IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike reported 673 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 2,538 confirmed cases. She reported seven additional deaths, bringing the state's total death toll to 26. There are confirmed cases in 37 Illinois counties.
Based on social media rumors, a reporter asked Dr. Ezike if there is a statewide “do not resuscitate” order for coronavirus patients. Dr. Ezike stepped to the microphone and said: “No.”
As for the surge in numbers reported today, Dr. Ezike said, “We know these numbers are going to have these giant rises.” She also said the numbers are slightly below original projections, and everyone is watching to see if the stay-at-home order and other measures will create further distance between what we’re seeing and the original projections.
To that point, Gov. Pritzker implored people to stay home, speaking at length in urging Illinoisans to rededicate themselves to social distancing guidelines and in particular to chastise those who have been flouting them.
"This virus doesn't care that you're bored," the governor said. "It doesn't care that you don't believe that it's dangerous. The virus could care less that you believe I'm overreacting."
The governor said online unemployment processing is doing better.
More than 17,000 people were able to file today, as of 2 p.m.
The governor said the state’s IT personnel continue to work to try to resolve problems and build capacity to the overwhelmed system.
In an effort to leverage philanthropic effort to help local nonprofits, Gov. Pritzker announced the formation of the COVID-19 Response Fund, created in concert with United Way of Illinois and the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations. Penny Pritzker, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce (and the governor’s sister) will head up the fund, which has already received a founding deposit of $23 million. Pritzker told local community foundations and those who are hoping to get help from such groups to find out more at ILCOVIDresponsefund.org. The governor and his wife donated $2 million, as did the Pritzker foundation.
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin briefly spoke on the federal efforts to address pandemic relief, including cash assistance for Americans, assistance for medical providers, and small business assistance, among other efforts.
Page 59 of 75