At his daily coronavirus press briefing Saturday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced both telehealth and mental health initiatives to help residents during the pandemic.
More than 19,000 people statewide have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus as the state hopes to reach a peak in new cases in the near future.
In Chicago, police have identified an officer who became the second CPD employee to die as a result of complications of the virus.
Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis in the state of Illinois:
4 Residents of West Rogers Park Nursing Home
Four residents of a West Rogers Park nursing home have died of coronavirus-related causes, Cook County data showed.
A 64-year-old woman and 87-year-old man both died Wednesday of pneumonia due to COVID-19 infections, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
The next day, two women, 58 and 81 years old, died of sepsis due to COVID-19 infections, the medical examiner’s office said.
All four were residents at Elevate Care Chicago North, located at 2451 W. Touhy Ave., and had underlying health conditions, officials said.
State Launches Mental Health, Telehealth Programs to Help Residents During Pandemic
The state of Illinois has launched new programs to help state residents get access to mental health services and telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For residents who have contracted COVID-19, but don't require hospitalization, the state has launched a program to help provide a variety of telehealth services. The services include daily virtual visits with physicians and an in-home delivery of materials to help cope with the illness, including thermometers and other materials.
If residents need to speak to a mental health professional about their experiences during the pandemic, the state has also launched the "Call4Calm" program, where residents can text the word "TALK" to 552020.
Those residents will then be connected to mental health professionals, free of charge.
First CTA Employee Dies From Coronavirus
A worker at the CTA’s Skokie maintenance facility became the transit agency’s first employee to die of the coronavirus, officials announced Saturday.
Antonio Martinez, a machinist at the Skokie heavy maintenance facility, worked at the agency for 14 years, according to a statement from the CTA.
Illinois Reports Nearly 1,300 New Coronavirus Cases, 81 Additional Deaths
While Governor J.B. Pritzker says that the curve of new coronavirus cases is beginning to "flatten" in the state, nearly 1,300 people tested positive for the virus over a 24-hour period.
That number brings the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 19,180 since the pandemic began. The state also reported 81 additional deaths, bringing the state's total to 677.
Bears Donate Nearly $2 Million to COVID-19 Relief Efforts
The Chicago Bears have donated nearly $2 million to COVID-19 relief efforts across the state of Illinois.
In all, the team committed $1,920,000 to the efforts, an homage to the team's founding in 1920. $1 million of those funds have already been earmarked for a variety of organizations, while the remaining funds will be allocated at a later date.
Longtime 911 Operator Dies After Contracting COVID-19
A longtime Chicago 911 operator died from complications of the coronavirus last month.
Rusell Modjeski, 60, was pronounced dead about 7:15 a.m. March 29, the medical examiner’s office said. Officials announced Friday that he died of COVID-19 infection with diabetes and hypertension as contributing factors.
“An all-around good person and friend to many, Russ will be missed,” the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications said in a tweet Friday. “Our sympathies go out to his family, friends and co-workers.”
Chicago Police Sergeant Dies After Contracting COVID-19
A second Chicago police officer has died after being diagnosed with the coronavirus, the department said Friday.
The officer, identified as Sergeant Clifford Martin, was a highly decorated member of the force, receiving over 60 awards during his 25 years of service. He is survived by his wife and three children, two of whom followed in his footsteps in joining the department.
“Sgt. Martin was a Chicagoan through and through, and served the community that he loved,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said. “Our hearts go out to Martin’s wife and three children, who are grieving an unimaginable loss of a husband and father taken from them so suddenly by this terrible disease.”
Video Shows Men in Surgical Masks, Gloves Invade Home During Coronavirus Crisis
Arlington Heights police have released home surveillance video that shows a home invasion in which a homeowner shot and killed one of the armed assailants.
Doorbell video of the April 4 fatal encounter in the north suburb, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, shows two men wearing surgical masks and gloves ring the doorbell of a home on North Evergreen Avenue.
Police say the two assailants, Bradley Finnan and Larry Brodacz, were armed with a gun and knife when they forced their way into the home with the intent to rob the family.
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The homeowner chased Finnan outside and punched him, leaving him lying on the ground. When he returned into the home, he found Brodacz pointing a gun at his family. After retrieving a gun from the family safe, the homeowner became engaged in a struggle with Brodacz, who was shot and killed during the encounter.
Finnan now faces felony murder charges in connection with the incident.
