Illinois COVID-19 Update
April 20, 2020
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 1,151 new COVID-19 cases and 59 deaths. The total number of cases in the state is 31,508 in 95 counties, with a total of 1,349 deaths.
At today’s press briefing, Governor J.B. Pritzker provided an overview of COVID-19 hospitalizations, ICU occupancy, and vent use in the state. There are a total of 4,599 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Currently COVID-19 patients occupy 1,239 ICU beds of the 3,134 ICU beds available. COVID-19 patients are using 757 vents of the 3,256 vents available. Complete data is available here.
The Governor also covered efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities. He said that testing will be expanded to all staff members who work at long-term care facilities. Previously, just pre-shift wellness checks were conducted. Gov. Pritzker warned long-term care facilities that those who do not comply with adhering to the proper COVID-19 response protocols will be held accountable.
IDPH is reporting data on COVID-19 cases in nursing homes. Click here to view facilities and cases by county (as of April 19). Data will be updated weekly.
At the request of the local government, the State of Illinois has activated a pre-staged alternate housing facility in Jefferson County to meet the identified needs of COVID-19. Jefferson County authorities have indicated a recent spike in positive cases of COVID-19, including more than 17-cases linked to a long-term care facility, will require additional resources to help slow the spread of the virus.
IDPH has updated its website with information on COVID-19 testing sites throughout the state. If you are experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms, such as fever and cough, it is important self-isolate and contact your physician first.
According to IDPH’s recommended guidance, persons handling a decedent who died of COVID-19 should follow routine infection prevention and control precautions. When the capacity of hospital morgues and other locations where human remains are stored in a jurisdiction are exceeded, it may be necessary to establish a temporary morgue.
Marriott Bonvoy is launching “Rooms for Responders”, in collaboration with its credit card partners, American Express and JPMorgan Chase, to provide no cost rooms to front-line health care workers in some of the hardest hit cities in the U.S., including Chicago. This program is committed to providing $10 million worth of hotel stays for healthcare professionals leading the fight against COVID-19. For details, click here. For other special discounts being offered by companies to healthcare workers, see AHA’s “100 Million Mask Challenge” discounts webpage.