IHA Healthcare News

Get the healthcare news you need to stay on top of legislative proposals, industry trends and local issues. This section has news articles, IHA's Daily Briefing, IHA press releases and our Member News Spotlight. You can sort by category.

Featured News

COVID-19 and racism: Illinois is fighting 2 public health crises at same time, Dr. Ngozi Ezike says

Demonstrators across the country, including in the Chicago area, have been marching for justice.  ABC 7 TV

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COVID-19 and racism: Illinois is fighting 2 public health crises at same time, Dr. Ngozi Ezike says

News Articles

  • Jun 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

COVID most heavily hurts low-paid workers, many of them minority: study

People who can work from home generally earn far more than “essential” workers who had to show up despite risks from the COVID-19 pandemic or those who couldn’t work at all. Crain's

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  • Jun 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

Pritzker gives go-ahead for in-person summer school

Illinois' governor filed an executive order Thursday allowing in-person summer school class. WEEK TV

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  • Jun 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

Telehealth Pay Gaps Loom After Virus When State Orders Expire

Virtual doctor visits won’t go away after the pandemic as states like Illinois and Arkansas try to ensure telehealth remains a viable alternative. Bloomberg Law

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  • Jun 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

‘Unacceptable’ cancer risks lead to stricter rules on ethylene oxide

After determining that cancer risks are “unacceptable,” the federal government has taken an initial step to reduce the release of the gas ethylene oxide into the air. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • Jun 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

116 more die in Illinois of COVID-19 as state opens up drive-thru testing sites for all

Another 116 people have died in Illinois from COVID-19, but the state also saw another decline in the number of daily cases on Thursday. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • Jun 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

New federal data shows how COVID-19 is ripping through understaffed Illinois nursing homes

Newly released federal data shows that COVID-19 has likely infected more than 7,000 nursing home workers in Illinois. Chicago Tribune

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  • Jun 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

Latinos have the highest COVID-19 infection rate in Illinois. leaders fear things will get worse

For many in Chicago’s Latino community, the prospect of more people getting out and about sows more anxiety than optimism. Chicago Tribune

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  • Jun 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

St. Clair County hospitalizations for coronavirus decrease slightly from one-day high

The number of patients at St. Clair County hospitals with illnesses related to the coronavirus decreased Thurs.after county officials were concerned by a high number of hospitalizations Wed. BND

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  • Jun 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

Coronavirus may not be mutating, but experts say there is still potential for danger

So far, evidence does not show that the coronavirus is changing to become more severe or more transmittable, but complacency by people and local governments could increase its spread. CNN

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  • Jun 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

Her World Was Delivering Babies. Now She's Helping Save COVID-19 Patients

In early April, Northwestern Medicine CD Hospital in Winfield, Illinois, asked its nurses for volunteers to care for influx of patients with the potentially deadly respiratory virus. US News&Wrld Rpt

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  • Jun 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

Unemployment rate drops to 13.3% in May, signaling return of US jobs

The Labor Department said in its Friday report that employers added a stunning 2.5 million jobs in May the biggest increase on record. Fox Business

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  • Jun 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

Study on safety of malaria drugs for coronavirus retracted

Several authors of a large study that raised safety concerns about malaria drugs for coronavirus patients have retracted the report. AP

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  • Jun 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

‘Seize the Day’: Hoogland Center, Memorial Health System collaborate with health tips, inspiration

Pandemic panic and patience have become intertwined and strained in recent weeks. We are seemingly in a pressure cooker, seeking opportunities for release and to cope. State Jrnl-Rgstr

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  • Jun 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

CDC is worried Americans aren’t following advice as number of coronavirus cases continues to rise

Testifying before the House Approp Committee, Redfield said he sees “a lot of people” not wearing masks in D.C., where he works, while many people do wear masks in his hometown of Baltimore. CNBC

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • Daily Briefing

IHA Daily Briefing: June 4

Community-Based COVID-19 Testing Sites Open to All

Read More About IHA Daily Briefing: June 4
  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

State lawmakers seek emergency meeting of Legislature

Three members of the IL Legislature Wednesday asked for an “emergency legislative session” to address the effects of violent demonstrations & looting on local communities & criminal justice reform. AP

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Pritzker adds Lake, four downstate counties to disaster proclamation amid civil unrest

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday added north suburban Lake County and four downstate counties to his disaster proclamation to help “keep communities safe. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Illinois revenues continue to drop

Illinois tax collections fell another $341 million in May as the state continued to grapple with the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. State Journal-Register

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Illinois Becomes First to Tap Fed Loans After Yields Surge

Illinois, which has faced escalating penalties in the bond market as the coronavirus batters its finances, is poised to become the first state to borrow from the Fed Reserve. Bloomberg

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Illinois records 97 more COVID-19 deaths, another 982 infections

State health officials reported Wednesday that an additional 97 Illinois residents died from COVID-19 infections and another 982 are infected. Daily Herald

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

‘They let us down’: How the CDC fell short in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Long considered the world’s premier public health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has fallen short in its response. New York Times

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Illinois reopens virus testing sites closed due to unrest

Ten state-run testing sites for the coronavirus reopened Wednesday after Illinois officials shut them down on Sunday. Associated Press

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

ICUs Become A ‘Delirium Factory’ For COVID Patients

Doctors are fighting not only to save lives from COVID-19, but also to protect patients’ brains. Kaiser Health News

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Activists, alderman urge Mayor Lori Lightfoot to forgo contact tracing contract

Mayor Lightfoot should not hire an outside agency to oversee contract tracing for COVID-19 cases. Chicago Tribune

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Heart patients avoided ERs as coronavirus hit, US study says

ER visits in the U.S. for chest pain and heart attacks fell early this spring, according to a study that supports fears that the coronavirus outbreak scared away people from going to the hospital. AP

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

SIH pilot program bridges communication gap for patients

Hospitals in southern Illinois are helping patients stay in touch with their families. WPSD TV

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Top House, Senate lawmakers warn HHS over slow health provider aid payouts

Top House and Senate lawmakers say Trump administration delays paying out billions of dollars in emergency aid to health providers could shut down hard-hit safety net hospitals. Politico

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Fauci: Moderna’s Phase 3 Covid-19 Vaccine Trial Of 30,000 Individuals Will Begin In July

Dr. Anthony Fauci said the Phase 3 trial of Moderna’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine will begin in July and include study of 30,000 patients. Forbes

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Hydroxychloroquine fails to prevent COVID-19, large study fin

Hydroxychloroquine was no better than a placebo at preventing symptoms of COVID-19 among people exposed to the coronavirus. NBC News

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Chicago salons, restaurants with outdoor dining reopen as city moves into Phase 3

Chicago has moved into Phase 3 of reopening under Mayor Lori Lightfoot's plan Wednesday, despite the damage from looting and unrest over the past several days. ABC 7 TV

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

‘It’s catastrophic’: Chicago-area patients struggle to get medications as pharmacies close

Many Chicagoans are scrambling to get essential medications because of pharmacy closures amid unrest, and the problem is particularly acute on the city’s South Side. Chicago Trib

