CHICAGO — All over the country, a collection of first ladies have emerged as valuable advocates in the fight to slow the spread of new coronavirus.



Last week, Maryland first lady Yumi Hogan was hailed a hero for quietly scoring 500,000 COVID-19 tests kits from South Korea to aid the Old Line State's coronavirus response. "We convened countless calls, nearly every night, sometimes it seemed like all night," Gov. Larry Hogan said of the 22 days he and his wife, a fine artist, lobbied the Korean government to purchase the hard-to-come-by coronavirus test kits.



As the pandemic keeps Californians on a strict lockdown, Gov. Gavin Newsom's "first partner," Jennifer Seibel, has stepped up to lead her state's volunteer commission, publicly promised to fight for children falling behind in school without internet access, and even tweeted about struggling like everybody else when her family ran out of toilet paper thanks to Golden State hoarders.

One rose amidst all of this- family dinners and no late night homework stress. And nice to not have kids shuffling home late from sports and activities. And yes, unfortunately the thorn- we run out of toilet paper, paper towels, and Kleenex tomorrow. I wish people had not hoarded

— Jennifer Siebel Newsom (@JenSiebelNewsom) March 18, 2020 Melania Trump recently "found her voice" in stay-at-home America, the Washington Post's style-section declared, citing the first lady's recent tweets praising grocery workers and public service announcements promoting the CDC's public health guidance.

In Crain's Chicago Business columnist Greg Hinz's day-in-the life tale of Illinois' rookie governor amid the pandemic, we learned Pritzker watched "Tiger King" on Netflix, and how he usually ends his day — "a little dinner, then he chats with his son and makes more calls" — but nothing of the first lady or his daughter.

The governor didn't mention his wife when reporters asked the billionaire about how he's doing physically and emotionally under his own stay-at-home order.