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* Gov. Pritzker at today’s media briefing…
The shipments that we’ve received from the Strategic National Stockpile is a mere fraction of what we’ve asked for. 367,795 masks. 1,141,000 surgical masks. Nearly 693,000 gloves. 174,000 face shields, 142,000 surgical gowns and 4000 coveralls. Again, this is a small fraction of what we need. And what we have asked for. […]
Right now, we’re looking at a statewide 10-day PPE burn rate of just under 1.5 million N95 masks, 25 million gloves, 4.4 million gowns and 700,000 surgical masks.
And that’s just across our hospitals and long term care facilities, with small set-asides for our law enforcement to make sure that they are fully covered, and our essential state workers. That’s also before you count the McCormick Place alternate facility, which we project could bring our surgical mask burn rate to over 2 million across that 10 day period, to just offer one more example.
As you can see when you compare our federal shipments to our burn rate, the product that we’ve received from the federal stockpile will last only a handful of days in this multi month battle.
Please pardon all typos.
* On to questions for the governor. Dr. Deborah Birx at the White House as been saying no grocery store for the next two weeks, nothing, stay home completely. Should Illinoisans follow that advice?…
I have not heard her say that, but I understand exactly what she’s saying, that if you can stock up, and we’ve talked about this before when we did the stay at home order to begin with, that people should try to stock up for a period of time, 14 days, if they can certainly. The less interaction that people have over an extended period of time, the more likely it is that we’re going to be bending this curve
* Considering a curfew, whether that be shortening the hours of some of these essential businesses, you know, only one person per household?…
Yes, I would. I mean, the answer is we try to look at all of these things all the time where you know you’re want to balance people’s civil liberties and and our need to be able to stay at home and to defeat this virus. […]
There are lots of things that we can do to limit peoples’ gathering and conveying this virus to one another, and we of course are considering them all the time.
* The White House has sent 450 ventilators. The state has requested more than 4000. Where are you going to get the ventilators you need?…
So we’re, day in and day out, we are on the phone with companies that have ventilators and companies that could provide ventilators to us from that manufacturer. I’ve been on the phone with the head of Ford Motor Company, which is about to come out with their version of a ventilator, with General Motors or at least the people who are coordinating the effort for General Motors to gather to get those ventilators. I’ve talked to the head of by air, a company that’s based here in Illinois that makes ventilators, so we’re doing everything we can. I’m just one person that’s been on the phone around ventilators. We’ve also collected up ventilators from places that you might not normally expect us to have one. There are dental offices sometimes just in the event that somebody has a problem, you know, it’s very unusual right but many dentists will keep a ventilator around anyway surges centers where elective surgeries had taken place, that are not open today right they all, many of the most of them had ventilators.
* Federal help staffing McCormick Place?…
We will be receiving some federal medical staff, it hasn’t been made clear that there’ll be in McCormick Place. But we were notified that in fact there are federal army and other military medical staff that will be made available to us in the state of Illinois, so I’m very pleased to hear that and as to where they’re going to be assigned we haven’t yet had that conversation.
* “Can I ask you about, it might seem silly, but there’s some criticism today to the mayor, for having a hairdresser come to her and giving her a haircut. What are you doing about a haircut? Have you had a haircut? What do you think folks should do who are not able to go to the hairdresser? They see the mayor has had a private haircut, and they’re upset”…
Well, I can’t speak to the situation of the mayor’s haircut, but I will say I have not had a haircut since before the stay at home rule was put in place. I actually feel like I’m getting a little shaggy, I’m going to turn into a hippie at some point here. My hair grows pretty fast, so maybe I’ll learn how to use a flowbee or something else to cut my own hair. But look I mean these are some of the consequences that I think we’re all having to experience I know that they’re things that people might normally buy makeup that you might go to a makeup counter somewhere to get that you can’t get any more, because those stores are closed. […]
But, you know, everybody’s making sacrifices here and I’m sure that whatever the mayor did she did in a way that is safe for everybody and for her for the people who may have, you know, done. You know, dressing her hair you know doing her haircut.
* Governor, you said at least twice ,the last time on March 5, that the risk to the general public remains low. Why did you say that, and what were you basing that, when did you change your mind?…
Well I was listening to the CDC. And what I heard from the CDC was that the risk to the general public was low. And I think the CDC is a terrific organization mostly has gotten things right over the many years that I’ve been alive. And so I believed what they were saying and I was repeating that I think I still think it’s a great organization I think that for whatever reason at the federal government level I think perhaps decisions being made at the White House. They weren’t giving very strong advice about what to do, proactively to address cobit 19. But as you know, we took early actions without the CDC, and I’m hoping and praying that those actions are, you know, delivering good results for the state of Illinois.
