Monday live coronavirus updates: Plummer accuses Pritzker of creating ‘autocracy’
Plummer says Pritzker is transforming Illinois into an ‘autocracy’
State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, on Monday said Illinois is becoming an “autocracy,” and he wants the U.S. Department of Justice to take action against Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order issued to control the spread of the coronavirus.
“Governor Pritzker’s executive orders have effectively transformed Illinois into an autocracy in a matter of weeks,” Plummer said in a news release. “The Governor is depriving Illinoisans of their constitutional rights and, when the people seek redress, he is grotesquely using state police power to threaten and intimidate citizens, businesses, and local units of government who dare question or challenge his seized authority.”
Pritzker on Monday defended an administrative rule that allows police to fine businesses that violate Illinois’ stay-at-home order.
Pritzker said the rule gives police a “lighter enforcement mechanism” because it is not as severe as the misdemeanor in the public health law.
“It’s in the law today. It’s in the Illinois Department of Public Health Act,” Pritzker said.
Illinois has reported that COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, has been linked to 4,234 deaths in the state.
Plummer’s announcement did not detail what he wants the U.S. Justice Department to do.
The release states Plummer is “calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene and defend the constitutional rights and civil liberties of Illinois citizens, currently being violated by the directives of Governor J.B. Pritzker.”
Coronavirus vaccine test shows ‘postive’ results, company says
A company testing a coronavirus vaccine said Monday that eight people have successfully been involved in a trial of the vaccine.
Moderna, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, developed the vaccine and announced its “positive” data from the first phase of testing.
The federal Food and Drug Administration has given the company permission to move onto a second phase of testing 600 people, The New York Times reported.
The Times reported that the vaccine was able to “stimulate an immune response against the virus.”
Moderna described the vaccine in the first phase as “generally safe and well tolerated,” according to a news release.
Businesses that defy Illinois stay-at-home now face misdemeanor
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration filed emergency rules Friday to make it a misdemeanor to defy Illinois’ stay-at-home order, The Associated Press reported.
WTTW-TV’s report stated that a business opening in violation of the order faces a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $2,500.
The Associated Press stated in its report that state legislators on an oversight committee will be able to review the emergency rules Wednesday. If they don’t reject it, the rules will be in effect for 150 days, according to The Associated Press.
Pritzker administration general counsel Ann Spillane described the charge to the news agency as “very mild, like a traffic ticket.”
“Nobody’s getting arrested or handcuffed,” she said. “But they are getting a citation where they would have to go to court.”
What’s reopening in St. Louis area Monday?
St. Louis city and county leaders are easing coronavirus restrictions for some businesses starting Monday.
Malls, including South County Center, West County Center, St. Louis Galleria and Plaza Frontenac, will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., St. Louis Public Radio reported.
Goodwill is opening 10 locations in the city and county. Two other locations will be open only for donations. For a list of locations, visit mersgoodwill.org/store-reopenings.
Barbershops and hair salons can also reopen Monday. Salon Lofts, a space for independent beauty professionals, is opening locations across the region, according to the public radio station.
To reopen, the businesses are required to follow safety guidelines. Eleven Eleven Mississippi, Vin de Set and Hamilton’s Urban Steakhouse, for example, will open with a new capacity limit, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Customers will be expected to wear face coverings, such as a mask, while visiting the businesses, officials say.
Southwestern Illinois coronavirus cases
Since the pandemic began, the metro-east has had 2,016 cases and 145 coronavirus-related deaths.
Here are the statistics for southwestern Illinois counties as of Monday:
- St. Clair County: 892 positives, 69 deaths, 55 hospitalizations, 433 recoveries, 4,903 tests administered, 20 tests pending
- Madison County: 499 positives, 44 deaths, 91 hospitalizations, 224 recoveries
Randolph County: 245 positives, three deaths, four hospitalizations, 1,329 tests administered, 189 recoveries
- Clinton County: 162 positives, 15 deaths, seven hospitalizations, 768 tests administered, 56 recoveries
- Monroe County: 89 positives, 11 deaths, 12 hospitalizations, 33 recoveries
Macoupin County: 41 positives, one death, three hospitalizations, 1,732 tests administered, , 28 recoveries, 16 tests pending
Perry County: 39 positives, 29 recoveries
- Jersey County: 19 positives, one death, 14 recoveries
- Washington County: 17 positives, 15 recoveries
- Bond County: 12 positives, one death, one hospitalization, 214 tests administered, six recoveries, one test pending
- Calhoun County: One positive, one recovery
State, nation, world coronavirus cases
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 2,294 new positive COVID-19 cases on Monday, and reported that 54 more people have died since Sunday.
According to data from John Hopkins University, this is how many people have been affected by COVID-19 across the nation and world as of 7 p.m. Monday:
- United States: 1,506,840 people tested positive; 283,178 people recovered; 90,309 people died
- World: 4,795,941 people tested positive; 1,784,653 people recovered; 318,213 people died
Want to help? Here are some ideas
The BND has compiled a list of ways you can help during the coronavirus pandemic.
Go to BND. com to learn about the opportunities to volunteer your time or donate to help communities in the metro-east without putting yourself or others at risk.
You can sew face masks, read stories for people with vision loss and deliver meals to seniors.
If you know of a recognized charitable organization looking for help that isn’t listed, please tell us about it; send an email to newsroom@bnd.com or fill out the BND’s Southwest Illinois coronavirus service and assistance guide online at BND.com.
Get the latest news on coronavirus
BND.com will keep you updated through the day with information about the spread of coronavirus through southwestern Illinois.
You can also find the most complete and up-to-date information from government sites including:
- State of Illinois’ coronavirus page: coronavirus.illinois.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html
- Federal government’s coronavirus page: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Who to call about mental health
Here are some resources from mental health professionals for anyone struggling during the coronavirus pandemic:
- Touchette Regional Hospital’s Mental Health Support and Resource Line to talk to trained therapy staff: call 618-482-7158
- Illinois Human Services Mental Health Division’s Call4Calm to text with a mental health care professional for free: text the word “talk” to 552020.
- Centerstone of Illinois, Inc. for virtual mental health services: call 618-462-2331.
- Chestnut Health Systems for virtual mental health services: call 618-877-4420.
- Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous for virtual meetings: call 618-398-9409 or email metroeastnapr@gmail.com.
- Regional Disaster Mental Health Volunteer response team’s Support Line for health care professionals: call 618-381-5173.
Contact BND with tips, concerns
If you have suggestions about something for the BND to cover regarding the coronavirus pandemic or if you see a report that sounds suspicious on social media or anywhere else, please drop us a note at newsroom@bnd.com and include a link. We’ll check it out.
We’d like to hear from health care workers
The BND would like to speak with nurses, doctors and other health care professionals who are on the front lines caring for patients in doctor’s offices, clinics and hospitals during this difficult time. We’re interested in hearing about your challenges and rewards, frustrations and accomplishments. How is this affecting you? Send us an email at newsroom@bnd.com.
Willing to share your COVID-19 story?
Have you recovered from coronavirus or are you in the process of recovering from COVID-19? We would like to hear from you on how you dealt with the respiratory disease. Send us an email at newsroom@bnd.com.
This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Monday live coronavirus updates: Plummer accuses Pritzker of creating ‘autocracy’."
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