Pritzker reports first Illinois COVID-19 death, calls on federal government for supplies

Gov. JB Pritzker announced the first COVID-19-related death in Illinois, a Chicago woman in her 60s with an underlying health condition, at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

She was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier in March.

“I want to extend my deepest condolences to her family members,” Pritzker said. “I want them to know that the entire state of Illinois mourns with them. May her memory be a blessing.”

Pritzker said that he sent an Illinois Department of Public Health infectious control team to a long-term care facility in DuPage County on Saturday after a resident had been diagnosed with COVID-19. 

“They tested the home’s entire population, including all residents and all employees and tests so far have revealed 22 positive confirmed cases:18 residents and four staff members,” Pritzker said.

“All of the individuals who have tested positive are now isolated at the facility or at a hospital and visitors have been restricted.

“I wanted to make the public aware, and let them know the proactive efforts involved in IDPH’s approach to this situation reinforces just how critical it is especially for our vulnerable populations.”

Pritzker called on the federal government to provide states with the resources they need to combat COVID-19.

“My team and I have been on the phone, day and night communicating with the medical testing supply chain,” Pritzker said. “But the federal government is monopolizing supplies and not providing them to the states. They set deadlines, and they blew through them. They told us capacity would increase, and it hasn’t.” 

Pritzker said it is only because of research institutions such as universities, hospitals and laboratories lending their world-class resources that the state has had what they needed.

“But they’re running into the same roadblocks that the state laboratories are,” he said.

“This is an incredible failure by the federal government and everyday that they continue to abdicate their responsibilities is another day that we fall behind. I’ve requested and now I’m demanding that the White House, the FDA and the CDC produce a rapid increase in test deployment nationwide, or get out of the way and allow us to obtain them elsewhere, ourselves.”

On the first day of Pritzker’s “Act of God” school closure that is currently expected to last until March 30, school districts will be required to provide meals to all children who qualify for free and reduced lunch, through delivery and parent pickup meal options depending on the district.

“We’re also encouraging schools to expand the meal Distribution Program to all children and to any student enrolled in an Illinois School regardless of their age. Some districts have already done that,” he said.

Tuesday also marks the first day of the statewide restaurant and bar on-site consumption closure. 

“Residents looking for a prepared meal, curbside pickup, drive thru, takeout and delivery are all still permitted and being implemented by many establishments,” Pritzker said. 

“We recommend patrons contact your local restaurants individually to see what approach they’re taking during this period.”

Pritzker said the state is also working with delivery service providers to help restaurants who don’t already have delivery service already. He also said that major delivery companies have waived fees for independent restaurants.

The Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Pritzker said that price gouging on any kind will not be tolerated. 

Raoul said that his office has received calls about price gouging over items like disinfectant sprays, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and medical equipment. 

“My staff is working tirelessly to investigate and attempt to mediate all such allegations throughout the state,” Raoul said. 

Pritzker said that the state is doing “everything in our power to support working families.”

“I’ve expanded unemployment eligibility for those impacted by COVID-19. Most utilities have agreed to a moratorium on service shut offs for residents who can’t pay their bills during this period. We have filed a federal waiver to expand COVID-19 related Medicaid coverage. And we’re working with the federal government to ease eligibility requirements for food assistance in programs like SNAP and WIC.

“We’re also working expeditiously to mitigate the challenges that small businesses are facing.”

Pritzker said the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has secured the necessary documentation to declare a statewide economic injury declaration, and the U.S. Small Business Administration will receive it shortly. 

“The SBA is offering coronavirus Disaster Assistance loans to help impacted companies get through this period of instability. And this will ensure that all of our counties qualify for assistance. 

The need comes on the back of a moratorium of gatherings of 50 people or more in an establishment.

“Essential services will remain operational under this mandate,” Pritzker said. “Grocery stores pharmacies, hospitals, gas stations, banks, credit unions and shelters are a few key examples.”

But venues like restaurants, fitness centers and health clubs, bowling alleys, private clubs, theaters and faith-based events had limitations put on them.

Pritzker also addressed a statement by the Chicago Board of Elections Executive Director Jim Allen on Tuesday morning. 

Allen called for Pritzker to postpone the in-person election voting in light of the ongoing pandemic, but said the governor refused.

As of Tuesday morning, Ohio, Georgia and Louisiana had announced they would postpone their primaries.

Pritzker said it was not in his legal authority to change the election.

“They wanted me. unilaterally, to cancel in-person voting on March 17, convert Illinois to an all vote by mail state and extend vote by mail to May 12,” he said.

“Not surprisingly, they could not even begin to explain the legal basis for their request, nor could they explain how they believe that they, and election authorities across the state, could effectively convert the election to all vote by mail, nor could they promise the people of Illinois that the state would be able to hold an election on the suggested date of May 12,” Pritzker said.

“I will not use this moment to supersede my constitutional authority. I will not. There are people out there today who want to say, ‘Oh, it’s a crisis, bend the rules and overstep your authority.’ 

“Let me tell you this. It is exactly in times like these, when the constitutional boundaries of our democracy should be respected, above all else. And if people want to criticize me for that, well go ahead; I’ll wear it like a badge of honor.”

Pritzker said that he offered the National Guard and a youth volunteer organization to assist with Tuesday’s primary, and those solutions were rejected.

“I have a responsibility to the people of the state of Illinois to make sure that democracy survives through everything; that through everything democracy will be preserved; that through everything democracy will be venerated. And I have a responsibility to the life and safety of the people of my state to their well being and to their health.”

Pritzker said that over the next few weeks and months there will be times when it feels like the burden is too much to bear. 

“But we will bear it,” Pritzker said. “We will get through it. We will thrive and celebrate and gather and paint the river green for St Patrick’s Day, and have weddings and parties and election night rallies together. 

“And for the time being, we will be strong because that’s what this moment calls. And that’s what I know we’re capable of.”