* What steps are being taken to shore up state spending in anticipation of the crater of state revenues? Is your administration implementing any cutback of services or staff reductions?…
First of all, this is, I mean it’s unprecedented in terms of the state even compared to 2008-2009, the revenue shortfall, the things that we’re having to do to address this, you know is creating a gap that I don’t think anybody could have anticipated. So we are looking very hard at what we need to do to to get the revenues and expenditures in line with one another. I think a lot of it is going to depend upon the federal government I mean there’s just no one else who can step in the, you know, to help our state finances, the way that the federal government can.
* With African-Americans representing a disproportionate number of COVID 19 fatalities, what plan does the administration have to attack this problem? Any theory about why blacks are being hit harder?…
There was a rumor, also very false, that African Americans were, I read this recently in a, in a serious publication, that the there was a rumor that African Americans were immune. And I hope people didn’t read that, or understand that but that is a rumor that was put out on social media. And so that obviously is false.
The flipside is also false that this this adversely affects African Americans, because COVID 19 by its very nature has some disproportionate effect on the African American populaetion. Here’s the reason that we think that it has a disproportionate effect on the African American community, things that Dr. Ezike was saying, underlying conditions that exists, the poor health care that has been provided you know because of years of disinvestment in communities of color. Those have both come together, this virus has had this terrible effect on the African American community because of those two things when there are, you know, a large number of people in the African American community with diabetes and with hypertension. And those are comorbidities that can cause greater problems with COVID 19. Together with the idea that there aren’t the safety net hospitals are challenged in our state, and tthe availability of health care in communities of color has been at a lower quality or lower availability than in other communities so those have worked. So we are countering it both by reopening hospitals that are in those communities. You’ve seen us working on reopening those as well as by making sure that we’re messaging properly, we’re using social media, and our All in Illinois campaign to message directly into the African American community about stay at home about making sure that people are washing their hands, that they’re, you know, wiping down surfaces and all the other things that we’ve asked people to do.
* What are your thoughts about Illinoisans still planning to travel Wednesday to celebrate Passover this weekend to celebrate Easter. You’ve clearly discouraged residents to stay home and maintain social distancing, but do you have a specific message for those wanting to celebrate with their family anyway? Will there be any sort of enforcement mechanism to ensure there is no needless travel in the coming weeks?…
Look, I understand the desire to worship. Passover is coming up. We’re in Easter week.
This is an important holy time of the year. And I want very much for people to experience the spirituality that they normally would. We live in a very difficult time. And I would suggest that, unfortunately, where we all should start to think about how we’re going to use technology in order for us to gather in order to hear our pastor or a rabbi, you know, or a imam or whoever we worship with, you know, to listen to them and to worship online perhaps by video or by phone, and to connect with family in the same way.
It’s very important if your family doesn’t live with you and you normally would get together for the holidays. This is a time when you’ve got to look for another way to do it. I’ve heard people using zoom. There’s a funny term I’ve heard for Passover Seder as a Seder zoom Seder. And I think that we’re all going to be experiencing the holidays in a very unusual ways this year but it’s very important. I cannot reiterate this enough. It is very important that you stay home. It is very important that you do not gather in a place of worship or in somebody’s home with you know with other families or even with your family if they don’t live with you. It’s, we’ve got to protect each other and this will not last forever, but this is one Easter, one Passover that you’re going to have to do something unusual on the way that your worship and I asked you please do that for all of us.
* You said last week that you’d exhausted nearly every step at the state level to slow COVID 19 spread. On Sunday, you mentioned some other measures such as temperature checks. When would those steps become necessary?…
I think what we’re trying to do is, again, keep it balanced. This question was asked a little bit earlier, there’s a balance between, trying not to impose on everybody’s civil liberties, and at the same time trying to defeat this virus. And so, evaluating that every day, and I think the triggers would be if people are just not living by the rules, we’d have to enforce them to a greater extent.
You know, especially around the holidays here, nobody wants to have police patrolling the parking lots of churches, or synagogues or mosques to break people up. It’s not right. It’s not fair to the police officers either.
And we just, we all need, we are in this together, we all need to step up and do the right thing even if this time of year especially at this time of year.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 2:45 pm
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Explaining the data that drives the decision making, in an easy to understand way. Love to see it out of the Governor.