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  • Jun 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Springfield Officials Express Pride Over Peaceful Protest, Discuss Racial Divide In City

At Tuesday’s Springfield City Council meeting, several officials praised protesters who took the streets in the capital city for being peaceful. NPR Illinois

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • Daily Briefing

IHA's Daily Briefing: June 3

IDPH Notice re: Elective Inpatient Surgeries and Procedures

Read More About IHA's Daily Briefing: June 3
  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

Chicago mayor says city’s reopening to go on despite unrest

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Tuesday that the city will proceed this week with its next stage of reopening after coronavirus stay-at-home orders, despite days of unrest & violence. AP

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

Mercyhealth, Molina Healthcare reach deal to serve Medicaid patients

Mercyhealth says it has reached an agreement with Molina Healthcare to serve Medicaid members in the Rockford region after the health system announced the ending of the partnership earlier. WREX TV

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

Profit Margins Declined for Rural Hospital Types Except Nonprofit Critical Access Hospitals

Over a six year-period, median overall profit margins declined for all rural hospital types except for critical access hospitals (CAH), according to a Health Affairs study released. HlthLdrs Media

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot calls for unity, police reform in wake of unrest after George Floyd's D

In a special address Tuesday evening, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot called for unity in the wake of the unrest that rocked the city after George Floyd's death. ABC 7 TV

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

Lockdowns, curfews limit access to hospitals

Northwestern & other health systems are limiting services, offering tips on how to clear police checkpoints and working with law enforcement to help staff and patients get to their facilities. Crain's

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

Pritzker: ‘Structural change will come from peaceful protests’

The “structural change” demanded by protesters around Illinois will come from nonviolent demonstrations coupled with policy reforms, Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday. Capital News Illinois

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

Lawmakers want money to rebuild areas wracked by looting and reforms to end racism that ‘has torn us

African American state legislators on Tuesday called for money to rebuild, criminal justice reforms to heal. and an executive order from Gov Pritzker. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

Cause of death: COVID-19, police violence or racism?

Doctors and public health experts will tell you that, compared to white Americans, African American people die prematurely and disproportionately of many ills. LA Times

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

Protests in top 25 virus hot spots ignite fears of contagion

As demonstrators flooded streets across America to decry the killing of George Floyd, public health experts watched in alarm the close proximity of protesters and their failures to wear masks. AP

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

Numbers of daily COVID-19 tests down, 113 more COVID-19 deaths

The number of daily tests performed for COVID-19 dropped amid closures of testing facilities, Illinois Department of Public Health data indicated Tuesday. Daily Herald

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

WGN Investigates ‘excess death’ in Illinois during coronavirus pandemic

WGN Investigates has reported on the accuracy of the state’s COVID-19 death count, but now new numbers show several thousand non-coronavirus deaths in recent months. WGN  TV

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

Heartland Regional Medical Center resumes additional services under ‘Phase 3’ of reopening plan

Heartland Regional Medical Center has resumed offering its full suite of health care services as the state moves into Phase 3 of “Reopen Illinois”. The Southern

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

Hiring A Diverse Army To Track COVID-19 Amid Reopening

As a contact tracer, Teresa Ayala-Castillo is sometimes asked whether herbal teas and Vicks VapoRub can treat COVID-19. Kaiser Health News

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

AHA Asks HHS for $52B in Emergency Funding

The American Hospital Association on Tuesday pressed the federal government for an additional $52 billion in "expedited" emergency funding to help the nation's hospitals. HealthLeaders Media

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

Long-Delayed Drug-Price Bill Not Dead Yet, Grassley Says

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said that he intends to push for a vote this year on a bill that would limit drug-price increases. Bloomberg News

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  • Jun 03, 2020
  • News from the Web

Pandemic Presents New Hurdles, And Hope, For People Struggling With Addiction

Before Philadelphia shut down to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Ed had a routine: most mornings he would head to a nearby McDonald’s to brush his teeth & wash his face. KHN

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  • Jun 02, 2020
  • Daily Briefing

IHA's Daily Briefing: June 2

Chicago Moving to Phase 3 as Scheduled

Read More About IHA's Daily Briefing: June 2
  • Jun 02, 2020
  • News from the Web

Pritzker mobilizes more National Guard, declares disaster in nine counties

A day after calling up 375 members of the IL National Guard in Chicago, Gov.Pritzker announced more 250 guardsmen will be activated as he issued disaster proclamations for 9 counties. Cap News IL

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  • Jun 02, 2020
  • News from the Web

Illinois announces 23 more COVID-19 deaths, 974 new cases

State health officials announced Monday that 23 more residents have died as a result of the novel coronavirus outbreak, while another 974 are infected with the disease. Daily Herald

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  • Jun 02, 2020
  • News from the Web

Hundreds or thousands could come down with COVID-19 after Chicago protests, expert says

Mayor Lightfoot and her top public health official warned that protesters and others who gathered in groups over the weekend may have exposed themselves to COVID-19. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • Jun 02, 2020
  • News from the Web

Nearly 26,000 COVID deaths in nursing homes spur inspections

Nearly 26,000 nursing home residents have died from COVID-19, the government reported Monday, as federal officials demanded states carry out more inspections. AP

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  • Jun 02, 2020
  • News from the Web

COVID-19 highlights racial disparities in our health care system

In 60% of states for which race and ethnicity data is available on the CDC website, the distribution of COVID-19-related deaths is higher among African American and Latino communities. USA Today 

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  • Jun 02, 2020
  • News from the Web

Wearing Face Masks and Social Distancing Actually Work to Contain COVID-19, According to a New Study

The best practices for controlling an infectious disease like COVID-19 aren’t easy to follow keeping six feet apart from others, wearing face masks in public. Time

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  • Jun 02, 2020
  • News from the Web

Edward Hospital Reports 29 Coronavirus Patients, 336 Recoveries

For a bit of good news, Edward Hospital added that 336 coronavirus patients have recovered and been discharged since March 24. Patch

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  • Jun 02, 2020
  • News from the Web

MDH looks toward fall situations

Any changes for McDonough District Hospital later this year will depend on the COVID-19 environment and other needs in the community. McDonough Cnty Voice

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  • Jun 02, 2020
  • News from the Web

A new batch of data for Gilead Sciences’ remdesivir points to efficacy but it’s no ‘silver bullet’

A slice of data from the third clinical trial for Gilead Sciences Inc.’s remdesivir indicates that the experimental therapy is somewhat effective in treating COVID-19 patients. MarketWatch

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  • Jun 02, 2020
  • News from the Web

Electronic health records are supposed to reduce medical errors in hospitals. But they fail to detec

Electronic health records (EHRs) have largely replaced written medical records in hospitals across the country to reduce human error that could result in patient injury or death. USA Today

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  • Jun 02, 2020
  • News from the Web

'We Will Stand Strong And United': Mayor Lightfoot Responds To Weekend Unrest, Shares Plans To Rebui

Mayor Lightfoot joined Chicago police, fire, emergency management, and other city agencies on Monday to provide an update following weekend unrest. WBBM Radio

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  • Jun 02, 2020
  • News from the Web

Chicago hospitals cancel appointments after weekend unrest

Several Chicago-area health systems canceled patient appointments Monday following a violent weekend and disruptions to public transit schedules. Chicago Tribune

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  • Jun 02, 2020
  • News from the Web

State Lawmakers Respond to Protests, Offer Plans For Change

As outrage and protest against police brutality and racial injustice has spilled into the streets, Black Illinois state lawmakers are offering their plans for how to fix those problems.  NPR

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • Daily Briefing

IHA Daily Briefing: June 1

Guv Issues New COVID-19 Executive Orders

Read More About IHA Daily Briefing: June 1
  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Illinois enters new reopening phase; Pritzker urges caution

Pritzker ended an executive order limiting movement outside the home to necessary tasks and emergencies and allowed the state to move into a new phase of recovery. AP

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

How does Illinois advance to Phase 4 in the Restore Illinois Plan?

