Gov Pritzker has been having regular briefings for a while now. Other key people, including Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, head of the IL Dept of Public Health also attend and speak.

They are just amazing. Practical information and specific recommendations. Projecting seriousness in a calming way. Calling on people to stay home if they don't feel well, asking people over 60 to stay at home. Asking people to check on their neighbors and to try to find ways to help people get through this.

I'm so proud of our state.

On a side note....I'm hitting 65 next month and Mr wtg will be 70 in a couple of months. Our 40-something neighbor texted me earlier today to ask if we were OK and whether we need anything. I don't think of us as seniors, but clearly we are.

I was so touched.

Oh, and we have 7 new cases today in Illinois. All of them are in the Chicago area; I don't think I've heard of anything downstate.

Glad to hear this.

My mom lives near UIUC (not in C-U but close). Does that count as downstate?

Yes, that’s downstate.

All of Illinois’ cases have been in Cook County or what are called the collar counties, which are the ones that ring Cook. Chicago is in Cook. I think we in this area tend to think the rest of Illinois is downstate.

I would bet there are many, many thousands walking around that haven't been tested yet...

State and local govt have banned all sports/performance gatherings over 1000 people and put a hold for 30 days on all over 250.