4/28/20 - A Message from Secretary Hou: Press Conference Recap

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Good afternoon:

Please see the updates from Governor Pritzker's COVID-19 press conference yesterday.

COVID-19 Updates from the Governor's 04-27-2020 Press Conference

Statewide Impact: Governor JB Pritzker noted that while COVID-19 numbers are highest in Cook County and Chicago due to the sheer size of the metropolitan population, COVID-19 knows no county or regional boundaries. Of the top five counties by infection rate (Cook, Jasper, Lake, Will, and Randolph), two of them (Jasper and Randolph) are downstate, and the top two rates of death per capita are in Jasper County and Monroe County.
November Elections: The Governor highlighted that there is some federal funding available to support changes in our elections so that we can make sure that people have the ability to vote even in the presence of COVID-19. He intends to ask the legislature to expand mail provisions in order to effectuate more mail-in ballots as a way to help prevent people from contracting coronavirus.
Remote State Workers: Governor Pritzker reiterated that during these trying times with so many people laid off, we need the services of agencies like the Department of Human Services and Department of Employment Security now more than ever, most of whose staff have successfully transitioned to-and are busier than ever-working remotely from home.
Dental Offices: The Governor clarified that neither the current nor upcoming Executive Orders close dental offices, but rather IDPH has issued guidance to dentists recommending that they focus their work on urgent health issues and emergency procedures if they choose to stay open.
Hospitalization Numbers: As of midnight last night, there were 4,672 hospitalized with COVID-19 in Illinois, and of those 1,224 are in the ICU and 763 of those ICU patients are on ventilators.
Daily Statewide COVID-19 cases: 1,980 new cases reported and 50 additional deaths.

Thank you,

Grace

Grace B. Hou

Secretary, IDHS