Comment by Chambanalyst Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 2:48 pm
=== Explaining the data that drives the decision making, in an easy to understand way.===
And that’s the ball game. The way the governor has gone about his business in these briefing, top shelf work;
He’s briefed really well
His statements waste little time, and have statistics to the points
He comes off, because you can’t fake this, compassionate.
He has a strong grasp to the situation to answer detailed questions with details, and honest to “we don’t know yet” to reassure that we’re getting the best knowledge only, as best they can convey.
Leadership.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 2:53 pm
Unfortunately I’ll have to make a run tomorrow because I’m out of a few essentials. Fortunately, it’s only a few things so I’ll be able to grab and get out without needing a cart.
Comment by Alex Ander Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 3:05 pm
Re: Ventilators. What is going on with the U of I prototype that looked very promising a couple of weeks ago?
Is somebody making it? Could somebody make it? We can’t wait for Ford or GM to have something for us in May or June.
Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 3:05 pm
===Re: Ventilators. What is going on with the U of I prototype that looked very promising a couple of weeks ago?
Is somebody making it? Could somebody make it? We can’t wait for Ford or GM to have something for us in May or June.===
It is likely going to take a significant explosion of cases here for us to need more ventilators. Hard to know for sure because Illinois just started tracking hospitalizations and ICU patients. This is 3rd day in a row deaths have been static in Illinois and far below the models.
Similar to New York and New Jersey we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and fingers crossed that the deaths stay that way or start downward.
Comment by Generation X Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 3:16 pm
I think grocery stores and other essential businesses might look to expand their hours to decompress the store. Shortening hours may lead to more customers packed in together. Also like the early senior hours for a practical retail approach.
Comment by Peters Piece Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 3:48 pm
I’m going to be petty here: I’m not supposed to go to the salon first haircut- it’s been shut down. I’m not supposed to have even 1 person over to my house, including my own adult children. I am not supposed to go over there either. I’m not supposed to be taking anyone to the grocery store with me. Etc etc etc. according to the new zip code table, there’s not a case anywhere near me- but I am well aware that could change 5 minutes from now.
Yet the mayor had her hairdresser come to her home in Chicago, the hotspot of the state. Is she inviting her friends and family over too?
Comment by thoughts matter Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 3:53 pm
Vermont has implemented a “non-essential items ban” at big-box stores like Walmart and Target. In favor of only groceries, health care, and other food/meds during the coronavirus threat. Things like clothing, toys, and electronics sales are now temporarily restricted. I’m wondering if this might be time for Illinois to have a similar temporary restriction:
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vermont-non-essential-item-sales-ban/507-c8d33c3a-046c-478e-a844-3f5475ab26cf
I also propose that it might not be a bad idea, temporarily, to have Sunday closures of all non-medical/public safety essential businesses. Especially on Easter this Sunday. And the remaining Sundays at least in April. No grocery stores, Walmart, gas stations (except pre-pay), laundromats, or even Walgreens on Sundays at least until shelter-in-place is lifted. Unless this is seen as a potential church-state violation.
Comment by Leatherneck Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 3:58 pm
Also just came across this: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and the state’s legislative leaders reached an agreement to extend the end date of its fiscal year from June 30 to Sept. 30.
Despite our challenges, could a case be made to do something similar in Illinois for just this year? With the extension of the state tax filing deadline (after the Fed move) to July 15 as a precedent:
https://www.njspotlight.com/2020/04/nj-alone-among-the-states-with-unusual-plan-to-extend-2020-fiscal-year/
Comment by Leatherneck Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 4:11 pm
===extend the end date of its fiscal year===
Less draconian would be extending the lapse period.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 4:16 pm
Leatherneck, I’ve thought about that concept too, but in a slightly different context. You have stores like Wal-Mart, Target, Meijer, etc. open where you can buy tons of non-essential items, but stores that only sell those items are closed, putting those retailers at a disadvantage. If a clothing store is considered non-essential, why should I be able to go to Wal-Mart and still shop for clothes or shoes? Plus I’m all for anything that keeps people out of stores and limits the amount of time people are in stores when they do have to go for essentials only.
Comment by MyTwoCents Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 4:20 pm
Isn’t it time for the Governor to give us numbers that matter? What we need to know daily is how many hospital admissions for COVID 19, how many discharges, how many ICU rooms being used, how many ventilators. What we don’t need? His finger pointing to Washington. The state regulates hospitals and that’s who dropped the ball because they are too busy limiting ICU rooms and not ordering except on a just in time basis.