All four of the state's Restore Illinois health care regions advanced to Phase 3 of Gov. JB Pritzker's plan to bring the state out of a stay-at-home order while combating the pandemic. Daily Chronicle

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Illinois announces 60 more coronavirus deaths as Lightfoot weighs moving back start of Chicago’s Ph

Illinois has suffered another 60 deaths from COVID-19, health officials announced Sunday, increasing the state’s pandemic death toll to 5,390. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Protests Raise Concerns Of More COVID-19 Cases

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said he is worried the mass protests over police brutality happening across the country could spread the coronavirus. NPR Illinois

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Latest nursing home stats: 2,747 coronavirus deaths

At least 2,747 residents and employees of Illinois long-term care facilities have died after contracting the coronavirus, according to new state figures. Daily Herald

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Why some smaller hospitals treating lots of COVID patients aren’t getting ‘high-impact’ federal aid

Loretto Hospital, Norwegian American Hospital and other independent safety nets that treat large numbers of poor and uninsured patients didn’t qualify for the payments. Crain's

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Rural Clinics Receive Fed Funding For COVID Testing

U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin announced that rural health clinics in the State of Illinois will receive over $11 million in federal funding to support COVID-19 testing. WLDS Radio

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Coronavirus testing: an updated guide on what’s available, what it does, what’s coming

Much has changed about testing for current COVID-19 infection and antibody testing for past exposure. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Should I Get Tested For Coronavirus Just For The Heck Of It?

Much has changed about testing for current COVID-19 infection and antibody testing for past exposure. NPR

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Ferrell Hospital Offering Emergency Childcare

Ferrell received the funding to open the daycare through the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network. WSIU Radio

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Behind the Scenes: How NorthShore Protects Non-COVID-19 Patients

Before COVID-19, surgeons at NorthShore University HealthSystem’s four legacy hospitals conducted between 150 and 180 surgical procedures on a typical weekday. Chicago Health

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Trump cutting U.S. ties with World Health Organization over virus

The United States will end its relationship with the World Health Organization over the body’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Reuters

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Supreme Court rejects challenge to limits on church services

A divided Supreme Court on Friday rejected an emergency appeal by a CA church that challenged limits on attendance at worship services that were imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus. AP

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Biden’s ‘Medicare At 60’ Gains Momentum In Coronavirus Era

A proposal by Democrat Joe Biden to allow Americans between the ages of 60 and 64 the option of buying into Medicare is gaining more attention. Forbes

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Preckwinkle, Foxx: Don't let looters hijack reform

Cook Cnty President Preckwinkle, said those seeking change need to “transform our pain, and not let images of looting undercut calls for police reform and justice for black&brown communities.Crain's

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Overdose Deaths Have Skyrocketed in Chicago, And The Coronavirus Pandemic May Be Making It Worse

As COVID-19 kills thousands in Chicago and across Illinois, the opioid epidemic has intensified its own deadly siege away from the spotlight. Block Club Chicago
 

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

82 shot, 19 fatally, over Chicago’s most violent weekend of 2020

Nineteen people were killed and at least 63 others were wounded by gun violence in Chicago’s most violent weekend of the year so far. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Cook County Health narrows CEO Field to 12, plans to open another building at jail for COVID-19 resp

The pool of candidates to lead Cook County’s health apparatus has narrowed from 150 to 12, a handful have  been interviewed, and the window to apply for the position will soon close. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

New payment model at Cook County Medicaid plan

As fewer patients seek medical care amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Cook County Health’s Medicaid plan is instituting a new payment model to support some clinics in vulnerable communities. Crain's

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

AMITA Health Names New CSO

AMITA Health appointed Elyse Forkosh Cutler as its new chief strategy officer (CSO), according to a press release issued Friday afternoon. HealthLeaders Media

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  • Jun 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Officials Haven’t Determined If Chicago Can Enter Phase 3 of Reopening After Unrest: Lightfoot

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Sunday that she and other officials have not determined whether the city can move into the next phase of its reopening. NBC 5 TV

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  • May 29, 2020
  • Daily Briefing

IHA Daily Briefing: May 29

IHA Urges HHS to Provide Funds to High-Impact Areas

Read More About IHA Daily Briefing: May 29
  • May 28, 2020
  • Daily Briefing

IHA Daily Briefing: May 28

Illinois Moving to Phase 3 Reopening Tomorrow

Read More About IHA Daily Briefing: May 28
  • May 27, 2020
  • News from the Web

New COVID-19 cases confirmed in southern Illinois

Multiple southern Illinois health departments in the Local 6 area reported new COVID-19 cases Tuesday. WPSD TV

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  • May 27, 2020
  • News from the Web

Weekly COVID-19 deaths in Illinois decline for first time during pandemic

For the first time since Illinois had its first reported case of COVID-19 in January, the state saw fewer deaths in a week than in the previous week. The Southern

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  • May 27, 2020
  • News from the Web

Coronavirus in Illinois: A Day in the Life During the Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic looks different for everyone, even as we're all affected by it. NBC 5 TV Chicago

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  • May 27, 2020
  • News from the Web

Packed crowds spark pandemic alarms as states reopen

Health experts are growing alarmed after seeing photos and videos of big crowds over Memorial Day weekend. The Hill

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  • May 27, 2020
  • Daily Briefing

IHA Daily Briefing: May 27

Chicago Releases Phase 3 Reopening Guidelines

Read More About IHA Daily Briefing: May 27
  • May 27, 2020
  • News from the Web

The final data for remdesivir is in

Remdesivir, officially branded as Veklury, does work for patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to expert reads of the data that were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Axios

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  • May 27, 2020
  • News from the Web

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot releases guidelines for phase 3 of city’s reopening plan

Mayor Lightfoot announced specific rules for the reopening of restaurants, childcare facilities and some industries as part of phase 3 of Chicago’s reemergence from stay-at-home order. Chicago Tribune

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  • May 27, 2020
  • IL Hospitals Doing More

OSF HealthCare reminds people to take care of primary care health needs

Services that had been temporarily closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are starting to reopen. WAND TV

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  • May 26, 2020
  • News from the Web

Employees in Illinois just became safer from COVID-19 in the workplace. Find out how.

