State tops 20k COVID-19 tests in a day
‘We definitely have hit a peak in deaths,’ says Dr. Ezike, with another 130 bringing toll to 3,241
A Reditus Laboratoris worker supervises testing for COVID-19. (YouTube)
By Ted Cox
Illinois topped 20,000 tests for COVID-19 for the first time Friday on a day that saw the state remain level for cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.
“We definitely have hit a peak in deaths,” said Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike at the daily coronavirus briefing at the Thompson Center in Chicago. She reported 2,887 new cases and 130 deaths resulting from COVID-19, meaning the state spent most of the work week firmly in the 2,000s for cases and 100s for deaths, without reaching new highs in either category. While hardly a cause for celebration, Ezike said that was nonetheless a reason for optimism, saying, “Overall, I think we’re going in the right direction.”
The state recorded 20,671 coronavirus tests Friday, with 14 percent positive — well below the 20 percent rate seen earlier in the pandemic. Illinois has now confirmed 73,760 cases overall, with the death toll standing at 3,241.
“Illinois has made important and measurable progress in growing our daily test numbers, today for the first time exceeding 20,000 tests,” said Gov. Pritzker. “Testing is fundamental to our ability to reopen the economy while controlling the spread of the virus. That’s what it takes to keep the public safe. The progress we’ve made on testing over the last two months — building a statewide testing program from scratch to around 15,- to 20,000 tests per day — is tremendous. Even if we’re one of the best states in the nation on testing, we know it’s not enough to be where we need to be on a longer time frame. I’m committed to continuing our successes on this front, because it is fundamental to our economic future, and to keeping Illinoisans safe while COVID-19 is still out there.”
“We definitely have hit a peak in deaths. …
Overall, I think we’re going in the right direction.”
Dr. Ngozi Ezike (Illinois.gov)
The governor specifically praised Reditus Laboratories in Pekin and its Chief Executive Officer Aaron Rossi for conducting the testing that allowed the Smithfield Foods meatpacking plant in Monmouth to reopen, as well as other plants. According to Rossi, Reditus is processing 4,000 tests a day around the clock along with partner Thermo Fisher Scientific, while also manufacturing face shields at a sibling business.
Pritzker said Illinois now has 244 public testing sites for the coronavirus across the state, as well as seven drive-through sites. He said the state will add three more drive-through sites next week, when their locations will be announced.
Pritzker also praised a Chicago timetable announcing phases for easing restrictions and reopening the economy released by Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Friday, saying it is “within the parameters of the plan we put forward,” Restore Illinois, unveiled on Tuesday.
“Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we have been committed to basing our decisions on the science and data related to this disease and communicating our actions to the public in an open and transparent way,” Lightfoot said at a separate news conference Friday. “Though we still have a way to go before we can begin reopening our city, when the time comes that reopening will follow our thoughtful, data-driven process aimed at ensuring all our residents and businesses are informed and supported every step of the way.”
According to a city news release, its reopening process would be based on four questions:
Is the rate of disease spread across the city and surrounding counties decreasing?
Does the city have the testing and contact-tracing capacity to track the disease and limit spread?
Are there enough support systems in place for vulnerable residents?
Can the health-care system handle a potential future surge (including beds, ventilators and personal protective equipment)?
Pritzker remained firm, however, against reopening restaurants and bars any earlier than he has suggested, most likely in late June, saying they posed unique problems for social distancing. He said the state was first monitoring the effect that opening other businesses has on the outbreak and pointed out that other states that have reopened restaurants haven’t seen customers eager to rush out to patronize them. He also renewed calls for restaurants and bars to get more federal COVID-19 relief funding from Congress.
He suggested that as major businesses reopen in cities, they might have to stagger their hours to ease congestion on public transit, saying, “We’ve got to get things moving again safely for our families.”
The governor pooh-poohed suggestions sports franchises might play in other states, saying, “We’re going to work very hard to have them stay home,” although perhaps with the games airing on TV without fans in the stands.
He remained optimistic schools would reopen in the fall. “We’re all determined (to) reopen schools when they usually would,” Pritzker said. “That is my hope and desire.”
The governor announced earlier this week that there would be no weekend briefings, beginning Saturday, but the state would continue to issue daily reports through the Department of Public Health’s coronavirus website.