CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Gov. Pritzker announced 18 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total in Illinois to 64 confirmed cases that now span eight counties.
While they are mostly still in Cook County and in Chicago, Pritzker said Kane, Cumberland, DuPage, St. Clair and Woodford are among the counties with new cases.
Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the director of the state health department, said the number of Illinois cases should "increase dramatically" as results come in from private labs.
Pritzker also announced that under the Stafford Act, his administration has signed a federal waiver to allow Illinois Medicaid programs to use the government insurance to pay for coronavirus treatment.
"When the federal waiver is approved, we will be able to fight the epidemic and increase [medicinal] access across the state," Pritzker said.
As schools and workplaces close across the state to curb the spread of the virus, Pritzker thanked Illinoisians for bearing with the difficult times and reassured the state that officials are working around the clock to provide healthcare, financial support and other resources to those most affected the virus's closures and cancelations.
He said staying home and practicing social distancing is important to stop the spread and whole he noted the number of people out today was less, he still saw crowds out and about. He warned young people to take these protocols seriously and that their actions affect the entire community.
"I know all of these asks are difficult personally and financially for some of our residents and I am working with (low-income) residents" to find a solution that fits their needs, he said. "Every action we take is an action that saves lives," he said.
Illinois COVID-19 information on cases, protocols, tests and more can be tracked on the Department of Public Health's website and on the CDC website. For general questions about COVID-19 and Illinois' response and guidance, call 1-800-889-3931 or email DPH.SICK@ILLINOIS.GOV.
