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* When Gov. Pritzker announced the reinstatement of the mask mandate on August 26, 2021, hospitalizations were at 2,240, not 1,700 as claimed below. The mandate didn’t take effect until August 30, when 2,266 people were in the hospital, so Illinois was on an upswing, eventually peaking at 7,380 hospitalizations on January 12.
Illinois is currently at 2,496 hospitalizations, that’s 10 percent more than were in the hospital when the mandate went back into effect in August. During the past three weeks, hospitalizations have fallen 60 percent. It is not a stretch to believe that Illinois will be below, even well below, 2,266 hospitalizations by February 28th. Heck, they could even be below the mythical 1,700 at this rate.
From today’s press conference…
Q: Despite all that’s been said just now, and I’m not gonna surprise you, there are people who are still questioning this decision and say, ‘Is it really about the science or is it about your reelection?’ On Monday you said ‘hospitalizations’ three times.
A: Yes
Q: Well, when you put the mask mandate in place, hospitalizations were at 1,700. We’re not at 1,700 now.
A: No, we’re not.
Q: So why pick February 28?
A: Because we’re seeing a trajectory of those hospitalizations. We’ve come from 7,300, more than that, down to under 2,500 just in the last couple weeks. And over the next couple of weeks before we get to February 28 I think we all expect to see a continuation of that trend.
If you’re gonna claim politics are involved in this mask decision, find a better argument.
*** UPDATE *** I didn’t notice this before, but the state is projecting that just 500 people will be hospitalized with covid ten days from now, on February 19th. We haven’t been to that level since mid-July of last year. Click the pic for the full document…
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:14 pm
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It’s about making the virus political, by trying to frame it as political… gaslighting the actual reasoning.
It’s tiring.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:18 pm
Pritzker’s answer makes sense to. We’re watching trends, and assuming trends continue, that is where we hope to be.
Planning ahead based on expected trends is what we WANT leaders to be doing.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:21 pm
Sorry, typo: “makes sense to me.”
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:21 pm
The press definitely tried to lead him into some gotcha moments with questions but it didn’t seem to work.
Who was the woman who spoke just before questions (Not Dr Ezike)? Well said on her part. A bit snarky at times but backed up by the facts, I rather enjoyed it.
Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:25 pm
Well, I’m going to keep wearing a mask and being careful. I think “never bet against COVID” is going to be as powerful a phrase as “never bet against the Speaker” in the long run.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:26 pm
I will keep wearing my mask well beyond February 28.
Comment by Bob Meter Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:28 pm
“Who was the woman who spoke just before questions (Not Dr Ezike)? Well said on her part. A bit snarky at times but backed up by the facts, I rather enjoyed it.”
Dr. Emily Landon(UoC).
Comment by srboisvert Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:29 pm
I think I’ll keep mine on for awhile longer just in case the next surge or variant is waiting to strike.
Comment by Manchester Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:31 pm
So the suggestion is that voters will remember in November a change in masking rules from February and that it will drive their vote?
Excuse me I’m going to be laughing a bit.
Comment by Anonish Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:32 pm
Even funnier, one “question” accused him of picking that date because it’s the day before the state of the union. Wow.
Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:36 pm
Shouldn’t politics play a role in decisions such as this? We don’t live in a technocracy where a guilded expert guides society through benevolent decrees. If politics is the way politicians react to the will of the voters shouldn’t it be a consideration? We may dislike it when politicians choose to listen to voters we disagree with instead of ourselves and criticize them for playing “politics” when they do. It’s good sense when they listen to us.
I suspect politics played a rolem as they should, that said I don’t think that JB would’ve made it without a fairly confident belief that it won’t bite him in the butt in March or April.
Comment by Mason born Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:36 pm
“ If you’re gonna claim politics are involved in this mask decision, find a better argument.”
You don’t think teachers unions had any influence on keeping the masks on in schools?
Comment by Alt Middle Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:36 pm
===teachers unions===
Ridiculous parents, anti-vaxxers, and anti-maskers were (still are) trying to make someone’s workplace a dangerous place
Unions were created to protect safety and health of members.
The bargaining aspect of the virus there isn’t political, but is “what unions do”
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:40 pm
I remember the articles about districts that continued to insist on the weakest medical policies even after they had teachers and staff die. Honestly I wish the teachers union had more power over safety issues.
Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:46 pm
“The bargaining aspect of the virus there isn’t political, but is “what unions do”
Then why not let the teachers unions bargain with their districts over masking? There is no room for that here.
Comment by Alt Middle Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:47 pm
===There is no room for that here.===
That’ll be up to the unions.
CTU already locked in their situation.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:49 pm
What do you mean let them? Chicago and other districts have done exactly that.
Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:50 pm
===There is no room for that here.===
Also, what teachers’ union would bargain *away* from masks at this point?
Do you know why unions were even formed?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:51 pm
I have supported masking and vax mandates but I see all of this as political.
