CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says his administration has filed a rule meant to prod private nursing homes into stepping up coronavirus testing at long-term care facilities, which have borne the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pritzker said Thursday some privately run nursing homes have effectively turned down help from the state's health department. He did not specify which companies.
Under his rule-making, the Illinois Department of Public Health could fine or suspend the license of private nursing homes that do not have an individualized testing program in place for virus outbreaks, Pritzker said. The nursing homes must have partnerships with laboratories to process the tests.
"To be clear, this rule doesn't deviate from our existing priorities," Pritzker said at his daily coronavirus briefing. "But it gives IDPH -- a regulatory agency -- additional teeth in securing buy-in from these private entities."
IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike said 44% of deaths attributed to COVID-19 have occurred within nursing homes. Officials have said the facilities have been hotbeds of infections because residents are grouped closely.
On Thursday, IDPH reported 1,527 new cases of novel coronavirus, taking the state's total to 115,833 since the pandemic began. There were 104 new COVID-related deaths, bringing the state's total to 5,186.
Pritzker said all regions of Illinois will move into Phase 3 of his state reopening plan, which allows several types of businesses, include salons and retail stores, to operate with safety restrictions. Larger groups will be able to meet in outdoor social or recreational settings.
This is due to the stable metrics recorded in each region, including low enough "positivity" rates from virus testing and enough hospital capacity. Pritkzer noted the clock basically starts on Friday for each region to move into the even looser Phase 4.
The soonest any region can move into Phase 4 is Friday June 26, Pritzker said.
