Illinois launches digital remote monitoring program for low-risk COVID-19 patients
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Saturday announced a new program in Illinois aimed to help low-risk COVID-19 patients recover at home and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.
At the governor’s daily press briefing on the virus, he also announced a program to help Illinoisans whose mental health is being strained due to the pandemic.
Through a partnership with OSF Healthcare and the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, a remote patient monitoring program is launching Monday in Southern Illinois and has already launched in central Illinois that will help individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms get diagnosed and receive resources to help them recover from home if they are low-risk digitally.
Pritzker said the program will help easing the strain on hospitals by diagnosing people who have symptoms from their home through daily virtual visits.
“This program will also help limit the spread of the virus and safeguard hospitals from being overwhelmed by keeping those who can recover at home,” Pritzker said.
The hotline number for Southern Illinois is 833-673-5669 and central Illinois’ hotline number is 217-545-5100. A hotline for northern Illinois will be launched in the future.
The second program, dubbed “Call for Calm,” is a hotline for Illinoisans who are struggling with mental health issues due to COVID-19. Pritzker said anyone who is struggling can text TALK to 552-020 and someone will call them back to talk them through their situation.
“Let them be a listening ear to the challenges you are experiencing,” Pritzker said. “This isn’t a crisis hotline but as source for support.”
Illinois Department of Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike reported 81 new deaths in Illinois and an additional 1,293 cases in the state. The new numbers bring the total number of deaths in Illinois due to COVID-19 to 677 and 19,180 total positive cases.