Metro East Sun

Citing faulty methodology, state Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) is leading the charge in calling for Gov. J.B. Pritzker to reverse increased COVID-19 restrictions on the Metro East area.

As part of his complaint, Plummer, joined by fellow state Sen. Paul Schimpf (R-Waterloo) said he takes exception with the state's data reporting and collection methodology, which he asserts could easily account for an inaccurate and inflated positivity rate for the region.

“This is a crisis impacting everyone so the lack of transparency and zero accountability from this administration must end,” Plummer said. “It is shockingly callous for Gov. Pritzker and his allies to knowingly use faulty data to implement arbitrary rules that have destroyed economic opportunity for many Illinoisans.”

Among the biggest concerns expressed by Plummer is the way Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike confirmed that until recently the state was not including data from some of the largest hospitals and health care facilities in the region.

“Our priority should be to protect the most vulnerable, but this administration is exacerbating the crisis by creating economic hardship and additional health issues for many desperate families,” added Plummer, pointing to how one of those networks, BJC HealthCare, provides health care to 30% of Metro East residents at several hospitals and clinics in Missouri and Illinois.

He added that given the way many Metro East residents utilize Missouri hospitals for medical care and COVID-19 testing services, only including positive test results from those providers could dramatically increase reported positivity rates across the region. The two lawmakers also raised concerns about issues with data collection statewide, including individuals being counted multiple times and in state facilities, such as prisons, who do not mingle in the general population but are counted in totals.