4 New IL Coronavirus Cases: Pritzker Issues Disaster Proclamation

CHICAGO — Four additional cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed in Chicago, bringing the total to 11, state and local public health officials announced Monday.

Gov. JB Pritzker has issued a disaster proclamation, making Illinois the 14th state to enter a state of emergency. He said the move would allow for more federal support, reduce red tape in state government and activate the state's emergency operations center to assemble decision-makers across state agencies.

"I know that this is a difficult time for people as we try to understand and respond to something this new. It's reasonable to feel apprehension," the governor said. "I want people to understand: this is going to affect your daily life. But, know that your city, your county and your state officials are working hard to stay ahead of this and to give you all the facts as soon as we know them."

Two of the new cases are family members of the sixth case, an employee at Vaughn Occupational High School in Chicago. Another is a California woman in her 50s who recently traveled to Chicago, and the fourth is a woman in her 70s who recently returned from an Egyptian cruise. All four new patients are in good conditions.

Pritzker said testing is now available at 15 hospitals in Illinois, seven in Cook County, three in the rest of Northern Illinois, three in Central Illinois and two in Southern Illinois. He encouraged anyone with symptoms to contact a health care provider and avoid taking any risks that could endanger others in the community.

"Remember that we are one community here in Illinois, and community members take care of each other. Don't let fear replace level-headedness. You have responsibilities during this crisis too, and it's important to live up to them."

Public health officials said they are monitoring people who have come into contact with the confirmed cases and encouraging people to self-quarantine.

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said there was only one case of community transmission of the virus among the 11 cases in Illinois. That suggested the virus is not yet widespread in the community. She said more than 600 tests have been conducted so far.

"I do want to encourage people to start planning now for what could be, if the situation expands," Ezike said, recommending people consider how to respond to potential school closures, restricting commutes or postponing large events. "We'd just rather prepare in advance rather than being caught flat-footed."

Chicago Department of Public Health Commission Dr. Allison Arwady said testing is only conducted on people who have symptoms of the virus, which include a fever, cough and sore throat. Testing people without symptoms runs the risk of producing false negatives while the virus remains weak.

"I'd like to reassure people that these two new cases associated with the employee at Vaughn High School highlight what we know about this virus," Arwady said. "Particularly that close contacts with confirmed cases are the ones most at risk, like the family members in this case."

So far, no students or staff at the Northwest Side special needs school have tested positive. Close contact, she said, is defined as within 6 feet for at least 10 minutes.

"We have been preparing, not just as Chicago, but as a whole region and state, to be ready for local person-to-person spread," she said. "As we enhance our surveillance efforts and begin testing more people we expect to see more cases."

Pritzker said CEOs of the largest insurance companies in the state — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and Cigna — announced they will waive the costs for COVID-19 testing. Medicaid and Medicare are also covering testing costs, according to the governor's office.

Public health officials recommend people 60 or older — or those with weakened immune systems or pre-existing health conditions — avoid large gatherings.

As of Monday in the United States, there have been more than 600 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 22 deaths, mostly in the Seattle area. In China, where the outbreak began, 3,120 people have died out of more than 80,000 confirmed cases. There have been about 7,500 confirmed cases and 53 deaths in South Korea. And in Italy, which was placed under nationwide lockdown Monday, there have been 9,172 confirmed cases and 463 deaths.

CDC: Americans Over 60 Should Hunker Down To Avoid Coronavirus

Pritzker said his administration would begin holding daily news conferences to give updates and take questions about the virus. He said the disaster proclamation allowed for federal reimbursement of costs, use of the state's disaster relief fund, use of mutual aid networks, the activation of Illinois National Guard reservists, expedited procurement and other executive authorities.

The Illinois Department of Public Health established a statewide COVID-19 hotline, 800-889-3931, and a website to answer questions from the public or to report suspected cases.

Coronavirus in Illinois

Total number of presumptive cases: 11

• Cases 1 and 2: A Chicago couple in their 60s; since recovered
• Cases 3 and 4: A suburban Cook County couple in their 70s; in home isolation
• Case 5: Man in his 20s who traveled to Italy; released from hospital and in home isolation
• Case 6: Chicago woman in her 50s who was on a Grand Princess cruise; hospitalized in isolation in stable condition
• Case 7: A Chicago man in his 70s who is believed to be the first case of community exposure; he is in serious condition
• Cases 8 and 9: Two women — one in her 50s and one in her 70s — who are related to the 6th patient; in good condition
• Case 10: A California woman visiting Illinois; in good condition
• Case 11: A woman in her 70s who recently returned from an Egyptian cruise; in good condition

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Nationwide numbers: More than 560 cases in 34 states and Washington, D.C.; 22 deaths