Politics
New statewide totals: 83,021 cases, 3,601 deaths
In a 24-hour period from Monday to Tuesday, the state conducted nearly 30,000 coronavirus tests and confirmed another 4,014 cases of COVID-19. “The more you test, the more positive cases you find,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said.
In the latest sign that the coronavirus pandemic will reshape summer in Chicago, city officials informed aldermen Tuesday that no permits will be issued for block parties through May 31 — banning the popular parties on Memorial Day weekend.
Delivery companies would have to disclose the commission or service fee paid by a restaurant under new rules announced Tuesday by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, as the apps have come under fire for hurting already-struggling restaurants.
A select group of Illinois hospitals can now treat patients with the only drug so far authorized by the FDA as a treatment for COVID-19. Now the question is: Exactly who will get remdesivir?
The Belmont Cragin neighborhood has become a COVID-19 epicenter, reporting 1,993 cases in its major zip code Monday. We speak with Chicago Alds. Ariel Reboyras (30th Ward) and Felix Cardona, Jr. (31st Ward).
A staff member who was in close contact with Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the governor to self-isolate and work from home, even though, as he said Monday: “I feel fine.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s recently unveiled five-phase plan to gradually reopen the state is already getting pushback. Joining us to share their views are state Reps. Deanne Mazzochi, a Republican, and Mike Zalewski, a Democrat.
New statewide totals: 79,007 cases, 3,459 deaths
Illinois was expected to reach its COVID-19 peak between late April and early May, but new projections show it could come as late as mid-June. Gov. J.B. Pritzker called the news “disheartening” but said it’s the result of a flattened curve.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city would partner with a charity founded by Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn, fueled by a grant from Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, in an effort to conduct 10,000 tests per day in Chicago.
Amid the pandemic, Chicago employers will still be forced to give their workers two weeks’ notice of their schedules starting July 1, but will be spared lawsuits for an additional six months under a measure that advanced Monday.
New statewide totals: 77,741 cases, 3,406 deaths
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, in a Sunday appearance on CNN, said he “has not been counting on the White House” for help reaching new virus testing goals “because there have been too many situations in which they’ve made promises and not delivered.”
It’s not meant to be a trick question, but many filling out their 2020 U.S. census form struggle to answer: How many people were staying at your home on April 1?
The Illinois Department of Public Health said it conducted 16,617 tests in the 24-hour period from Friday to Saturday — down from Friday’s total surpassing 20,000. But on both days, the statewide infection rate was the same: 14%.
Just a few short months ago, President Donald Trump planned to campaign for reelection on the back of a robust economy. That’s a distant memory after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot details how she plans to reopen Chicago days after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker details the state’s blueprint. And the state’s unemployment system is overhauled to handle the deluge of people filing for benefits.
New statewide totals: 73,760 cases, 3,241 deaths
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday announced that Illinois is fifth among all 50 states in the total number of tests completed, and also ranks second among the 10 most populous states in the number of tests completed per capita over the past week.