Pritzker did not want to stand alone when New York and California were lifting theirs. And I wonder if the masks in schools decision would be different if he was not concerned about the Grischow precedent.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:53 pm
I suspect that the recent court decision from downstate will have the unintended consequence of many districts ending up with agreements similar to CTU.
Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:53 pm
===You don’t think===
I said find a better argument. I didn’t say what I thought other than the argument expressed above was ridic.
Some of you folks should learn to read more closely before popping off.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 3:54 pm
If masks in schools are so effective at stopping transmission, then why did we have a massive spike in cases in schools across the state the past two months? The transmission rate was no different than states without mask mandates in schools.
Comment by MadCo Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:05 pm
Aren’t all decisions made by politicians political to some degree? And is it really an issue if the decision is arguably consistent with medical advice? I have an issue with political decisions that are entirely contrary to medicine and science.
Hypothetically if he was term limited and not facing an election, I wouldn’t think he would have made a decision much different from this one.
Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:05 pm
==why did we have a massive spike in cases in schools across the state the past two months?==
You mean school kids getting sick or transmission in schools? They are two different things. Our district had little if any transmission in the schools as far as anyone could tell. But there are still kids out sick with covid, the vast majority of them caught it outside of school (and often not following the recommendations).
==The transmission rate was no different than states without mask mandates in schools. ==
Source for that claim? A number of studies have showed the opposite (although the ones I’ve seen aren’t recent).
Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:11 pm
==You don’t think teachers unions had any influence on keeping the masks on in schools? ==
I mean, maybe, but “we should protect kids more than adults” is a common enough sentiment that also explains Pritzker’s actions that I don’t think we need to really look for ulterior motives.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:23 pm
==So the suggestion is that voters will remember in November a change in masking rules from February and that it will drive their vote?==
I mean, I definitely think Pritzker benefits if voters by and large think things are “returning to normal” by November, and, well, daylight’s burning. So it makes sense to me.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:24 pm
This isn’t going to be how you make your ‘COVID policy was in part political’ argument. There is a better way to do it down the road but now is not the time. All you are doing is drawing more attention to the change at this point.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:32 pm
Remember all the folks who like to say, “We’re all gonna get COVID eventually.” Well, now they’re finally right. It’s a sad day for people with preexisting conditions, whose COVID illness will likely be severe. American toxic individualism forces gross political expedience once again.
Comment by Eastern Bloc Mitigation Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:33 pm
The data says masks in schools don’t do anything to stop the spread either so “that dog won’t hunt” yet here you are defending that decision too
Comment by Lord of the Fries Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:34 pm
==The data says masks in schools don’t do anything to stop the spread==
Actually the data says masks in schools help, so here comes that dog with a big ol’ quail in its jaws.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:38 pm
===The data says masks in schools don’t do anything to stop the spread===
Dr. Landon, today, addressed these type of “questions”
It’s not true what you typed
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:39 pm
==The data says==
Be specific. Which data? What source?
Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:46 pm
–Eastern Bloc Mitigation–
Honest Question, when would you liftthe mask mandate if we let you have your choice?
Just my 2C but I doubt COVID ever goes away so at some point we’ll have to accept some risk.
Comment by Mason born Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 5:13 pm
== we have a massive spike in cases in schools across the state the past two months? ==
Lemme think… where were kids in late November and late December thru early January? (Hint: not in school.)
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 5:32 pm
=== If you’re gonna claim politics are involved in this mask decision, find a better argument. ===
They don’t think they need one, sadly. These leeches are just reflecting their base, and that’s the real problem, and why our democracy is in real trouble.
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 5:38 pm
=== Honest Question, when would you liftthe mask mandate if we let you have your choice? ===
When Covid is declared endemic by health professionals, and when everyone 0-100my/o can get vaccinated.
But keeping current with covid vaccinations needs to be a requirement of any public job, and and a requirement for licensing of any private business.
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 5:47 pm
=If masks in schools are so effective at stopping transmission,=
You do know that most kids don’t live at school. They got it when they left and went to club practices and birthday parties without a mask and thanksgiving and xmas.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 6:12 pm
Illinois has led the Midwest with fewest per capita COVID deaths and hospitalizations since the mask mandate was implemented last August. Many people are here today who wouldn’t be if they listened to the anti-maskers and anti-mitigation people.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 7:12 pm
–Public servants
That’s a fair metric for lifting, though personally I’m fine with the Gov’s current decision.
I completely agree that the Gov as Employer could put a vaccine mandate as a condition of employment. I’m less sure requiring vaccination of all employees to get a business license is in his power, esp if Covid is endemic and there’s no emergency powers to weild.
Comment by Mason born Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 7:27 pm
==I completely agree that the Gov as Employer could put a vaccine mandate as a condition of employment==
I’ve been saying this for 6 months. Mandatory vaccination requirement (including booster) for all state and local employees and teachers. Or be fired and have your pension and benefits stripped. With no testing opt-out.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Feb 10, 22 @ 5:08 am
=== and have your pension and benefits stripped.===
This is a ridiculous stance, an IPI type silly
What is earned, is earned.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 10, 22 @ 5:13 am