Thread by @TheTRiiBE

OK, family.

Gov. Pritzker's daily coronavirus briefing will begin soon. Keep in mind:

** Yesterday, he reported the loss of an infant to COVID-19.
** Also, yesterday there were 3,491 cases + 47 deaths across Illinois.

In the meantime, Abbott Labs — based in Lake County, IL — will be releasing a new COVID-test that will yield positive results within 5 minutes, and negative results in 13 minutes.

thetriibe.com/2020/03/abbott…

Pritzker is on now:

- IL was running about 2000 tests per day
- Today now avg 4000 tests per day
- In total, have run nearly 28,000 tests here in IL, with 30 hospitals and clinical labs now up and running.
- Will be up to 10,000 tests per day in the coming days

Pritzker:

- data at 10,000 tests/daily will offer how well interventions are working
- Ultimately goal is to reach large enough testing capacity to test everyone who needs a test.
- Experts point to 10,000 as standard we need to achieve.

Pritzker:

-U.S. still trails other countries on testing per capita basis

- The white house has promised millions of tests for weeks now, and “they’re just not here.”

- Not gonna wait on promises from federal government that may never be fulfilled.

Pritzker: Friday, Abbott Labs announced portable 5-minute rapid test for COVID-19. Spoke with Pres + CEO of Abbott separately, asking that Illinois be first in line.

thetriibe.com/2020/03/abbott…

Pritzker: In parallel effort, partnering with university and hospital partners to make sure commercial testing happens as fast as possible

Pritzker: Illinois national guard has opened up 2nd state run drive through testing facility in McLean County yesterday, jining another site in Northwest Chicago.

Over next few days, will take more about acquisition of PPE and work to increase hospital capacity across state.

Pritzker: hearing stores about nurses being kicked out of apartments in other states. haven’t heard that here in Illinois

"That will not be tolerated in our state."

Evictions are prohibited during disaster

Want to make sure landlords are not inappropriately terminating leases

Pritzker: State have attorneys ready to fight for nurses and all healthcare workers.

If healthcare workers experience this, immediately contact Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, IDPH:

1, 105 new + 18 additional deaths in Illinois.
Now total is 4,596 cases and 65 deaths in Illinois.

Additional testing can help us understand the amount of virus circulating within our community.

Reporter asks about construction workers wondering why construction halted.

Pritzker: Up to companies to make sure social distancing is happening. To extent they’re not able to do so, it’s a concern. Anyone concerned should be reporting that to Dept. of Public Health.

reporter asks how close are you looking at NYC numbers?

Pritzker: Keeping a close eye on it. Praying for ppl of NYC. of course keeping close eye on numbers. Trying to incorporate numbers from NYC, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco as a reference for modeling in Illinois.

reporter asks what info can you tell about 9 mo-old that died? For other infant who tested positive?

Ezike:trying to gather all data before speaking. I know there’s a lot of concern about death of infant. Really want to get a complete report. We haven’t seen serious symptoms...

...or death of infant from coronavirus in the past.

Pritzker: this was something of deep concern because i had not heard of an infant dying of COVID-19 before. This was the first one, i’m aware of, in the U.S. want to remind parents: this is highly uncommon...

... That isn’t to say that every infant is safe but it’s so uncommon.

reporter asks when will you be back downstate? People want to hear from you personally?

Pritzker: was there just a week ago in murphysboro and springfield and carbondale. I am not reticent to travel and certainly will try to find a moment in near future...

... As virus has been so severe in northeastern Illinois, i have tried to make sure i’m on hand to make decisions about thousands of people infected here while also looking at other rising number of cases in other places.

reporter asks thoughts on medical capacity becoming overwhelmed in coming days/weeks

Pritzker: here in illinois, from time you saw cases in a state to the time we put stay at home order in place, we were among the first to do it...

... In terms of mitigation efforts we put in place, i am pleased that we were able to do it quickly as possible and that has helped us to drop the number of cases. But i must tell you there is not enough capacity today. That’s why you see us building tents and other facilities..

... We’re building our capacity at some hospitals to add beds, and McCormick Place and hospitals that we’re looking to turn on in coming weeks.

reporter asks any evidence to suggest spread is slowly?

Dr. Ezike: every day we collect number of people admitted with covid-19, ppl with symptoms who may not have had testing. Following those numbers, that gives us a track and good data on how this is growing...

... and how this is spreading and our capacity and how much more capacity we will need.

-- end of presser --

How do y'all think Pritzker, IDPH, Lightfoot and other state officials are handling the coronavirus crisis so far?

Here's one opinion, by columnist Derrick Clifton.

thetriibe.com/2020/03/opinio…