Today’s #COVID19 numbers for Illinois:

- 1,465 more positive cases than yesterday
- 17,887 total positive cases (some have recovered)
- 68 more deaths (another male in his 20s, female in her 30s)
- 596 total deaths
- in 83 of IL’s 102 counties
- 87,527 people tested statewide

Here's where Abbott Labs' rapid test machines are going (reminder: hospitals in IL already have Abbott machines that can run these tests)
7 to federally qualified health centers
2 each to Chicago's S and W sides
3 to Metro East
3 to DHS facilities
5 to state prisons

. @IDPH Dir. Dr. Ngozi Ezike highlights disproportionate effects of Covid-19 on IL's Black population:
"mortality rates among blacks are five times higher than whites...even higher for people" over age 50. Decades of institutional racism contribute to co-morbidities.

"We will not stand idly by where while one segment of the population bears an unfortunate heightened burden of this disease," Dr. Ezike says. There's a new @IDPH Equity Team will get more testing out to vulnerable communities "for earlier, more effective isolation" of exposed ppl

After a dip yesterday, the last 24 hours have produced 6,670 more test results...still not near the 10K/day benchmark @GovPritzker keeps repeating that scientists say will allow @IDPH to make its own projections for the disease's spread and for more targeted action against Covid.

A couple weeks ago @GovPritzker said he would make a decision about the rest of the school year as Illinois approached its peak. Now that we're approaching, Gov still has no decision...

"I don't know when we're going to peak, or how fast the downslide will be...or if peaking means that we're simply flattening the curve and flattening the curve and staying at the peak for some period of time, and then falling. We just don't know yet."

"If you really begin to open things up, you're gonna have a second wave," Pritzker says. "And so we need to make sure that we're fully prepared. We don't want to have a second wave, and God forbid we do..." acquisition of PPE and ventilators is also for a possible second wave.

"Staying home is saving a life - not just your own, but somebody else's," @GovPritzker says of anyone planning on Easter gatherings this weekend. Says the pastors behind him would agree that the Bible teaches us to think of others.

Formerly shuttered hospitals identified for opening to serve Covid-19 patients (Westlake Hospital, Metro South, Sherman Hosp) will open on April 24. (cc @RepChrisWelch) Vibra Hospital in SPI - May 9.
"We are all praying that we don't need any of these alternate care facilities"

. @GovPritzker recommends virtual religious celebrations this weekend for Christians celebrating Easter, saying the two Passover Seders he took part in this week were "almost fun."

That's it for today. More on @capitolfax https://capitolfax.com/2020/04/10/pritzker-unveils-new-psa/