Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker comforts an emotional Dr. Ngozi Ezike as she announces she is stepping down as Illinois Public Health Director, effective later this month, during an news conference at Rush Hospital, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. The 49-year-old pediatrician has been an ever-present sidekick of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's since the coronavirus made its Illinois debut in January 2020. Her last day will be March 14. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP), APTOPIX