Illinois Confirms 1,287 New COVID-19 Cases, Including Member Of Governor’s Staff
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,287 new cases of COVID-19 in the state, including 73 additional deaths. Those deaths include a Champaign County man in his 80s, and a Ford County man in his 80s. The total number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in Illinois has reached 13,549, including 380 deaths in 77 out of Illinois’ 102 counties. In his daily briefing, Gov. JB Pritzker noted that a member of his staff has tested positive for COVID-19. That employee has been isolating at home since first showing symptoms on March 26. – Jim Meadows, Illinois Newsroom
Macon County’s First COVID-19 Fatality Was Resident Of Long-Term Care Facility
DECATUR – Authorities have reported the first death in Macon County due to COVID-19, a man in his 80s, who lived at the Fair Haven Senior Living long-term care facility in Decatur. Earlier Tuesday, Macon County’s Crisis Communication Team had announced that four of the 12 COVID-19 cases reported to date were all associated with a single unnamed long-term care facility. – Jim Meadows, Illinois Newsroom
SNAP Recipients Will See Maximum Benefits This Month And Next
CHAMPAIGN – Beginning Wednesday, Illinoisans who rely on food stamps will receive the maximum amount of benefits. The Illinois Department of Human Services is allocating the maximum amount of money to the more than 450,000 households that rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The additional benefits are meant to help families who may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The additional money is provided by the federal government under the CARES Act that took effect April 1st. Recipients don’t need to call or visit an office in person. The additional money will be loaded automatically onto Link cards no later than April 20th. Maximum benefits will be provided throughout April and May. – Dana Cronin, Illinois Newsroom
Demand Increases For Quincy Company’s PPE Because of Pandemic
QUINCY – An Illinois company can barely keep their lab coats in stock because of the coronavirus pandemic. Many hospitals purchase cotton lab coats for doctors and nurses outside of the operating rooms. But that material leaves workers vulnerable to infection. In the face of COVID-19, many hospitals began buying from DenLine Uniforms, which makes coats out of fabric that repels bodily fluids. Dennis Adams is co-owner of the company in Quincy. He told WILL’s “The 21st” show demand is high. “We’re a 14,000 feet of facility with thousands and thousands of lab coats in it that have all been depleted in the last 60 days,” said Adams. DenLine Uniforms also has manufacturing plants in Missouri and the Dominican Republic. – Reginald Hardwick, Illinois Newsroom
Lawsuit: Gov’s Stay-At-Home Order Hurts 3rd Party Candidates
CHICAGO — The Green and Libertarian parties in Illinois have filed a federal lawsuit claiming the governor’s stay-at-home order has impeded the petition process necessary to get on the November ballot. The lawsuit filed in Chicago last week alleges the directive intended to curb the spread of coronavirus has made it “practically impossible” to safely collect signatures in person. Candidates not from established parties have from March 24 until June 22 to get signatures. The lawsuit seeks to have the signature requirements waived or suspended for November. The lawsuit names Gov. J.B. Pritzker, whose office didn’t return a message Tuesday. – Associated Press
