Downstate Coronavirus Updates

A lot of the updates on the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak and the related Covid-19 illness have been international, national or specific to the Chicago area. Downstate news has been general preparations and precautions. This post has updates more applicable statewide and specifically downstate and local. It includes updates on safety measures for voters, laboratory testing downstate, impacts to agriculture downstate, an update from Champaign-Urbana Public Health District's Julie Pryde, and University updates (students returning from abroad, role in response coordination, and more).

In today's News-Gazette they highlight various safety measures being taken at polling places to avoid spreading flu or coronavirus. Excerpt with just some of the precautions and procedures:

That office had already developed an emergency management plan for elections that includes flu and pandemic scenarios, she said.

So all polling places — and early voting locations — in Champaign County are being supplied with hand sanitizer, masks, antibacterial wipes, gloves and Lysol disinfectant spray, she said.

Election judges are being asked to wipe down pens and other surfaces as time allows, and they’re welcome to wear protective masks and gloves if they want, Patton said.

More precautions and accommodations at that full article in the eEdition here (subscription).


WCIA had coverage on two labs being added downstate for testing and the possibility of drive-through testing in the future to allow greater testing with reduced exposure risk (e.g. in waiting rooms). Excerpt:

[Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Illinois Department of Public Health director] said the agency is considering drive-thru style testing where people can pull up and be tested in their cars, eliminating the risk of spreading the virus. For now, new labs in Springfield and Carbondale are open in addition to the original testing lab in Chicago.

While 22 people in Illinois are awaiting test results, Ezike said 116 people have been tested for the virus in total. Only four people have been diagnosed with the illness, no one has died of the aliment in Illinois yet.

More at that full article here. WCCU had more on the Springfield lab here and a more statewide assessment on the continued low risk in the State here.


There have been ongoing economic concerns and affects on global trade, but also specifically with Illinois and farming businesses. From Capitol Illinois News last month (also ran in the News-Gazette here - subscription):

After a promising trade deal with China last month gave farmers hope amid an intense trade war, the deadly Wuhan coronavirus currently overwhelming China is also damaging its economy.

The country’s economic slump is now sowing fears that China might not be able to buy all of the $32 billion of U.S. agricultural goods it promised for 2020, including soybeans from Illinois, America’s top soybean-producing state.

A lot more additional information in that article here. WCCU had more on this last week:

The outbreak of the coronavirus is impacting U.S. trade and the stock market, with the effects trickling down to hit local farmers.

China is one of the nation’s biggest trade partners, especially for farmers. Local farmers have seen less trade with China recently.

"Farmers have been hurt over the last two years with the tariffs and right at the brink of when we thought we were gonna be able to get past this, the coronavirus hits," said Somnath Bhattacharya, the dean of UIS College of Business and Management.

That full article with video segment here.


Local Updates:

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District's Director Julie Pryde had a quick update in an interview with Elizabeth Hess available here from Urbana Public Television.

The C-UPHD has regular updates on its facebook page here and additional information on the coronavirus on their website here.


University Updates:

A lot of students will be returning from their studies abroad in Italy and South Korea according to the Daily Illini. Excerpt from the Daily Illini article on South Korea students abroad:

These new requirements will affect 15 study abroad students in South Korea and 137 study abroad students in Italy.

Additionally, any University-related travel to China, Iran, Italy or the Daegu region of South Korea has been restricted.

Although it is only required that students in Italy and South Korea return at this time, the University is offering all 852 study abroad students to end their program early.

Students, faculty and staff members returning from any countries under the Center for Disease Control Levels 2 or 3 travel advisories will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.

That full article here. The article on the situation in Italy is here. WCIA had additional coverage on students returning abroad here.


The University also has a role in coordinating the coronavirus response across the State. From WCCU yesterday:

The University of Illinois System is helping to coordinate the coronavirus response with a new COVID-19 Planning and Response Team.

U of I universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield, as well as regional campuses across the state, will make up the team...

The team will be led by Dr. Robert A. Barish, vice chancellor for health affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

That full article available from WCCU here with video segment.


The 21st Show had a audio segment on how Universities and smaller airports are responding to the coronavirus outbreak here. The guest list includes:

• Nathan Thomas, Vice President of Student Affairs at Bradley University
• Gene Olson, Director of Airports for Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria
• Chris Brooke, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Ilinios Urbana-Champaign 

Full audio clip here.