Editor's Note: The story was originally published in the Belleville News-Democrat.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday issued a “disaster proclamation” for Illinois as he announced four new confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 11 in the state.
The proclamation is Illinois’ version of a state of emergency, Pritzker said during an afternoon news conference. He said the move gives Illinois access to federal and state resources and tools.
The four new cases of coronavirus are all in Chicago:
- A woman in her 50s and a woman in her 70s, family members of the sixth case, who was on a cruise ship with coronavirus.
- A woman in her 50s from California who traveled to Illinois.
- A woman in her 70s who was on an Egyptian cruise linked to coronavirus.
Here’s how the governor’s office says the state will benefit from the disaster proclamation:
- Federal reimbursement for state response costs.
- Use of State Disaster Relief Fund, covering direct state costs and reimbursements to Illinois National Guard and mutual aid groups.
- Use of the state’s mutual aid network, groups of public safety response professionals — including hundreds of health care providers and management professionals, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, emergency medical technicians and disaster response professionals — that are available to deploy to areas of shortage
- Governor can activate Illinois National Guard reservists, some of whom may be doctors and nurses.
- Expedited procurement should it be necessary.
- Additional executive authorities to protect public health and safety.
Lexi Cortes is a reporter for the Belleville News-Democrat, a news partner of St. Louis Public Radio.
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