Dr Ngozi Ezike

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.

NBC 5 Investigates and Telemundo Chicago Investiga have found thousands of little-known outbreaks of coronavirus in Illinois — in restaurants, bars, retail stores, preschools, workplaces, gyms, clubs, churches and parties — all kinds of parties — across the state. Yet for months the state has concealed these outbreaks from the public, despite the fact that these are the very cases…

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, who has carried Illinois through a pandemic for months, was overcome with emotion Friday during a news briefing. On Monday, she addressed what led up to that moment. NBC 5’s Chris Hush reports.

While older adults and those with pre-existing conditions have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, Illinois’ top doctor has urged everyone to take precautions, reiterating it’s not clear who will die from the virus. For months, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike has pleaded for residents to take precautions, and even more so in recent weeks...

In a moment that captured the emotional toll of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of Illinois Department of Public Health, was brought to tears Friday during a news briefing as she delivered difficult news about the second surge of the pandemic. “Just thinking about how many seats are going to be empty, how many people who started this…

With a second surge of coronavirus cases reported in Illinois, the news of the rising pandemic has even become difficult for the state’s top doctor. NBC 5’s Charlie Wojciechowski reports.

Illinois’ top public health official, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, became visibly emotional Friday, urging people to “stay strong” as the state battles a resurgence of coronavirus cases and looks for solutions to fight the pandemic. “The way we work, the way we live, the way we play has all changed,” she stated during a daily coronavirus news briefing alongside Gov....