CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker opened his Sunday coronavirus briefing by addressing child care and the importance of keeping kids home during this pandemic as the state reports 899 new cases and 31 additional deaths related to COVID-19.
"Children who can stay home should stay home. And that means really at home. Not going on playmates or hanging out with friends," Pritzker said, warning that children can catch and carry this coronavirus.
He acknowledged that some parents, such as those who are essential workers, aren't always able to keep their children at home.
"We have essential workers and healthcare professionals who can't stay home with their kids because they are heroically going out to do their jobs, which are vital for public safety and to make sure that other families can get the food, gas and pharmacy goods that they may need," Pritzker said.
That's why, effective April 1, essential workers qualify for what he called the "safe child care assistance program," "where the state will cover most if not all of the costs of care with our emergency child care providers," Pritzker said.
"Our essential workforce deserves to know that their kids are safe and cared for in small and affordable group settings," Pritzker said, explaining that essential workers needing child care assistance can complete an application.
He also said the state is providing a one-time stipend to child care providers to soften the financial impact of this crisis and creating a new emergency child care center license to increase the availability of safe, small group care for the children of essential workers.
There are 550 centers are running under emergency child care permit across Illinois.
These new provisions are established as the state's reported coronavirus cases and deaths continue to climb. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 899 new cases and 31 more deaths related to this novel virus, bringing the statewide total to 11,256 with 273 deaths as of Sunday.
Black Americans comprise 30 percent of positive COVID-19 cases in Illinois but only comprise 14.6 percent of the state's population, according to the IDPH.
Pritzker said he was "deeply concerned" with these statistics, adding that many people of color already started out with an "unequal standing" when it came to accessing healthcare at this pandemic's start.
When asked what Illinois' black population could do to protect themselves from COVID-19, the governor reiterated the advice that various health officials have been telling the public:
- Stay home
- Wash hands
- Wipe down surfaces
- Wear a mask
- Practice social distancing (stand at least 6 feet away from others)
"This pandemic, this virus, doesn't discriminate. It could affect anyone it comes in contact with, not one person based on color. Stay home. Make sure you are wiping down surfaces. This is true for everybody regardless of the color of your skin or where you're from," Pritzker said.
If you have questions about the coronavirus, call (800) 889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
To find emergency child care in your area, call (888) 228-1146 or visit COVID-19 Emergency Provider Search.
