Gov. Pritzker kept his comments brief today, highlighting the implementation of home health monitoring for positive COVID-19 patients in all parts of the state now that a Northern Illinois program run through Advocate Aurora has gone live. The program will provide telehealth monitoring and treatment kits to those with mild COVID-19 affliction who are best suited to recover at home, and will not be dependent on any form of insurance coverage. The hotlines for the program throughout the state are:

• In Northern Illinois, 866-443-2584, managed by Advocate Aurora.
• In Central and North Central Illinois, 833-673-5669, managed by OSF Healthcare.
• In Southern and West Central Illinois, 217-545-5100, managed by SIU School of Medicine.

IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike reported 1,585 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the state's total cases to 29,160, and 125 lives lost over the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 1,259.
She acknowledged that despite the grim numbers, indicators show that social distancing is having the desired effect and that for the health and safety of the state it must continue.

"Although numbers continue to climb, it is with guarded optimism that we say the growth is slowing," Ezike said. "We must hold the line."

In responding to media questions, the governor said he personally would like to lift the restrictions as much as anyone else and that’s why he turns to medical and scientific experts to guide his decisions.

He agreed with part of the White House plan regarding COVID-19, the part that recommends states must get past their peak and have 14 days in a row of declining hospitalization before relaxing restrictions.

The governor said we are not there yet, as the numbers indicate.