their reporting structure for Unemployment Fraud activities demonstrated last year.
Comment by Downstate Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 2:25 pm
Downstate - what heresy do you speak of? Covid passports are a violation of our constitutional rights. /s
Comment by Huh? Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 2:33 pm
Frankthetank,there is only one monoclonal that works on Omicron and that is Sotrovimab so the others are not being ordered by the Feds. This is also a very expensive treatment option and complicated to make (which is different from the vaccine), so it is being limited in usage. Illinois screens for eligibles where other states made it a first line defense and used so freely it reduced the national supply thus additional rationing. The company making the effective monoclonal is ramping up production as they have now become the only show in town. The most cost effective is vaccinate and boost.https://wchstv.com/news/local/omicron-worsens-antibody-shortage-as-only-one-type-works-against-the-new-variant
Comment by illinifan Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 2:34 pm
I had hoped the Gov would have opened regional Covid test sites. We had a terrible time getting my daughter tested Christmas Eve in Springfield. We’ve been amazed how many folks we know who tested positive the last 2 weeks.
Comment by BTO2 Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 2:39 pm
=Would that Illinois could adopt an app like the state and city of New York, in which people easily preload their phone with their photo ID and vax card.=
Maybe something like this?
https://abc7chicago.com/illinois-vaccine-qr-code-smart-health-card-vax-verify-vaccination/11407825/
Comment by Pundent Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 2:48 pm
===hoped the Gov would have opened regional Covid test sites===
https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/testing-sites.html
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 3:00 pm
This. In case people missed it Congress has yet to fund Restaurant Revitilizqtion Fund grants for 2/3 of bars and restaurants rhat applied for it to cover 2020-2021 losses. Zero chance they fund staggering losses for 2022 shutdown. Status quo will be bad enough for most spots.
= At the very least reset the dial back to ===
Without federal money to help workers and business owners, that would be a disaster.
Comment by ChicagoBars Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 3:25 pm
We used the DPH site, not as helpful as we hoped. Couple friends let us know how to get test now vs waiting. My thinking was similar to state fairgrounds, possibly dual shot/testing center.
Comment by BTO2 Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 3:45 pm
=to make the best decisions for themselves and their families,” Bailey charged=
Pro choice then? I kid, the party of hypocrisy strikes again.
=We have done this to ourselves and this crisis has been 22 months in the making. This is us.=
As with the entire comment made by @Candy spot on and the reason she is the best in the biz right now.
We did this to ourselves. We treated the kooks like they had something to say and be taken seriously. We allow people to forgo masks and vaccinations. And we allowed this whole thing to be politicized. We should not have allowed any of this. Self inflicted wound. And people are sick and dying as a result.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 3:56 pm
@downstate - I was in NYC in Sept and Dec and love that app and have had everyone I know download it. I keep it on my homescreen for easy access.
Comment by PMS Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 4:00 pm
The local news was just on, saying unvaccinated people make up 85% of hospitalizations. That number is not far out of line with other reports. Many who bought into anti-vax will stay with the nonsense, no matter the facts.
The best way to stay healthiest is still the same: get fully vaccinated.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 4:09 pm
“and love that app”
Yup. By comparison, Illinois’ requires you to remove any credit freezes to be able to access their app. What a complication.
By the way, I strongly recommend you have a credit freeze with the various credit agencies. One of the most impactful ways to avoid identity theft, etc.
Comment by Downstate Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 4:31 pm
===Without federal money to help workers and business owners, that would be a disaster.===
The virus does not care about the nation’s political dysfunction. No one wants to shut down, especially not me. I would actually frequent many of Chicago’s small music venues and local bars before and during the pandemic when I could. The hospital capacity are as high as they’ve ever been, and we may not be at the peak in terms of total cases. The numbers are what they are, and the virus has no remorse or any human quality.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 5:48 pm
Tests, or the lack thereof, is a red herring. Most people with the sniffles, are not going to test to see whether their sniffles are covid sniffles, and that’s whether they have sniffles at all. They are certainly not going to isolate for 5 days without pay, or keep their sniffly kids out of school.
At this point, the virus has evaded tests, whether we had enough or not. Proof of vaccination to participate in society is the only way forward now sadly. You want your child to attend school? Show proof of vaccination, or home-school. You want to go to a restaurant, or entertainment venue, or fly on a plane? Proof of vaccination required. Federal Contractor? Require vaccination for your employees. Vaccination mandates to participate in US society are the only way forward at this point. Quit caving to the goofy extremists who refuse vaccination without having a medical reason.
Comment by PublicServant Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 6:37 pm
I’ve been trying to get an answer but I’m unable?
Who currently has to pay for the test if the employer is demanding unvaccinated people are tested weekly?
Comment by The Dude Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 6:54 pm
illinifan. That was a better explanation then I received from any medical provider. Thanks!
Comment by Frankthetank Monday, Jan 3, 22 @ 9:54 pm
Downstate,
Also had heard that if your credit report was frozen you couldn’t access your info on the IL vax site. Called the SCDPH and they said it wasn’t true. I have credit freezes on all my credit reports. Went to the site, registered, and and could see my entire vax history. However, since I changed all my banking, auto deposits, and drafts, I can no longer access my vax record. Instead, I now get a message stating the credit reporting companies can’t verify my identity.
Comment by Fox Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 1:26 am