Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar


Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives


Previous Post: Republican leaders not enthused about statewide vote by mail
Next Post: The opposite of crying wolf

COVID-19 roundup

Posted in:

* Hannah did a great job this morning…


1) Last week I started collecting data for the amount of tests IL was doing because I was increasingly alarmed by how slowly the number of total Illinoisans tested was increasing. I used the Wayback Machine to see older data than when I began taking screenshots of the daily data. https://t.co/gAiNgz4Xmn

— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) April 3, 2020

Click here to read the piece.

* The Fight Back for a Better Tomorrow PAC has a new TV ad in support of nurses

* From UIUC Chancellor Robert Jones…

Dear Members of the University Community,

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and continued guidance from both local and state health officials, we have made the decision that all Summer 2020 courses will be conducted remotely via alternative delivery mechanisms.

We know that this decision about summer courses may generate additional questions about summer research, programs, travel, housing, events, remote work protocols, etc. We are not ready to make those decisions at this time, but as soon as we are ready, you will be notified.

* Select headlines from the Tribune’s live blog

Amid coronavirus outbreak, Mayor Lori Lightfoot says no plans to close Chicago streets to traffic and open them to exercise

College cafeteria workers seek help amid mass layoffs

Landlords are asking tenants for coronavirus diagnoses. Can they do that?

‘To us right now, time is life.’ Chinese community mobilizing to provide medical supplies to Chicago-area hospitals.

* News-Gazette

Christie Clinic is placing about 225 employees on a temporary furlough due to coronavirus-related losses, Chief Executive Officer Kenny Bilger said Thursday.

“It is our intention that these furloughs will be short term, with a current expectation of all team members returning to work no later than June 1, 2020,” he said in a letter to Christie employees that clinic officials shared with The News-Gazette.

The temporary furloughs will affect about 25 percent of Christie’s 900 staff members, according to Melissa Tepovich, the clinic’s marketing and public relations manager.

* Press release…

Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim is warning residents of potential scams that attempt to prey on people during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Nerheim said his office has been advised that scammers are making phone calls posing at health care workers or companies offering COVID-19 tests. In many cases, these scammers claim they are able to either obtain tests for people or are able to get test results to people quicker. In these cases, the person is asked to pay in cash or hand over personal identifying information in exchange for the test.

“In most cases, these crimes are preventable by using common sense,” State’s Attorney Nerheim said. “People should always be wary of any business, charity, government or individual requesting payments in cash, wire transfers, or gift cards through the mail. In addition, people should never share identifiable personal or financial information with any unknown sources.”

* More here….


As COVID-19 sweeps across Illinois, have you ever wondered what the statewide ICU capacity looks like?

We crunched the numbers and it's….not great.

Dive into the interactive map here: https://t.co/JAGQDhxnMX

— Champaign Showers (@217Showers) March 27, 2020

* A little levity…


Q: Do you have a favorite meme of you that people have made? #AskMayorLightfoot
- @reciprocalofpi

A: pic.twitter.com/2118CkvbsU

— Mayor Lightfoot #StayHomeSaveLives (@chicagosmayor) April 3, 2020

* Related…

* Rapid coronavirus testing starting in Illinois

* ‘Surreal’: NY funeral homes struggle as virus deaths surge

* ‘I just don’t understand’: Anthony Fauci shows support for more state stay-at-home orders

* 3-star general on new McCormick Place coronavirus hospital: ‘We don’t know when this one’s going to end’: About a week ago, Semonite said he was notified by the secretary of the Army that Pritzker was “very, very concerned about the bed shortage up here.”

* Most crime is down during COVID-19 pandemic, but there’s reason for concern: In Elgin, domestic battery calls are up 47% compared with the same March 21-30 time frame in 2019.

* Chicago police officer’s death linked to COVID-19 will be considered on-duty, entitling family to greater benefits

* What Everyone’s Getting Wrong About the Toilet Paper Shortage: It isn’t really about hoarding. And there isn’t an easy fix.

* UI, others taking measures to curtail ‘Zoom-bombing’

* Essential business supplies essential workers

* Manor Court resident with COVID-19 died Thursday; 2nd Manor Court resident tests positive

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 1:29 pm

Comments

  1. I don’t know if this was linked here earlier, but WUIS is reporting that WIC participants statewide are having difficulty finding WIC-approved foods at grocery stores:

    https://www.nprillinois.org/post/shoppers-asked-not-buy-out-wic-approved-foods-1#stream/0

    Comment by Leatherneck Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 1:58 pm

  2. Re: Toilet paper

    This is as good a time as any to invest in a bidet. Even the ones that just replace your seat, rather than the whole toilet - some are pretty great.

    Comment by Techie Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 2:10 pm

  3. Is there any data about how long it is taking to get test results on average?

    I know somebody who was tested on Monday at the Bloomington drive up location that is supposedly testing way fewer people than their daily capacity. this person was told to expect results in 48 hours. but a full 4 days after testing there are still no results.

    Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 2:16 pm

  4. hisgirlfriday- Not sure if they have the quick test at the Bloomington site at the fairgrounds, but last I had seen the turnaround for results could be 4-7 days depending on when the sample(s) were submitted to a lab.

    https://www.wglt.org/post/mclean-county-covid-19-total-reaches-20#stream/0

    Comment by Anon221 Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 2:33 pm

  5. I would love to see some reporters start posting stories to shame the people who are flagrantly ignoring the stay at home order.

    Between the plainfield PD having to be called out by the montgomery PD for encouraging kids to meet up in parking lots to beat their cabin fever, to the posts now about a travelling easter bunny roaming around neighborhoods, it seems that too many people are flat out ignoring this simple directive to stay at home except for essential travel.

    plainfield went from 3 reported cases to over 20 cases within a week. Then they just stopped reporting numbers.

    The failure of local leadership to adequately communicate to their residents seems to be at the root of this. This isn’t a mistake that can be brushed under the rug without anyone noticing it, as would usually happen. There are real consequences to this and people are going to die.

    Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 2:34 pm

  6. Will county abate real estate taxes not paid if the landlord can show he did not collect rent? Will county at least waive penalty and interest for home owners that cannot pay real estate taxes?
    I fully understand helping people out but if you are a small apartment owner or small business owner real estate taxes never go away.
    And if mortgage companies do allow for a few months with non payments are they going to stop the per diem inters charges which make up most of a mortgage payment?

    Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 2:35 pm

  7. ===turnaround for results could be 4-7 days===

    Those are not likely going to a private lab.

    Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 2:39 pm

  8. DS - I get pretty tired of your whining about the plight of landlords. I own 2 rentals and the last thing I’m worried about is taxes or the mortgage on either. I’m worried about the health and safety of my tenants and their families. If you haven’t saved enough to float your property for a few months then maybe you should try a new line of business.

    Comment by Excitable Boy Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 3:19 pm

  9. Rich- from the first WGLT report, the samples would be going to a state lab.

    https://www.wglt.org/post/why-bloomington-s-covid-19-site-only-testing-half-many-people-it-can

    https://www.wglt.org/post/coronavirus-testing-backlogs-continue-laboratories-struggle-keep-demand

    Comment by Anon221 Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 3:35 pm

Add a comment

Sorry, comments are closed at this time.

Previous Post: Republican leaders not enthused about statewide vote by mail
Next Post: The opposite of crying wolf


Last 10 posts:

more Posts (Archives)

WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.

powered by WordPress.