U.S. hospitals have found it difficult to keep COVID-19 from spreading among nurses and other providers, with the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago having problems keeping providers who cared for COVID-19 patients away from those on regular units due to shared locker rooms and float staff who moved among different units. The hospital has more than 260 nurses, clerical staff, custodians and technicians who had test positive for COVID-19 by mid-June and several who have died.

llinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker testified before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee that inaction by the federal government forced the state to compete in a "sick Hunger Games"-style competition to get personal protective equipment and other supplies hospitals needed to care for patients during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Going forward, Pritzker said, the federal government should implement national rules, including a mask mandate, and provide more testing supplies and clarity on insurance coverage for COVID-19.

The ANA-Illinois Board of Directors met on June 13th for their quarterly board meeting. During the meeting, they held a moment of silence to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and mourn victims of racism and violence. They discussed a statement issued by the Board of Directors that morning that spoke to the need to take action.

As nurses, we have a professional responsibility to stand up to the racism and racial inequities woven throughout our society. The Board acknowledged that nurses must be agents for positive change that promotes a dignified quality of life for everyone. This is our purpose and calling.

The consensus shared among the Board and members attending the meeting was that the ongoing issues require thoughtful, well-informed action. Therefore, the ANA-Illinois Board of Directors unanimously voted to host a listening session at 6 p.m. August 6 and to create an Expert Panel on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This panel will participate in the August listening session and make recommendations to the Board on how ANA-Illinois can proactively address diversity, equity, and inclusion issues experienced by our patients and members of the nursing profession.

The ANA-Illinois Board of Directors is reviewing the applications received and will be appointing the members in the next couple of weeks. Please watch for the announcement. This expert panel will guide the association in how to proactively address diversity, equity, and inclusion issues experienced by our patients and members of the nursing profession.