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Pandemic is Leading to New Holiday Plans and a Serious Mental Strain

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Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker continues to urge residents not to travel or gather with people outside their household for Thanksgiving.

Pritzker says there is still time to change plans before Thursday's holiday.
Illinois Department of Public Health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike says she knows this sounds strange, but 2020 is a strange and unique year.

“We have to accept what we are dealing, a global pandemic the likes of which no one has seen before. That does deserve a change from the norm.”

Ezike says don't be afraid to have a conversation with family and friends about the need to celebrate virtually this year.

She says tried and true traditions need to be put on hold this year so the celebration can return to normal in 2021.

While the physical signs of COVID-19 infections are getting much of the attention, Illinois leaders stress the need to help those dealing with the hidden dangers associated with the pandemic.

Dr. Ezike says the ongoing crisis is taking its toll mentally on many of us.

“There is fear. There is anxiety about this novel disease and the illness that it can cause and that it has caused. There’s stress about our financial situations due to job loss and even the complete loss of a business. There’s depression and there’s loneliness due to the social distancing.”

Ezike says don't underestimate how far a smile or kind word can go for someone dealing with mental distress. She says even offering to pick-up takeout for someone and leave it on their doorstep can make a big difference.

Illinois leaders have been working since early in the pandemic on a distribution process for COVID-19 vaccines.

While more than one vaccine may be getting close to emergency approval, Ezike says the initial shipment won't include many doses.

“I know I had originally quoted 400,000 doses. That’s what we had been told. That number has already been downgraded to something like 80,000. All of these numbers are constantly in flux. So, we are staying very nimble to be able to adjust.”

Ezike says federal agencies have given Illinois' distribution plan a thumbs up. She says hospitals have signed up to be vaccine providers to get it to hospital workers and other frontline personnel in the first phase of distribution.

As a news producer and news anchor on All Things Considered, Brad provides the listeners with a recap of the day's top local and state news as well as breaking news at any given time. Contact WSIU Radio at 618-453-6101 or email wsiunews@wsiu.org
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