Dr Ngozi Ezike

Beginning this week, Illinois residents with pre-existing conditions and other comorbidities will become eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine under Phase 1B of the state’s vaccination program, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker says that proof of such a condition, while not explicitly required, will help expedite the process for residents seeking the treatment. Speaking during a press availability on Monday,...

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike received the first dose of her COVID-19 vaccination Tuesday.

As the new year approaches, here’s a look back at the stories that shaped a challenging 2020.

Reversing course on initial vaccine distribution plans, Illinois’ public health director said Friday all of the state’s 10 “regional hub” hospitals will receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to distribute in week one. Illinois is looking for shipments to arrive as early as next week, as soon as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration grants final approval. Last week,...

Illinois’ top doctor urged residents to seek out verified information on the coronavirus vaccine currently awaiting approval in the U.S., warning of myths and misinformation spreading.

Illinois’ top doctor urged residents to prioritize getting their flu vaccination Monday as she revealed that some patients in the state have contracted flu and COVID-19 coinfections. Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, didn’t provide a number of affected patients at the state’s daily coronavirus briefing, but noted “we’re not anywhere near the...

Though Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Illinois will likely not see the coronavirus surge from Thanksgiving yet, officials sent a message to people who traveled or gathered with family amid the pandemic.

Citing national health experts who’ve expressed concerns over the possibility of a post-Thanksgiving surge in coronavirus cases, Illinois’ Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a stern warning to residents Monday, saying the state’s health care system could become overwhelmed if Illinoisans aren’t careful. Despite guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as pleas from health officials to...

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Illinois’ top public health official, urged residents to be part of the plan to decrease coronavirus infections and take proper precautions this Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving’s not here just yet. And if you’re planning to take part in a large gathering, it’s not too late to change your mind. That’s the message Illinois’ Department of Public Health Director, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, shared Monday as she and Gov. J.B. Pritzker voiced concerns about the possibility of an uptick in coronavirus cases, deaths and hospitalizations stemming...

With Illinois experiencing the second surge of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the director of the state’s department of public of health, encouraged residents to be kind and not take their frustrations out on one another.

Illinois’ top health official shares the latest information on the coronavirus pandemic, vaccines, where the state is seeing the most transmission, hospital capacity and more.

The people in Illinois who are contracting coronavirus the most are not the ones who are dying from it, Illinois’ top health official says, detailing how the deadly virus is spreading across the state and again pleading with residents to change their behavior.

Illinois’ top health official says the state has been preparing a plan to vaccinate residents once a coronavirus vaccine is available but gave an impassioned plea once more to hold holiday celebrations virtually and to wear masks as she says health care workers are sounding the alarm and that the state is heading in the “wrong direction” with the pandemic.

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike answers some questions on the COVID-19 vaccine progress, the case number surge in Illinois and how to have a safer Thanksgiving this year.

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike revealed the latest coronavirus numbers Monday as she advised residents to “hang in there” during the pandemic.

Illinois’ top doctor on Friday defended the use of rapid antigen tests to detect COVID-19 as reports of false negatives and false positives surfaced nationwide, leading to questions about accuracy. In one instance that garnered nationwide attention, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk tweeted he took four COVID-19 rapid antigen tests on Thursday, and received two negative and two positive results. Musk,…

On Monday, after promising NBC 5 for weeks that it would release its data on thousands of coronavirus outbreaks, it posted some information on its website. But the “data” turns out to be just some pie charts and general numbers; no details at all about the thousands of outbreaks it has been tracking. However, you can see the state’s entire…

Doctors in Illinois are expressing cautious optimism after early analysis of a coronavirus vaccine developed in part by Pfizer showed a more than 90% efficacy rate in preventing infection. The vaccine, developed by Pfizer and German-company Biontech, is more than 90% effective in preventing infection, a huge success considering that the target for efficacy was in the 50% range, according…

As Illinois battles a second surge in coronavirus cases, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the state’s top doctor, on Monday encouraged people to get tested for COVID-19 and issued a few important reminders with Thanksgiving and Christmas later this season.