SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The next phase began Monday in the state’s attempt to be proactive in its battle against COVID-19.
Governor JB Pritzker issued a disaster declaration, Illinois’s version of a state of emergency.
The declaration came amid four new Illinois cases being announced, bringing the state’s total to 11.
A disaster proclamation allows state and local agencies to pull from the State Disaster Relief Fund, which covers state costs to the Illinois National Guard, should it be deployed, and other aid groups.
The proclamation opens up federal reimbursement for state response costs, through the Stafford Act.
“To be clear, this declaration will build on an already-robust response that has been developed over many months and is well underway,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker also announced he anticipated imminent commercial expansion on its testing labs. Three initial labs — in Chicago, Carbondale, and Springfield — had been set up.
Additionally, voluntary surveillance testing was expanded to 15 hospitals across the state.
“We’re working together to take these steps because we want to remain proactive to contain the spread of this virus,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
13 other states have made similar disaster declarations.
The four new cases were all diagnosed in the Chicago area. A woman in her 50s and a woman in her 70s are relatives of the sixth case, announced Friday.
The patient in that case acquired the virus on a cruise ship.
Another one of the new cases is a woman in her 50s from California who traveled to Illinois.
The other patient is a woman in her 70s who traveled on an Egyptian cruise.
Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said all four newly-diagnosed patients were in good condition.
