CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker confirmed Wednesday his administration is flying in medical supplies on private jets from China, but was mum on details.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported earlier this week that the Pritzker Administration had made arrangements to bring in so-called PPE to protect physicians and nurses who have regular contact with COVID-19 patients. The schedule of those cargo shipments are being kept secret because Pritzker is worried the feds might sweep in and seize the materials for the national stockpile, the Sun-Times reported.
“We’ve had to search the entire globe to find what we need,” said Pritzker, who has complained the Trump Administration has fallen short in supporting states with needed equipment or centralizing the market for it.
The state of Illinois has already shelled out $174 million for COVID-19-related supplies, including ventilators, the State Comptroller’s Office reported Tuesday. The coronavirus pandemic and related economic shutdown has blown a $2.7 billion hole in the state budget, which had been balanced, according to Pritzker.