A compromise bill between business and labor which deals with COVID-19 and workers’ compensation passed the House with broad bipartisan support and will head to the governor. Belleville News Democrat

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  • May 26, 2020
  • News from the Web

Restore Illinois commission bill passes after removal of remote session, FOIA delay language

The removed measures would have temporarily delayed Freedom of Information Act law requirements and allowed the General Assembly to meet remotely during a pandemic. Journal Gazette – Times Courier

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  • May 26, 2020
  • News from the Web

Pritzker speeds up reopening of child care centers in Illinois

Child care centers in Illinois have been put on a fast-track to reopen. The Center Square

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  • May 26, 2020
  • News from the Web

DOJ intervenes in case challenging Illinois coronavirus restrictions, says governor went too far

The Dept. of Justice intervened in an Illinois case that has potential to invalidate the state’s stay-at-home order while warning LA's mayor that a lengthy lockdown could be "arbitrary." Fox News

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  • May 26, 2020
  • News from the Web

Deaths Linked to COVID-19 Drop to 7-Week Low, IDPH Data Shows

On Monday, Illinois recorded its fewest number of deaths linked to the coronavirus since early April, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health. WTTW TV

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  • May 26, 2020
  • IL Hospitals Doing More

'It's a nightmare': COVID-19 survivors cope with the virus aftermath

They don't know where they got it. Or how. Or why. Daily Herald

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  • May 26, 2020
  • IL Hospitals Doing More

Our Health: Getting an overall picture of the COVID-19 pandemic

With 14 hospitals, more than 350 clinics and millions of patient interactions every year, OSF HealthCare wanted to easily track COVID-19 activity as the disease made its way to Illinois. The Telegraph

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  • May 26, 2020
  • IL Hospitals Doing More

A Nurse With One Lung Had COVID-19. Other Nurses Saved Her.

When Crystal Holloway entered the room of Northwestern Memorial Hospital to introduce herself to a new patient, Tanya was so out of breath, Holloway remembered, she could barely speak. ProPublica

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  • May 26, 2020
  • News from the Web

OSF HealthCare leaders say the mental health of employees is crucial

The constant battle against COVID-19 can take a toll on health care workers’ mental health. WMBD TV

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  • May 26, 2020
  • IL Hospitals Doing More

How Illinois engineered an innovative new ventilator: BTN LiveBIG

In March, the Carle Foundation Hospital, the teaching facility for the University of Illinois' Carle College of Medicine, reached out to university colleagues for assistance with a dire problem. BTN

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  • May 26, 2020
  • News from the Web

One German church service resulted in more than 100 coronavirus infections

The outbreak highlights the risks that accompany easing lockdowns even in countries that have managed to control the spread of the virus relatively well. Vox

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  • May 26, 2020
  • News from the Web

Memorial Day Weekend crowds trigger virus warnings, from Lake of the Ozarks to Daytona Beach

The Memorial Day weekend meant crowds at beaches and warnings from authorities on people disregarding distancing rules and risking a resurgence of the virus that's killed nearly 100,000 in US. Fortune

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  • May 26, 2020
  • News from the Web

A Coronavirus Fad Or The Future Of Medicine? Telehealth Is Having A Moment

Telehealth is having a moment. WBUR

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  • May 26, 2020
  • News from the Web

How to Create an N95 Mask Disinfection Facility for Less Than $15,000

A VCU Health orthopaedic surgeon and his colleagues created this innovation. Health Leaders Media

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  • May 26, 2020
  • News from the Web

Lightfoot 'cautiously optimistic' city on track to reopen in early June

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Friday that she is "cautiously optimistic" the city is on track to move to the third phase of reopening plans by early June. Fox 32 TV

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  • May 26, 2020
  • News from the Web

Government funding to fuel South Side hospital merger falls through

Hundreds of millions of dollars in government funds needed to support the merger of four financially struggling South Side hospitals fell through today in Springfield. Crain’s Chicago Business

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  • May 26, 2020
  • News from the Web

Chicago’s deadliest Memorial Day weekend since 2015: 10 shot dead, 38 wounded

Despite the state’s stay-at-home order, the weekend’s death toll surpassed last year’s holiday weekend when seven people were killed and 34 were injured. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • May 26, 2020
  • Daily Briefing

IHA Daily Briefing: May 26

General Assembly Adjourns Unprecedented Spring Session

Read More About IHA Daily Briefing: May 26
  • May 21, 2020
  • News from the Web

Apple, Google release technology for coronavirus-tracking apps

Apple and Google on Wednesday released long-awaited smartphone technology to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus. MarketWatch

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  • May 21, 2020
  • News from the Web

Moderna CEO says coronavirus vaccine could be ready by end of year

The CEO of Moderna, one of the biotech companies working to develop a coronavirus vaccine, said on Wednesday that one could be ready to be sent to FDA by the end of this year. The Hill

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  • May 21, 2020
  • News from the Web

Bare-faced Bailey gets the boot: Downstate Republican ousted from House for violating COVID-19 rules

Rep. Darren Bailey was booted from the Illinois House with the help of some of his fellow Republicans after refusing to wear a face covering during the first of three House sessions. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • May 19, 2020
  • News from the Web

Gov. Pritzker to kick off campaign to address disparities in COVID-19 deaths

Pritzker's administration will release a set of videos and radio announcements featuring key influences from black and brown communities who reiterate the need to practice social distancing. ABC 7 TV

Read More
  • May 19, 2020
  • News from the Web

Minorities, elderly represent higher rates of COVID-19 infections, deaths

Higher rates of COVID-19 infections and deaths among suburban minority communities and the elderly population is concerning health officials. Daily Herald

Read More
  • May 19, 2020
  • News from the Web

Latino leaders cite need for more COVID-19 testing in suburbs

Suburban Latino community leaders and lawmakers are calling for increased access to testing, screening sites, bilingual contact tracing, PPE and education to help stem COVID-19. Daily Herald

Read More
  • May 19, 2020
  • News from the Web

Black healthcare workers hit harder during pandemic, paper finds

Experts say healthcare workers of color could face some of the same disproportionate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as minority patients, according to a new paper. Modern Healthcare

Read More
  • May 19, 2020
  • News from the Web

Pandemic threatens to deepen crisis in mental health care

More than three weeks after Brandon Bell stopped showing up at a New York office that serves people with schizophrenia, employees finally located him at a nearby homeless shelter. Associated Press

Read More
  • May 19, 2020
  • News from the Web

Feds urge ‘extreme caution’ for reopening nursing homes

Authorities urge governors to use extreme caution in deciding when to resume visits at nursing homes saying it should be when residents, staff tested negative for at least 28 days. Associated Press

Read More
  • May 19, 2020
  • News from the Web

Lawsuit claims negligence in coronavirus-related death of resident at Bria of Geneva nursing home

The family of a woman who died with COVID-19 at a Geneva nursing home filed a lawsuit alleging the facility left its residents vulnerable by failing to follow basic precautions. Chicago Tribune

Read More
  • May 19, 2020
  • News from the Web

CDC warns of possible measles outbreak as vaccinations for children fall during pandemic

Routine vaccinations for young children in the US fell during the first half of this year as more Americans skipped routine doctor visits and stayed home, according to a report. CNBC

Read More
  • May 18, 2020
  • News from the Web

Illinois task force studying mysterious Coronavirus-related illness in children

A mysterious Coronavirus-related illness that only effects children is being reported around the world, including right here in Illinois. WICS/WRSP TV

Read More
  • May 18, 2020
  • News from the Web

She was about to give birth when she learned she had COVID-19. Here’s what happened next.

