Thread by @BauerJournalism

Gov. JB Pritzker will hold a briefing on coronavirus in Illinois at 4 p.m. I'll live tweet it. Follow for updates.

The latest news here: blockclubchicago.org/2020/03/13/cor…

News conference beginning now. Expecting Gov. JB Pritzker to announce pending closure of all Illinois schools. Story here: blockclubchicago.org/2020/03/13/all…

Pritzker says briefings will happen at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Pritzker: "We have long since passed the moment when we thought we could count on the federal government to lead during this unprecedented situation."

Pritzker: "We will close all K-12 schools, public and private, statewide starting Tuesday, March 17, through March 30."

STORY: blockclubchicago.org/2020/03/13/all…

Pritzker: "None of the choices that we have to make over the last week, or have had to make over the last week, have been easy or simple. All of these choices have cascading effects for citizens and vulnerable populations when it comes to food access and safety, childcare ... ."

Pritzker: "This is the right thing to do to protect our students and their teachers and schoolworkers and parents."

Pritzker: Superintendents from across the state will serve as a resource to Pritzker administration to issues that arise as a result of this.

Notable: Even this morning, Mayor Lightfoot and the head of CDPH resisted closing CPS, saying it could result in harm to students and their families.

Pritzker: No school district will see state funding cut as a result of this public health crisis.

Pritzker: State Board of Education has received the necessary waivers to continue to distribute two meals a day to children who qualify for free and reduced lunch through a combo of delivery & parent pick-up options.

Pritzker: "We're also working directly with the eight major food banks across the state, as well as food manufacturers, to ramp up capacity to serve our most vulnerable children."

Pritzker: People are wondering why schools when children seem least susceptible to COVID-19. This is part of social distancing: There are kids, teachers, parents and larger population to consider.

"Having the general public stay home one day at a time will have a massive effect on bending this curve — and that means lives saved."

Pritzker: There are things you can do to assist family, neighbors, etc. "I'm asking everyone to help in these challenging circumstances."
"So please, this weekend, if you can: Stay home. If you are able to telweork, do so. If you don't have to travel, don't."

Pritzker: Sacrifices run deeper for some residents than others.
"Already we filed emergency rules granting workers who are unemployed due to COVID-19 access to unemployment benefits."

He's reaching out to heads of utility companies to maintain services to all Illinoisans regardless of ability to pay.

Pritzker says he's pressing feds to massively scale up our testing capacity as a nation. He's repeatedly criticized Trump & feds for not providing testing resources.

Pritzker: "Not everyone is going to need a test. We have to prioritize those who are sick enough for the hospital and our elderly residents and individuals who are otherwise immunocompromised."

Pritzker says PLEASE leave masks for people who need them.

Reminder: The CDC says you do NOT need to wear a mask. They are meant for the sick and caregivers.

Pritzker brings up State Supt. Carmen Ayala.

Ayala: "This is an unprecedented event in our lifetime."

Ayala: Every district is unique and "closing schools will affect each of your communities differently."

Ayala: We're working with districts to ensure kids who rely on school for nutrition can continue to receive breakfast and lunch every day.

Ayala: "Each school district has the full autonomy to provide learning opportunities in the best way that meets your students' needs. ... We encourage you to implement what works best for your school community."

Ayala: State has asked at least one administrator to stay on site during regular school hours to help kids experiencing homelessness or those whose parents can't stay home.

Dr. Ngozi Ezike from the Illinois Department of Public Health: An additional 14 cases. That brings us up to 46 in Illinois. All but one are in Chicago/Cook County.

Ezike: "We want to get ahead of widespread community transmission to reduce" number of people affected. "We would rather be over-cautious than put the health of our most vulnerable citizens at risk."
No decision was taken lightly, she says.

Ezike: Wash your hands for 20 seconds. Stay home when you're sick. Disinfect surfaces you frequently touch. Get your flu shot.

Ezike: We are limiting large events, mass gatherings and temporarily closing schools.

Ezike: Info from other countries has shown the virus causes more severe illness in older individuals. Younger adults and kids might not suffer serious illness but could pass on the illness to someone susceptible.

Ezike: Closing schools could reduce spread on a larger scale.
"By taking these actions now, we really hope to slow and limit widespread transmission, which is essential to ensuring our health care system is not overwhelmed as the disease progresses through our state."

Ezike: We're trying to conserve resources, like protective gloves and masks.
"Save those for the health care workers" who are on the "front lines."

Ezike: There are still only a limited number of tests available. Those with no symptoms or mild symptoms should stay home. Tests should be prioritized for those at the highest risk of severe illness.
"Like it or not, this virus is here in Illinois and it will continue to spread."

Ezike: "We know the difficult of these measures."
She'd rather be criticized for doing too much than too little: "It would be very hard to live with being told, 'You didn't do enough to protect the people of Illinois.'"

Pritzker: Scientists across the nation are advising governors that social distancing is the right answer.

Pritzker says Illinois is the eighth state to close its schools. He looked at all that, made calls to governors who made those decisions and consulted with "the mayor" (Lightfoot?) and superintendents across state.

Pritzker: There's already ~280,000 students out of school because schools made this decision by themselves.

Pritzker: Lightfoot isn't there because "they're quite busy" figuring out what they need to do now.

Pritzker: Schools will be open Monday so teachers are able to create lesson plans over the weekend and meet with students Monday to explain the work they can do when not together.

Pritzker: Across the state, there's a large population of kids on free or reduced lunch program. "We want to make sure we're delivering those meals so they can access them."

Pritzker: "This is all about safety and health of the people of Illinois."

Pritzker: If we could go back into school earlier, we'll choose to do that.
And toward the end of the two-week closure, they'll make a decision about whether to extend it or not.

Ayala: These are "act of God" and "emergency" days, which would mean school personnel will still be paid.

Pritzker was thinking about this and how students could bring the virus back to their parents, grandparents.

Pritzker: "I'm very concerned about flattening this curve, and I think this is the right thing ot do. We're all focused on getting past this situation, this circumstance, and I think this is a short-term measure that will help us also alleviate the burden ...

"on our health care workers and our hospitals. 'Cause we're gonna see more cases."

Pritzker: "We need to do a lot more."

Pritzker: "This is coming. It's here. We're gonna have to live with it for a while." There's no vaccine or direct treatment. We don't even have enough tests yet.

Pritzker: There's no new consideration right now around mass transit.
For daycare centers: "We're working on expanding childcare availability" and giving guidance to childcare facilities.

Pritzker: "And we're, importantly, trying to expand unemployment benefits for people who say, 'Listen, I need to be home with my child.'"

Ezike: There is a person who remains in critical condition.
"It's affecting all ages. Most of the people are going to fare well."

Pritzker: We still don't know when Illinois will get more tests. He asks feds every day, he says.

News conference over.