CHICAGO, Ill. — Governor J.B. Pritzker said the number of individuals in the hospitals due to COVID-19 has risen over the past week.
The numbers are made of confirmed cases of coronavirus and those who are assumed positives. As of Sunday night 34% of the 3, 600 hospital beds are being used for COVID-19 patients.
Pritzker said the virus knows no bounds and affects everyone. He said that Cook County does have the most cases of COVID-19, but it would be a disservice to govern by the raw numbers.
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 1,980 new cases of COVID-19, including 50 additional deaths.
The state’s total number of cases rose to 45,883, including 1,983 deaths, in 96 counties.
Pritzker said he still didn’t know if large gatherings, like conventions, could take place this summer.
“It seems to me we don’t yet even have a treatment, so I don’t know people will even want to go to events like that and be in the midst of thousands of people because the idea there is some percentage likelihood you may contract COVID-19 by attending an event like that might keep people away,” he said.
“I’m not going to dictate anything. We have a stay-at-home order from now until May 30, and we’re making plans for the phased reopening of the economy.
“Large gatherings seem like harder things to get done than, for example, opening manufacturing facilities, where you could be able to keep people six feet apart, wearing PPE, and making sure lunchrooms aren’t crowded.”
To that end, he also spoke to summer sporting events.
“I want to watch a baseball game. I’m a fan and would really like for baseball to go on,” he said.
“All the pro sports leagues are having to make decisions, and more importantly, like me, they are relying upon the scientists and epidemiologists to help them figure out how to do that in a safe fashion.
“I think those are all things above my pay grade, so to speak, and something I think need to be considered by the leagues and scientists.”
