​Illinois sees largest increase in COVID-19 numbers

Posted on April 8, 2020
Gov. JB Pritzker, in his daily coronavirus briefing Wednesday, said he’s ready to stop relying on the federal government for tests. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The fact that this is an important week on many religious calendars is not lost on the state’s top doctor, but Illinois Department of Public Health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike says to stay home anyway — and stay away from others.

“The testing of our faith produces perseverance; let perseverance finish its work. We know that the strategies that we’ve employed are working. Let’s not stop now. Let’s get all in, Illinois, We are going to get to the other side of this pandemic and celebrate whatever faith we celebrate together soon.”

Gov. Pritzker said he is ready to stop relying on the federal government. Tests could soon be “made in Illinois.”

“Our institutions are developing and distributing their own viral transport medium (VTM) and the necessary reagent locally,” he said. “Hospitals and labs in Illinois that are running low on VTM can access these resources through their local emergency management agency’s resource request system.”

By the numbers, Wednesday’s report was the worst day yet for Illinois, more than 15-hundred new cases and 82 more deaths. The totals are 15,078 cases and 462 deaths.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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