Faber knew what was about to happen, as she labored with her third child, breathing heavily through a face mask. Chicago Tribune

Read More
  • May 18, 2020
  • News from the Web

Financially devastated hospitals and health systems face an uncertain future

When it comes to keeping Wilmington Health afloat, every option is on the table. Modern Healthcare

Read More
  • May 18, 2020
  • News from the Web

After patient volume collapsed amid the coronavirus pandemic, some see signs of recovery

Hospital patient volumes declined steeply in March and April amid mass suspension of elective procedures, industry watchers and hospital executives say. HFMA

Read More
  • May 14, 2020
  • News from the Web

IDPH is prioritizing testing at long-term care facilities in Illinois

Governor JB Prizker's Wednesday afternoon briefing he addressed some concerns about the health and well being of residents and employees of long-term care facilities. WAND TV

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  • May 14, 2020
  • News from the Web

Virus spikes could emerge weeks after US economic reopenings

States are beginning to restart their economies after months of lockdowns but it could take weeks until it becomes clear whether those reopenings will cause a spike in COVID-19 cases. Associated Press

Read More
  • May 14, 2020
  • News from the Web

Abbott Virus Test Used at White House Faces Accuracy Concern

The COVID-19 test used at the White House to get rapid answers to whether someone is infected may miss as many as half of positive cases, according to a report from New York University. Bloomberg News

Read More
  • May 14, 2020
  • News from the Web

Racial Status And The Pandemic: A Combustible Mixture

In early March, Madalynn Rucker, then 69, agonized over whether to close her Sacramento consultancy office. Kaiser Health News

Read More
  • May 14, 2020
  • News from the Web

As elective surgeries resume, out-of-state patients flock to Illinois doctors

Robin and her husband set out on a 10-hour drive from Pennsylvania to Oak Park where to undergo an overdue surgery just two days after Illinois resumed elective procedures. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • May 14, 2020
  • News from the Web

Contact tracing is key to fighting COVID-19 in Illinois. Here’s how you can help.

Imagine picking up the phone to call a stranger who has just been diagnosed with coronavirus. Belleville News Democrat

Read More
  • May 14, 2020
  • News from the Web

Private equity firms now control many hospitals, ERs and nursing homes. Is it good for health care?

In March, as the coronavirus gripped the nation, veteran emergency room doctor Ming Lin was growing concerned. NBC News

Read More
  • May 14, 2020
  • News from the Web

Chicago, Rockford, Joliet dioceses: State OKs plan to start reopening churches as soon as May 23

Catholic churches could start reopening as soon as May 23 under a plan Chicago-area church leaders say is approved by the state. Daily Herald

Read More
  • May 13, 2020
  • News from the Web

Structural racism responsible for high rate of COVID-19 deaths among African Americans

Established structural racism, from substandard housing to mass incarceration to limited jobs, are responsible for the disproportionate toll COVID-19 is taking on African Americans. Chicago Tribune

Read More
  • May 13, 2020
  • News from the Web

Hospitals turn to online matchmakers to swap supplies

Facing shortages of protective equipment, two New England hospital systems tried the latest twist in internet matchmaking: online swap meets. Fox Illinois

Read More
  • May 12, 2020
  • News from the Web

Chicago to open 6 more testing sites, will work with Sean Penn’s charity for goal of 10,000 tests/da

To address disparities among black and brown residents while ramping up Chicago COVID-19 testing, Mayor Lightfoot will add six new sites with an assist from actor Sean Penn’s charity. Chicago Tribune

Read More
  • May 12, 2020
  • News from the Web

Mayor Lightfoot: COVID-19 ‘Testing Network’ Opens In Chicago This Week

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the opening of half a dozen more COVID-19 testing sites throughout the city with at least one to be dedicated to first responders. CBS 2 TV

Read More
  • May 12, 2020
  • News from the Web

‘An Arm And A Leg’: Health Care Takes A Financial Hit In The Midst Of Pandemic

You’ve probably noticed that the U.S. economy is crashing. Kaiser Health News

Read More
  • May 12, 2020
  • News from the Web

4 aftershocks of the coronavirus pandemic that will be felt for years

US health system is enduring a shock during the coronavirus pandemic and the aftershocks will continue to be felt long after the virus itself has been contained. Vox

Read More
  • May 12, 2020
  • News from the Web

Hospitals at center of fight over liability protections in coronavirus relief bill

The issue of liability protections has been a major sticking point in crafting another trillion-dollar-plus virus relief bill aimed primarily at buoying devastated state and local budgets. Politico

Read More
  • May 12, 2020
  • News from the Web

CMS wants to boost inpatient hospital payments by 1.6%

The agency's proposed inpatient prospective payment system, or IPPS, rule would increase operating payments by about 2.5%. Modern Healthcare

Read More
  • May 12, 2020
  • News from the Web

5 Guidelines for Transferring Nursing Home Residents to Hospitals During the Coronavirus Pandemic

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, patient transfers between nursing homes and hospitals require heightened consideration, a recent journal article says. HealthLeaders Media

Read More
  • May 11, 2020
  • News from the Web

4 Chicago Companies Will Produce 1 Million Masks For Residents

Chicago partnered with designers to create 250,000 cloth masks to distribute to aldermanic offices and another 750,000 to be provided to vulnerable low-income residents. WBBM Radio

Read More
  • May 11, 2020
  • News from the Web

U.S. companies kept shipping masks overseas even as hospitals ran out and despite warnings

US companies continued their massive sell-off of medical masks overseas throughout March, well after the virus began draining hospitals of supplies and even as officials raised red flags. USA Today

Read More
  • May 11, 2020
  • News from the Web

Here’s how Mayor Lori Lightfoot hopes to reopen Chicago

Lori Lightfoot on Friday unveiled what she called a “Protecting Chicago framework” to guide the slow, but steady reopening of a city economy ground to a halt by the coronavirus. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • May 11, 2020
  • News from the Web

As Hospitals Lose Revenue, More Than A Million Health Care Workers Lose Jobs

Michelle Sweeney could barely sleep. The nurse in Plymouth, Mass., had just learned she would be furloughed. NPR Illinois

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  • May 11, 2020
  • News from the Web

Lamar Alexander knocks Trump for pushing ahead with Obamacare lawsuit

Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R) expressed disapproval of the Trump administration's decision to continue backing a lawsuit to strike down the entire Affordable Care Act. Axios

