Illinois COVID-19 Update

April 9, 2020

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 1,344 new COVID-19 cases and 66 deaths. The total number of cases in the state is 16,422 in 81 counties, with a total of 528 deaths.

Governor J.B. Pritzker noted today at his daily press briefing that the rate of COVID-19 cases is looking less exponential. While cases and deaths are growing, they have slowed down and the curve is bending. He said it is unlikely that the stay-at-home order will be lifted early.

To address access to COVID-19 testing in African American neighborhoods, the Governor said he is working on a drive-thru testing site in the south suburbs and will be placing rapid testing machines and kits in African American populated neighborhoods.

IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike, M.D. gave a tribute to all public health employees during National Public Health Week. She said that public health staffers are working diligently to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic and urged people to continue to do their part by staying at home, social distancing, hand washing and cough covering.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office announced it is opening its surge center today to expand over overcrowding at hospital morgues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The medical examiner’s office release its surge center protocols and trailer inventory form for hospitals. The County’s Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security managed planning and is coordinating logistics for the center operations. The 66,000-square foot refrigerated warehouse will have the capacity to hold more than 2,000 decedents. The facility is located five miles from the Medical Examiner’s Office.

IHA has issued a resource document on disaster relief flexibilities for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The document provides an overview these federal disaster-related flexibilities, as well as links to recent actions under each authority by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to address the COVID-19 public health emergency.