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The state’s top medical officer wept during a coronavirus briefing Friday as deaths and hospitalizations continue to climb throughout Illinois.
Dr. Ngozi Ezike, head of the Illinois Department of Public Health, has unwaveringly guided Illinois through the COVID-19 crisis for months. But the doctor broke down during an emotional briefing where she pleaded for Illinoisans to wear masks and social distance so they can save lives — and stop health care workers from being overwhelmed by seeing more patients die.
Ezike noted at the start of the briefing she is not immune to “COVID fatigue” and has felt and lived the pain and tragedy of life during the pandemic. But cases, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 are all rising, she said, before noting the most recent statistics.
“Since yesterday, we lost an additional 31 lives for a total of 9,418 deaths. These are people who started with us in 2020 and won’t be with us at the Thanksgiving table.” She paused for a moment and continued, “Today, we are reporting 3,874 new cases, for a total of 364,033 confirmed cases since the start of this pandemic.”
* Capitol News Illinois…
“I’ve never run a marathon, but I have the utmost regard for those who’ve been able to train and plan and finish a marathon. But this is a difficult race when you can’t actually see the endpoint, and I’m sorry that that’s the message I have for you,” Ezike said.
“Nevertheless, I’m asking you to fight the fatigue,” she added. “Fight the urge to give up on social distancing. Fight for your kids to have safe, healthy opportunity to have in-person learning in school with teachers who were trained to teach them in the classroom. Fight to have safe, healthy environments in which we can work so that businesses can remain open so that our economies can start to thrive again. This does mean wearing your mask.” […]
She said the decisions of those who attend unmasked gatherings promote the spread of the virus which can then find its way to more vulnerable populations. She urged those attending unmasked gatherings to “think beyond themselves” and consider who they may unknowingly infect, especially if they have the virus but are not showing symptoms.
“All these people who work with the public on a regular basis – you cannot work from home as a bus driver,” Ezike said. “And so these people have to go to work every day as the disease is increasing throughout the state. And they’re the ones that will be dying.”
That’s exactly right.
* CNN…
Her high position does not keep her in “some Covid free bubble exempt from all the pain and the tragedy of this pandemic,” Ezike said.
“So I understand how pandemic fatigue is striking everyone,” she added. “It’s real. People are tired of not seeing their families. They’re tired of postponing the weddings and the other life celebrations. Trying to work from home while also trying to manage kids learning … remotely is a challenge.
“Not being able to visit your loved ones in long-term care and nursing homes, not being able to gather with groups of friends for a night out in your favorite restaurant is getting to be a lot to bear. The way we work, the way we live, the way we play has all changed and the harsh reality is that the sacrifices we’ve made — and that we continue to make — do not have a future expiration date.”
Some people will refute the statistics, Ezike said. But the reality is that coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths are surging again.
* WTTW…
“The way we work, the way we live, the way we play have all changed,” IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said, “and the harsh reality is that the sacrifices we’ve made and that we continue to make do not have a future expiration date.” […]
Since the pandemic began, Illinois has recorded 364,033 confirmed cases and 9,418 deaths.
“These are people who started with us in 2020 and won’t be with us at the Thanksgiving table,” Ezike said.
* Video…
In an emotional briefing, Illinois' top health official teared up while she delivered the latest COVID-19 numbers for the state and urged residents not to get complacent in fighting the virus. https://t.co/U7tCzwcCKt pic.twitter.com/fjtSPPFyxy
— ABC News (@ABC) October 24, 2020
* NBC…
In an interview with NBC Nightly News over the weekend, Ezike said she’s received hundreds of email since the news conference, and that “it sounds like everyone needed to have that release together.” […]
“It’s incited some feelings, some PTSD-type feeling as we think about starting round two, just remembering how difficult round one [was],” she said.
Ezike is not exempt from COVID-19 as she has lost relatives from the virus and takes it personally when she hears of business owners blatantly defying the state’s rules and residents refusing to wear masks.
“There are no good decisions, but who wants to be in a situation like that,” she said. […]
“We need to take those tears and turn it into action,” she said. “We need to wear our masks, maintain our distance, get our flu shots. We can be sad, but we can still fight.”
*** UPDATE *** From today…
Ezike on her tears Friday: "I just got overwhelmed. A combination of a lot of months of frustration and maybe some fear and some discouragement at the route and the road that we've taken, despite some opportunities and chances to do better. … https://t.co/cst7MpKXo8
— Kelly Bauer (@BauerJournalism) October 26, 2020
"now we can put our boots back on and continue our fight against the fatigue and fight against the virus, as well."
— Kelly Bauer (@BauerJournalism) October 26, 2020
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 10:51 am
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She “unwaveringly guided Illinois through Covid”?
That is not a fact, it’s a sensationalized opinion masquerading as journalism.
Comment by Not a Pol Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 11:04 am
I know some of the staff in the midst of this battle and know they are valiantly doing their best for the people of IL. I’ve worked with them and others previously who are dedicated to the public’s health. They really do care. God bless them and give them strength as they continue their efforts in the face of relentless attacks from the ignorant and those motivated by politics.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 11:05 am
I can only imagine the exhaustion she and her team are feeling at this moment. The various sad people taking shots at her on social media need to stop their selfish tirades and start acting like grown-ups.
Comment by Montrose Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 11:10 am
Nope. Griffin saw what happened to Rauner. It’s much better to have power without responsibility.
Comment by Montrose Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 11:14 am
=== it’s a sensationalized opinion masquerading as journalism.===
This entire post, what you got out of it was “journalism”?
Yikes.