Read More
  • May 11, 2020
  • News from the Web

Senators probe Medline about ‘Project Air Bridge,’ say ‘the American people need an explanation’

Two US senators are probing Medline and others involved in a Trump administration venture branded Project Air Bridge which flies into the US vital medical supplies in short supply.  Chicago Sun-Times

Read More
  • May 08, 2020
  • News from the Web

Another 138 dead from COVID-19, 2,641 more infected

State health officials announced Thursday that another 138 people have died from the coronavirus and another 2,641 are infected. Daily Herald

Read More
  • May 08, 2020
  • News from the Web

COVID-19 test shortages persist in Illinois, crimping plans for return to normal

Nearly seven weeks into Illinois COVID-19 state of emergency, the ABC7 I-Team learned that there is still a critical shortage of major testing components, hampering plans to return to normal. ABC 7 TV

Read More
  • May 08, 2020
  • News from the Web

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announcement of reopening plan rescheduled

Mayor Lightfoot was originally scheduled to announce the outline of the plan at 1 p.m. Thursday. ABC 7 TV

Read More
  • May 08, 2020
  • News from the Web

Travel From New York City Seeded Wave of U.S. Outbreaks

NYC’s virus outbreak grew so large that the city became the primary source of new infections in the US as thousands of infected people traveled and seeded outbreaks around the country. New York Times

Read More
  • May 08, 2020
  • News from the Web

U.S. Coronavirus Testing Still Falls Short. How's Your State Doing?

To safely phase out social distancing measures, the U.S. needs more diagnostic testing for the coronavirus, experts say. NPR

Read More
  • May 08, 2020
  • News from the Web

Americans more worried about reopening too quickly than not opening quickly enough, survey shows

As states begin reopening, a survey shows most Americans are more worried about social distancing measures being loosened too quickly then are worried about not reopening quickly enough. USA Today

Read More
  • May 08, 2020
  • News from the Web

A record 20.5 million jobs were lost in April as unemployment rate jumps to 14.7%

The impact of the economic shutdown tore through the US labor market at historic levels, slashing 20.5 million workers from nonfarm payrolls, sending the unemployment rate skyrocketing to 14.7%. CNBC

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  • May 08, 2020
  • News from the Web

Hospitals ask federal court to toss rule on negotiated rates

Hospitals pushed a federal judge to throw out a rule that would force them to disclose prices they negotiate with health insurers, saying Congress didn't give HHS the power to do it. Modern Healthcare

Read More
  • May 08, 2020
  • News from the Web

Obamacare Enrollees in Less Danger of Losing Subsidies Under Rule

Consumers who allow their Obamacare plans to be automatically re-enrolled in 2021 won’t face the loss of subsidies under a final rule released by the Dept. of Health and Human Services. Bloomberg Law

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  • May 08, 2020
  • News from the Web

After Recovery From the Coronavirus, Most People Carry Antibodies

A new study offers a hope in the grim fight against COVID-19: Nearly everyone who has had the disease regardless of age, sex or severity of illness makes antibodies to the virus. New York Times

Read More
  • May 08, 2020
  • News from the Web

Malaria drug shows no benefit in another coronavirus study

A new study finds no evidence of benefit from a malaria drug widely promoted as a treatment for coronavirus infection. PBS News

Read More
  • May 07, 2020
  • News from the Web

States cut Medicaid as millions of jobless workers look to safety net

States facing sudden drops in tax revenue amid the pandemic are announcing deep cuts to their Medicaid programs just as millions of newly jobless Americans are surging onto the rolls. Politico

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  • May 07, 2020
  • News from the Web

Justices wary of ‘Obamacare’ birth control coverage changes

The Supreme Court seemed concerned about the sweep of Trump administration rules that would allow more employers to opt out of providing no-cost birth control as required by the ACA. Associated Press

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  • May 07, 2020
  • News from the Web

Ogle and Lee county leaders propose their own re-opening plan

Leaders from Ogle and Lee counties say they are submitting their own re-opening plan to Illinois Gov. Prtizker for approval, a day after the governor announced a 5-phase Reopen Illinois plan. WTVO TV

Read More
  • May 07, 2020
  • News from the Web

Illinois nursing home strike averted as tentative agreement reached between union workers, companies

Workers from about 100 nursing homes across Illinois who were on the verge of striking reached a tentative agreement for a two-year contract with nursing home owners. Chicago Tribune

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  • May 07, 2020
  • News from the Web

COVID-19 contact tracing training program now accepting applicants at Oakton Community College

A suburban community college is answering the government’s call to help create an army of contact tracers needed to track and stop the spread of COVID-19. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • May 07, 2020
  • News from the Web

Amid apparent virus plateau, Pritzker says stay the course

Illinois Department of Public Health reported the virus has now sickened 68,232 residents and is linked to 2,974 deaths. Capitol News Illinois

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  • May 07, 2020
  • News from the Web

Region's 22.8% infection rate well above threshold for loosening restrictions

One key requirement for moving to a less restrictive phase of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's economic restoration plan is 14 consecutive days of no more than 20% of COVID-19 tests being positive. Daily Herald

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  • May 07, 2020
  • News from the Web

Chicago can’t reopen without decrease in the number of coronavirus cases, Mayor Lori Lightfoot says

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city can’t reopen without a decrease in the number of coronavirus cases, “which we have not seen yet at all.” Chicago Tribune

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  • May 07, 2020
  • News from the Web

Pritzker, Lightfoot respond to surge of COVID-19 cases among Hispanics

Coronavirus cases are surging in Illinois’ Hispanic population, state and local officials said Wednesday. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • May 07, 2020
  • News from the Web

Coronavirus Chicago: Mayor Lori Lightfoot to outline reopening plan

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is expected Thursday afternoon to outline a framework for what it will take to re-open Chicago. ABC News

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  • May 07, 2020
  • News from the Web

Pritzker stresses importance of wearing a mask, addresses mask-related discrimination

Speaking during his daily press briefing, the governor spoke about wearing face coverings and the impact it can have on you and the community. WREX TV

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  • May 07, 2020
  • News from the Web

Kids sick with mysterious illness possibly linked to COVID-19; symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease

There are cases in Chicago of a mysterious illness impacting children that may be connected to COVID-19. ABC 7 TV

Read More
  • May 07, 2020
  • News from the Web

Trump administration shelves CDC guide to reopening country

The Trump administration shelved detailed documents by the nation's top disease investigators with step-by-step advice to local leaders on when and how to reopen public places. Associated Press

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  • May 07, 2020
  • News from the Web

Trump says coronavirus task force will continue 'indefinitely,' shift focus to reopening and vaccine

Pres. Trump said coronavirus task force would continue indefinitely but shift focus to safely re-opening the country after indications that officials were considering winding the group down. Fox News

Read More
  • May 07, 2020
  • IL Hospitals Doing More

Local nurses shine a light into their worlds during pandemic

The fallout of COVID-19 is changing the lives of people across the globe, but those who face the virus head on said they’ve been trained for this. WMBD TV

