Leading off her comments with a plea to “Please, continue to stay home,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike announced Illinois had surpassed 10,000 cases of COVID-19. The latest numbers for Saturday are:

• 1,453 additional cases
• 33 additional deaths

The totals since the outbreak began are:

• 10,357 confirmed cases
• 243 deaths
• 53,581 people tested.

Dr. Ezike asked everyone to practice social distancing and not become complacent. Increased cases mean increased hospitalizations, which means increased deaths.

Governor Pritzker repeated his personal recommendation that people wear some kind of mask to cover their mouth and nose when around others as a courtesy that could help stop the spread.

Asked if it is a requirement, he said: “No.”

The governor was asked about large parties in Adams County (Quincy area) despite the stay at home order and news that someone who attended those parties has since tested positive and is hospitalized.

Pritzker said the vast majority of people are doing what’s right and those that aren’t social distancing and staying at home either aren’t paying attention to the news or “they’re stupid.”

Dr. Ezike was asked if the virus affected African Americans more and if so, why? She said that would be something to review but IF that bore out that it would likely be because the virus exacerbates existing disparity in health outcomes.

Joining Gov. Pritzker and Dr. Ezike at Saturday’s briefing were Director of Veterans Affairs Linda Chapa LaVia, who said the state’s veterans homes stopped allowing outside visitors and began other best practices early.

There are no known cases among residents to date and they are responding to a single positive case regarding an employee at the Manteno facility who is recovering at home.

The veterans’ homes are encouraging video chats, letter writing and calls to loved ones.

DCFS Director Marc Smith said child abuse investigators are essential frontline workers who continue to go out and do their jobs. He also said payments to foster parents were increased for March and April and services to youth aging out of the system have been extended during this crisis.

IDHS Secretary Grace Hou said the agency oversees 14 facilities serving 3,400 residents through 6,500 staff, “who come to work every day.”

She said the facilities acted early last month to health screen staff at every shift change, halt all non-essential visits, cancel off-campus trips and enhance cleaning and disinfecting.

The overall message today was that there are thousands of public sector employees doing vital work every day in Illinois both on the front lines and, now, in their homes.