GOVERNOR’S BRIEFING
During today’s briefing, Governor JB Pritzker focused on testing. For the first time, Illinois exceeded 20,000 tests (20,761). Illinois ranks second on a per capita compared to the 10 most populous states and fifth overall. Illinois now has 244 testing sites. An additional three drive-thru sites will be announced next week.
REMINDER: As of this weekend, the Governor has suspended weekend briefings.Â
FACE COVERINGS SUPPLIERS
In order to assist retailers in the procurement of facial coverings for employees, IRMA has created a place on it’s website. Retailers can review and contact the supplier of their choice on IRMA’s website.
CUSTOMER CONFRONTATIONS
IRMA continues to receive reports of abusive confrontations with customers over customer failure to wear masks and the failure of local law enforcement to support their local retailers. These stories must be told. It is important that members share those reports with IRMA as they happen including when, where, and what. If possible, pictures or surveillance video would also be important. Please forward reports to Alec Laird.
ILLINOIS COVID-19 IMPACT UPDATE
Dr. Ngozi Ezike, MD, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health announced 2,887 new cases in Illinois, including 130 additional deaths. IDPH is reporting a total of 703,760 cases, to date, including 3,241 deaths, in 98 of Illinois’s 102 counties.
Over the last 24-hours, the state has conducted 20,761 tests for a total of 399,714 to-date.
As of midnight last night, 4,750 individuals were hospitalized for COVID-19. Of those, 1,222 (25.7%) are in the ICU occupying 32% of the 3,770 staffed ICU beds. Of those, 727 (59.4%) are on ventilators or 17.6% of the 4,137 staff ventilators.
Additional information can be found here. COVID-19 stats by zip code can be found here .