Read More
  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

Illinois Blue Cross parent names new CEO

The parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois is promoting its president to CEO.  Crain’s Chicago Business

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  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

Pritzker outlines regional reopening as state records 176 new COVID-19 deaths

As the state saw its largest single-day spike in COVID-19 deaths with 176 more dead, Gov. J.B. Pritzker unveiled a plan to reopen four different regions of the state in five phases. Daily Herald

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  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

Pritzker Outlines 5-Phase Plan to Reopen Illinois, Region by Region

A plan is in place to reopen Illinois, even as the number of coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise. WTTW TV

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  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

On Deadliest Day Yet, Dr. Ezike Begs Antsy Illinoisans To Stay Inside: ‘We’re Still At War’

“If this was a traditional war [with] soldiers outside ...and people were risking their lives to be outside of their homes, no one would think about getting their dog groomed." Block Club Chicago

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  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

Health care advocates say legal lifting of stay-at-home order would be ‘devastating’

The novel coronavirus pandemic’s historic impact on Illinois warrants Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order, four state health care advocacy organizations argue in a court filing. The Southern

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  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

Latino communities in Illinois see uptick in COVID-19 cases: ‘Physical distancing is a privilege'

As a wave of infections spreads through Latino neighborhoods in Chicago, one site has seen people so sick with the new coronavirus that they’ve passed out while waiting to get tested. Chicago Tribune

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  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

Scientists say a now-dominant strain of the coronavirus appears to be more contagious than original

Scientists have identified a new strain of the coronavirus that has become dominant worldwide and appears to be more contagious than the versions that spread early in the pandemic. Los Angeles Times

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  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

The second virus wave: How bad will it be as lockdowns ease?

From Italy to Kansas, health authorities are increasingly warning that the question isn't whether a second wave of coronavirus infections and deaths will hit, but when and how badly. Associated Press

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  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

States Look To University Labs To Help Increase COVID-19 Testing Capacity

But many say their efforts to ramp up testing are still being hampered by a shortage of supplies. Illinois Newsroom

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  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

Hospital bed capacity OK in Peru, Spring Valley, Mendota

With more testing, the number of cases hasn't been declining in La Salle County: a second death, two new cases were reported Tuesday, 11 cases on Saturday and 12 cases about a week ago. News Tribune

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  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

Trump looks to wind down coronavirus task force as early as this month, Pence says

President Trump is moving to wind down the coronavirus task force as early as this month, a major shift in the White House strategy for responding to the greatest health crisis in a century. USA Today

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  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

US infection rate rising outside New York as states open up

Aside from the New York area, the numbers show the rest of the US is moving in the wrong direction, with the known infection rate rising as states move to lift lockdowns. Associated Press

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  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

AHA Says COVID-19-related Losses for Hospitals Will Surpass $200B

A new AHA report projects that the nation's hospitals will book $202.6 billion in losses through the end of June due to the coronavirus pandemic. HealthLeaders Media

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  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

Barr urges Trump administration to back off call to fully strike down Obamacare

Attorney General Barr made a last-minute push to persuade the administration to modify its position in the Obamacare dispute that will be heard at the Supreme Court this fall. CNN

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  • May 06, 2020
  • News from the Web

Supreme Court set to hear Obamacare case argued by phone

The Supreme Court's third day of hearing arguments by telephone is its first chance at a high-profile case, this one involving the Affordable Care Act. Associated Press

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  • May 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

Coronavirus Hospitalizations Drop Slightly In Illinois For First Time

COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state declined over the past week for the first time but over 4,400 people remain hospitalized, thousands of new cases continue to be confirmed. Block Club Chicago

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  • May 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

Three potential futures for Covid-19: recurring small outbreaks, a monster wave, or a persistent cri

As epidemiologists try to scope out what Covid-19 has in store for the US, they see several potential futures, differing by how often and how severely the virus continues to wallop humankind. Stat

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  • May 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

How Plasma From Recovered COVID-19 Patients Could Offer a Cure

Patients who have recovered from COVID-19 may have something special to help current patients recover, and it’s in their blood. WTTW TV
 

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  • May 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

US to rein in flood of virus blood tests after lax oversight

U.S. regulators Monday pulled back a decision that allowed scores of coronavirus blood tests to hit the market without first providing proof that they worked. Associated Press

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  • May 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

Coronavirus brought doctor visits by phone to Illinois. Is telemedicine here to stay?

Many in Illinois have been hearing terms such as "telehealth," "telemedicine" and "teletherapy" for the first time in recent weeks. Herald Review

Read More
  • May 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

Pandemic Hits Academic Hospitals Hard

The pandemic and the financial ruin it brought has left no industry or institution unharmed, including the institutions playing a key role in ending it: academic hospitals. Inside Higher Ed

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  • May 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

Senate reopens despite risks as House preps more virus aid

The Senate reopened Monday but prospects for quick action on a new aid package are uncertain with a deepening debate over how best to confront the pandemic. Associated Press

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  • May 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

Historic financial decline hits doctors, dentists and hospitals threatening overall economy

The healthcare industry is suffering a historic collapse in business that is emerging as one of the most powerful forces hurting the U.S. economy and a threat to a potential recovery. Washington Post

Read More
  • May 05, 2020
  • News from the Web

Longtime Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley dies overnight

Longtime Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley, 56, was pronounced dead Monday morning, officials confirmed. Northwest Herald

Read More
  • May 04, 2020
  • Member News Spotlight

County, hospitals working together toward reopening

While keeping restrictions for COVID-19, Kankakee County officials and local hospitals turn their attention to the future reopening of the community once the stay at home rules subside. Daily Journal

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  • May 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Gowns for Medical Staff, Made Of Same Material As Masks, In Short Supply

The scramble for N95 masks has become less intense for many hospitals because of increased production. NPR

Read More
  • May 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Health official says US missed some chances to slow virus

The US government was slow to understand how much coronavirus was spreading from Europe which helped drive the acceleration of outbreaks across the nation, a top health official said. Associated Press

Read More
  • May 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

‘People are frightened’: Across rural Illinois, economic frustrations mix with anxiety over COVID-19

Cindy Backstein worries about her 88-year-old mother, who lives in a locked-down Jasper County nursing home where dozens of people have been infected with COVID-19. Chicago Tribune

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  • May 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

US allows use of 1st drug shown to help virus recovery

US regulators allowed emergency use of the first drug that appears to help some virus patients recover faster, a milestone in the global search for therapies against COVID-19. Associated Press

Read More
  • May 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Roche wins U.S. nod for COVID-19 antibody test, aims to boost output

Roche won emergency approval from the FDA for an antibody test to determine whether people have ever been infected with the coronavirus, the Swiss drug maker said on Sunday. Reuters

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  • May 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Hospitals ask Congress for another $100 billion COVID-19 bailout

Hospital groups are asking Congress to forgive more than $100 billion in loans the Trump administration has handed out to help providers maintain cash flow during the pandemic. Modern Heatlhcare