To the post,
Dr. Ezike is a hero, as all doctors, nurses, the medical field as a whole, those fighting off “alternative facts”, narratives of “magically disappearing”… listen to the medical professionals, they are in the most literal sense, trying to save lives with education, to help patients make decisions to stay safe.
This virus isn’t going to magically disappear after November 3rd.
If anything, tragically, heart-breakingly, the United States is moving towards 250,000, a quarter of a million deaths, as soon as December 1st, no matter the outcome of this election.
Today, this date, in two weeks we will see the virus impact of decisions of today, October 26th.
Listen to your doctor.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 11:14 am
(accidentally put my comment on the wrong thread. go ahead and delete this one.)
Comment by Montrose Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 11:16 am
@Not a Pol: congrats. You’ve blown the lid off yet another liberal media conspiracy.
One of the aspects of this story that stands out to me is the contrast in leadership between Dr. Ezike and Rep. Mazzochi and former Rep. Ives.
The seething anger of the later two versus the empathetic, science-based presentations of the former.
What’s also interesting is that Mazzochi has a science background and extols it quite a bit in her biography on the ILGA website:
“She has a passion for science and commonly brings her scientific knowledge and analytical skills to her private sector work.”
Personally, I don’t see any evidence of that as it applies to her comments on COVID-19.
Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 11:16 am
=That is not a fact, it’s a sensationalized opinion masquerading as journalism.=
When has she wavered?
Adding, you realize yours is an opinion, right? An an unnecessarily negative one. It is easy to take pot shots at these folks from the cheap seats. It isn’t easy to do what the good Dr. is doing and have nutjobs send you death threats.
I give her credit for her unwavering commitment to the health and welfare of the citizens of Illinois.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 11:18 am
You have to respect Dr. Ezike. She understands that there is pain on all sides of this battle, but she stays true to her calling of protecting the residents of the state. Clearly it has taken a toll on her. A real professional in action.
Comment by SSL Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 11:28 am
Yes, listen to your doctor. And also listen to Rich, who has consistently staked out a sane, rational approach to COVID-19. Vaccines alone won’t save us, even when they arrive; they won’t be 100% effective, nor will 100% of people take them. We need to pull together as a community, supporting businesses, supporting government leaders, supporting each other. If we do that, and work to keep the spread of the virus low in the meantime, we can clobber it once we get a vaccine.
Comment by Doc Anonymous Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 11:28 am
His name is/was Michael Lang. 18 years old and a graduate from Lyons Township High School.
Michael was infected with COVID-19 this fall away at school in Dayton. He died this weekend.
Listen to your doctor, listen to the experts. Wear your mask, wash your hands and keep your distance.
Winter is coming and making a few choices to consider others over yourself can help us all.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 11:34 am
She’s a state treasure. I hope that she is getting support from all of the people in her life, and I hope the state is taking the appropriate measures to keep her safe.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 11:44 am
The most important words were ”think beyond themselves”. That’s what this is all about. If everyone could do that, we’d be in a much better place.
Comment by FormerGOPer Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 11:58 am
As a school bus driver (and former 34 year teacher), I can tell you that it is extremely challenging maintaining safety protocols for the kids and ourselves. Vigilance in terms of wearing masks, disenfecting hourly, and trying to keep socially distant during the runs are mandatory. I’m not looking for any hero status with this post, as thousands are doing the same thing I am. We all understand that in-person learning is way more preferable and effective in education, and we don’t want to interrupt the success that we have had over the last month or so in keeping down the virus for kids going to Illinois schools…
Comment by Mr. B.A. Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 12:04 pm
I disregarded the advice not to read the Twitter reactions to this story. What is wrong with people?
Comment by midway gardens Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 12:25 pm
The mortality rate of the diseases is falling rapidly. What was once thought to be a mortality rate of 2-3% is now .065% according to the CDC.
That doesn’t make the situation “good,” but it’s WAY WAY WAY better than the assumptions we started with when the Governor devised his phase 5 plan.
Comment by Abe Froman Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 12:31 pm
Abe Froman, It’s true the mortality rate has improved which is great! steroids really do seem to be a gift from *deity, but we also now know that living or dying are not the only options. Everything from cardiomyletis (an aftereffect of many viruses), to lung damage, to neurological effects and also the “long covid” cases have appeared.
Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 12:41 pm
Abe Froman - Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 12:31 pm:
-The mortality rate of the diseases is falling rapidly.-
The number of people with long term effects, heart damage, lung damage, mental fogginess, chronic fatigue is rising.
I really didn’t know any of the dead people or those who haven’t recovered. Too bad for them but time to move on and re-open our economy. If it doesn’t affect me, it’s not real. Finished it for you.
Comment by Froganon Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 12:53 pm
===What is wrong with people?===
I think it comes down to anger about the loss of control they have over their lives. They want to lash out at and blame (martyr of choice) as if things would be any different had we not put restrictions in place. We’re in a collective state of grief.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 1:31 pm
@Froganon - Your response is rude. I explicitly stated that the situation was not good. The declining mortality rate IS a good thing - and if it halves again it would be even better.
All that to the side, you don’t know the first thing about me or anything I’ve experienced in my own life. This is the type of conduct that happens on the internet all the time of course… but you would never act like this in person.
Comment by Abe Froman Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 1:58 pm
Cool Papa — Michael Lang was one of my nephew’s closest friends.
Comment by Soccermom Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 2:10 pm
Froganon, I don’t know where you’re getting your mortality rate data. Johns Hopkins puts the current rate at 2.6% in the United States.
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortality
Comment by Soccermom Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 2:16 pm
One of the great ironies at this stage of this disaster is that those of us who are doing our level-headed best to do the right thing for public health are protecting the prideful fools who are making the metrics go up.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Monday, Oct 26, 20 @ 5:13 pm