Comment by Law Man Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 4:29 pm
===Isn’t it time for the Governor to give us numbers that matter? What we need to know daily is how many hospital admissions for COVID 19, how many discharges, how many ICU rooms being used, how many ventilators. What we don’t need? His finger pointing to Washington. The state regulates hospitals and that’s who dropped the ball because they are too busy limiting ICU rooms and not ordering except on a just in time basis.===
They weren’t keeping them until just recently. Those numbers are critical, but it is going to be limited in usefulness until more data is compiled.
I would also like the Governor to address the use or non use of Hydroxychloroquine
Comment by Generation X Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 4:42 pm
===Things like clothing, toys, and electronics sales are now temporarily restricted. I’m wondering if this might be time for Illinois to have a similar temporary restriction:===
I worry about this a little bit only because we know families who have had to replace a tablet or chrombook so their kids could do distance learning. Or a friend in Vermont, her toddler had a sudden growth spurt and she doesn’t have — and can’t get — a coat that fits. Clothing and thrift stores are closed, and her local buy/sell/trade is shut down.
In theory I approve of cutting off all non-essential shopping, but in practice it’s going to put some people in very bad spots. I don’t have any idea how you make it so people can get coats for their kids or necessary devices for remote work/learning, without making it a free-for-all, though. Maybe make them be appointment-only, like the car dealers are? Or curbside only?
Parenting through this is really hard. We are taking the kids out once a day to hike, early in the morning in the hopes nobody else is out, and otherwise staying at home. But getting set up for all this distance learning has been overwhelming, and one of my kids is entitled to 6 hours of special ed services per day, and apparently I’m now supposed to provide that AND DOCUMENT THAT I’M PROVIDING IT … while someone also supervising my other two kids’ distance learning, keeping everyone fed, and doing my own job. The schools are absolutely doing their best and the teachers have been great, but some of the ISBE guidelines we’ve been sent for distance learning seem kinda nuts.
Comment by Suburban Mom Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 4:44 pm
=I would also like the Governor to address the use or non use of Hydroxychloroquine=
While I don’t know if he’s spoken specifically on this topic, I think he’s been pretty clear that he’s relying on the input of scientists and doctors. And their input, including that of Dr. Fauci, is mixed at best.
Having politicians independently opine on appropriate treatment options is reckless at best and deadly at the worst.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 5:02 pm
=it might not be a bad idea, temporarily, to have Sunday closures of all non-medical/public safety essential businesses. =
All that would accomplish would be to have *more* people in the grocery stores, etc. on the other six days of the week. Which is the opposite of what is wanted.
Comment by JoanP Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 5:07 pm
Yet the mayor had her hairdresser come to her home in Chicago, the hotspot of the state. Is she inviting her friends and family over too?
Do as I say, not as I do. - sums up the Illinois response so far
Comment by Southern Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 5:08 pm
The mayor criticized Rahm for going around the police board when choosing a new Superintendent 4-5 years ago. Yesterday the Sun Times reported she let the board know who exactly she wanted as a finalist. Now she goes ahead and gets her hair taken care of and claims it was needed because she in the News Daily.
Omg it didn’t take long for her to become a me first Mayor concerned with her agenda not the voters
Comment by Hard D Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 5:19 pm
=ll that would accomplish would be to have *more* people in the grocery stores, etc. on the other six days of the week. =
Also, why Sunday? Is the OP imposing his own religious beliefs on the rest of us?
Comment by Streamwood Retiree Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 5:21 pm
Governor JB Pritzker is exhibiting leadership skills—I am impressed.
Comment by Illinoised Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 5:49 pm
I’m guessing it has been quite some time since a governor has been able to slip the term “hippie” into an official presser. 50 points for Griffindor.
I’m impressed with the demeanor and straight forwardness of both The Governor and the Mayor. Both instill confidence that I have not felt in government in some time.
Comment by Winderweezle Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 6:34 pm
I hope our Hippie Governor let’s his freak flag fly…as he handles this challenging situation so well.
Comment by Dotnonymous Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 6:52 pm
===While I don’t know if he’s spoken specifically on this topic, I think he’s been pretty clear that he’s relying on the input of scientists and doctors. And their input, including that of Dr. Fauci, is mixed at best.
Having politicians independently opine on appropriate treatment options is reckless at best and deadly at the worst.===
Front line ER doctors have been giving observational evidence from the front lines that it is working across the country. New York got a late start but Cuomo today stated that the results have been encouraging.
If the opining line was aimed at Trump, then it isn’t accurate. Hydroxychloroquine was known to be safe, but relatively untested when Trump started promoting its safety and benefits. The results since then continue to be promising.
Comment by Generation X Monday, Apr 6, 20 @ 7:53 pm