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  • May 04, 2020
  • News from the Web

Hospital stays, revenues down as nonpandemic patients steer clear

Fears of swamped hospitals overrun with COVID-19 patients are not playing out across the suburbs or in many places across the nation, hospital officials and industry reports say. Daily Herald

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  • May 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Governor extends Illinois stay-at-home order to May 30

The statewide stay-at-home order will extend to May 30 with some changes, including mandatory face mask usage in restrictive public spaces, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday. Press Mentor

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  • May 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Pritzker addresses stay-at-home order changes, church’s planned gathering

Illinois officials on Thursday said increased COVID-19 testing is "vital" to reopening the state’s economy, lifting social restrictions and protecting Illinois residents. State Journal-Register

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  • May 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Suicides of two health care workers hint at the Covid-19 mental health crisis to come

The U.S. entered a grim new chapter in the virus saga with the recent deaths by suicide of two healthcare workers on the front lines of the fight against Covid-19 in New York City. Stat

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  • May 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

With 65 new free testing sites added, Illinois has run nearly 100K coronavirus tests in past week

Gov. Pritzker: 177 public sites now offer free COVID-19 testing statewide with 65 new sites since Pritzker reported last week that Illinois reached the goal of 10,000 tests a day. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • May 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Illinois Latinos surpass African Americans in coronavirus cases

Latino community in Illinois has surpassed African Americans in confirmed COVID-19 cases and could have the greatest number of patients among all races and ethnic groups within days. Chicago Sun-Times

Read More
  • May 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

Illinois hospitals are resuming more surgeries, but some patients may still have to wait

When Brandi Corbello was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma last year, she felt as if her normally stable life was suddenly out of control. Chicago Tribune

Read More
  • May 01, 2020
  • Member News Spotlight

Southern Illinois hospitals to resume elective surgeries, procedures as early as Friday

As COVID-19 spread in the United States, hospitals across the country postponed nonessential and elective procedures and surgeries to conserve resources for the care of infected patients. The Southern

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  • May 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

“The show must go on”: Evanston’s new and expecting mothers confront anxiety, isolation

Tracy Henriques, who’s expecting to give birth at NorthShore Evanston Hospital at the end of May, said she’s concerned about having a baby while wearing a mask. Daily Northwestern

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  • May 01, 2020
  • News from the Web

County health officials hope to interview potential CEO candidates as early as May or June

Surging ahead with their search for a top Cook County healthcare leader despite the pandemic, officials expect to begin interviewing candidates starting in May or June at the latest. Chicago Sun-Times

Read More
  • Apr 29, 2020
  • News from the Web

Some doctors says they believe patients are staying away from hospitals, fearing COVID-19

They are fully staffed with doctors and nurses in the emergency room at West Suburban Hospital, in fact they say they have more than they need. ABC 7 TV

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  • Apr 29, 2020
  • News from the Web

Trump says US will be able to run 5 million COVID-19 tests per day very soon despite shortages

Pres. Donald Trump said Tuesday the U.S. will “very soon” run 5 million coronavirus tests per day, even as the lack of testing remains an obstacle for many states anxious to reopen for business. CNBC

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  • Apr 29, 2020
  • News from the Web

Trump says virus testing ‘not a problem,’ but doubts persist

The White House released new guidelines aimed at answering criticism that America’s virus testing has been too slow, and President Trump tried to focus on reopening the nation. Associated Press

Read More
  • Apr 29, 2020
  • Member News Spotlight

Nearly 500 face shields donated to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center

Lake Land College, Pilson’s Auto Center, and Libman Company are doing more to help a local hospital's staff. WICS/WRSP TV

Read More
  • Apr 29, 2020
  • News from the Web

Post-pandemic recovery depends on ‘a whole new class of jobs’ to help people feel safe in public

Mayor Lightfoot said she expects a “whole new class of jobs that didn’t exist before” to be created by the need to reassure people it’s safe to begin congregating in public again. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • Apr 29, 2020
  • Press Release

Health Care Organizations Speak Out Against Legal Challenge to Stay-at-Home Order

IHA, along with ANA, ISAPN and ISMS, submitted an amicus brief on April 29 in the legal case challenging Governor Pritzker's stay-at-home executive order.

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  • Apr 29, 2020
  • News from the Web

Elective medical procedures now allowed under Pritzker's modified order

The modified stay at home order will be instituted on May 1st, which will allow medical facilities to perform elective procedures again as of May 11th. ABC 20 TV

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  • Apr 29, 2020
  • News from the Web

Chicago Hospital Sues Illinois Over Medicaid Pay ‘Crisis’

Chicago’s St. Anthony Hospital sued Illinois’ Medicaid agency in federal court, alleging the agency violated federal law. Bloomberg Law

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  • Apr 29, 2020
  • Member News Spotlight

Perry Memorial Hospital Board appoints Patricia Luker as interim CEO

The Perry Memorial Hospital Board of Directors announced Tuesday the appointment of Patricia Luker as interim CEO effective May 4. BCR News

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  • Apr 29, 2020
  • News from the Web

St. Louis County COVID-19 deaths jump 19% Tuesday as toll rises in Missouri, Illinois

Deaths in St. Louis County connected to the pandemic rose by 25 Tuesday to 157, according to the county. St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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  • Apr 28, 2020
  • News from the Web

Leaders in counties with worst COVID-19 death rates say measures go too far: ‘They was dying anyway’

Downstate Jasper County has seen only three residents die of COVID-19, and Monroe County only ten. Chicago Sun-Times

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  • Apr 27, 2020
  • News from the Web

Please Do Not Eat Disinfectant

There is no evidence that sunlight can cure coronavirus on the human body. New York Times

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  • Apr 24, 2020
  • News from the Web

Illinois’ stay-at-home order will extend through May 31, require masks in public due to coronavirus

Governor Pritzker will extend Illinois' stay-at-home order through May 31, although the modified order will slightly ease some restrictions while implementing new ones as well. WGN TV

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  • Apr 24, 2020
  • News from the Web

Illinois officials say the state is hitting its COVID-19 peak — and that’s actually good news

For weeks, Illinois officials have said the state has been “bending the curve” on the COVID-19 pandemic’s rate of growth. Chicago Tribune

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  • Apr 24, 2020
  • News from the Web

Postponed elective surgeries one reason Chicago area hospitals not overwhelmed during COVID-19

When the Surgeon General recommended elective surgeries be halted in mid-March so hospitals could save precious medical protective gear, and hospital beds, thousands were told to wait. ABC 7 V

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  • Apr 24, 2020
  • News from the Web

Hospitals Take Huge Financial Hits Because Of COVID-19

Many hospitals are struggling financially right now, and in some cases, jobs are on the line. CBS 2 TV

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  • Apr 24, 2020
  • News from the Web

State Takes Over Elgin Overflow Hospital Thursday: Officials

For the past couple weeks, the US Army Corps of Engineers has been turning an administrative building on the former Sherman Hospital campus in Elgin into a temporary overflow facility. Patch

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