Press statement issued March 16, 2020

The Illinois Nurses Association calls on public officials at the state, local and federal level to provide childcare to Illinois nurses on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic. As the coronavirus spreads, nurses will be called on to work more hours and extensive overtime and expose themselves to the virus. The current pandemic will put a greater strain on the existing nursing workforce. As schools are closed to stop the spread of this disease, nurses need childcare to take care of their responsibilities at home, as they take care of patients affected by this pandemic. In these uncertain times, we must make every effort to support nurses so that they can take care of patients in Illinois.

The INA also applauds Governor J.B. Pritzker’s decision to close bars and restaurants to contain this pandemic. As bars were packed over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, it was apparent that greater measures were needed to prevent the coronavirus from spreading in these public settings.

Finally, the Illinois Nurses Association objects to safety standards for nurses’ personal protective equipment being influenced by the American Hospital Association’s lobbying efforts and the availability of equipment. The standards for nurses’ personal protective equipment should be determined by science and evidence for which protocols best protect nurses. Unfortunately, the AHA is currently lobbying Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif to withdraw workplace safety standards from a second package addressing the coronavirus pandemic.

The INA demands that nurses receive personal protective equipment that is best suited to keep them safe. Now, as much as ever, our government must take every possible available measure to keep nurses safe and healthy.