Is Oprah back in the West Loop?Sheron October 28, 2020 at 1:16 am
Is Oprah back in the West Loop?Sheron October 28, 2020 at 1:16 am Read More »
Chicago COVID-19 News: City Close to Returning to Phase 3 Amidst Surge in Cases (UPDATED 10/27)Brian Lendinoon October 27, 2020 at 8:30 am
As we all expected, the latest Chicago COVID-19 update and news is that the city is trending rapidly towards returning to Phase 3 of the coronavirus shutdown as a second surge of the virus turns course.
Per the mayor’s latest press conference, Chicago is averaging over 500 new cases per day, which is a 45 percent increase from just seven days ago. According to the latest news, testing itself has increased by only 11 percent, meaning the city’s positivity rate is up nearly 5.4 percent from 4.2 percent. As a result of these updated numbers, the mayor is hinting at returning the city to some of the restrictions that halted the number of cases earlier in the summer.
Mayor Lightfoot stated, “If we don’t see a dramatic turnaround in our numbers and soon, then we will not hesitate to take the steps that are necessary to save our city, save our residents, even if that means going back to some of our Phase 3 restrictions.”
On Monday, Illinois public health officials announced COVID-19 updates of 3,113 new cases, along with 22 additional deaths, and are urging Chicagoans to not be careless with the virus, fearing a sense of complacency and over-confidence heading into the winter months.
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A lot of sacrifices have been made as a result of COVID-19, but the latest news indicates the city is inching closer to reverting towards Phase 3. Phase 3 of the coronavirus shut down included mandatory limiting to groups of 10 or less, a restriction on indoor dining and other practices, and curtailing non-essentials workers and schools to operate remotely.
While the number of cases has drastically risen, city officials insinuated that the latest COVID-19 news is not a result of increased testing but rather a rise in cases. The number of deaths has remained stable in Chicago and the number of infected patients being hospitalized is still lower, as well. While promising that those numbers remained stable, the virus has taken at least 3,000 Chicagoans to this point.
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If it can be any indication of the times, Governor J.B. Pritzker has returned to making daily coronavirus briefings as he did at the beginning of the pandemic. Those briefings are streamed live every day at 2:30 PM, and give updates and insight alongside some of the top health officials in the state.
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“Things are getting worse. Now is the time to wear a mask where you go…Forgo unnecessary trips or gatherings and take extra care to stay 6 feet away from others, especially in public,” Gov. Pritzker said. Mayor Lightfoot continued to reiterate that sentiment.
Neighboring states such as Wisconsin, Missouri, and Indiana are seeing skyrocketing cases, making it increasingly difficult for Chicago to stay out of the crosshairs, as it is such a popular destination for leisure and business to other Midwestern states.
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Should Chicago’s positivity rate continue to climb at the rate of surrounding areas, it’s inevitable that a scale back in how we are able to operate daily is coming.
You can watch the Governor’s latest COVID-19 news via this link to keep up to date with all of the state and Chicago updates.
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UPDATE–
During her standard afternoon press conference, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced there will be certain rollbacks as the city combats a second surge of COVID-19.
- All bars without food licenses can no longer serve patrons indoors.
- All liquor sales must stop at 9pm.
- All non-essential business are to close from 10pm to 6am as part of a small business curfew for two weeks.
- The mayor is requesting Chicagoans do not gather in groups of 6 or more socially, and if they do, to end them by 10 pm.
EFFECTIVE TOMORROW: New measures go into effect to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Chicago. Essential businesses like grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations will be able to stay open during the non-essential business curfew. More info
https://t.co/njOQ14kE6Y. pic.twitter.com/e7ixwjMFM7
— Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) October 22, 2020
This was all expected, as the city’s positivity rate has been skyrocketing for weeks now, leaving many to wonder just how far the city will rollback as the winter approaches. The mayor’s chief hope here is that these rollbacks in the hospitality industry can urge people to get back to the basics and start to halt the continued spread of this second surge.
UPDATE 10/27–
The governor stepped to the podium for his daily coronavirus briefing on Tuesday and delivered news that we all feared was imminent. Beginning on Friday, there will be no more indoor dining or bar service in the city of Chicago. There has been a rise in new cases every day in Chicago for eight consecutive days and the state has decided to add Cook County to the list of crisis regions. Bars and restaurants must close by 11 p.m and all patrons will be required to be seated outdoors — which should be fun considering it is getting nice and chilly outside. All gatherings must be limited to 25 people.
Oct. 27: State orders restrictions (There are 797 cases per day)https://t.co/hHsIqrZTfh
— Heather Cherone (@HeatherCherone) October 27, 2020
Cook becomes the seventh region in Illinois to begin operating under the state’s mitigation plans, and by far is the most populous and highest-risk area on the map.
.@GovPritzker makes it official. Effective Friday, Chicago is officially under state-ordered restrictions because of a sustained surge in the number of coronavirus cases. Here are the new rules: pic.twitter.com/Uiha3aK1mC
— Heather Cherone (@HeatherCherone) October 27, 2020
Stay tuned to UrbanMatter Chicago for more updates as this continues to unfold.
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Featured Image Credit: Screenshot from Lightfoot Press Conference 10/18/20
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The post Chicago COVID-19 News: City Close to Returning to Phase 3 Amidst Surge in Cases (UPDATED 10/27) appeared first on UrbanMatter.
Pritzker, IDPH put high school basketball season on holdMichael O’Brienon October 27, 2020 at 9:33 pm
Gov. J.B. Pritzker answers questions last Wednesday. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Basketball is among a group of winter sports that has been put “on hold” by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Basketball is among a group of winter sports that has been put “on hold” by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
“As with sports in the fall, nothing is ‘cancelled,’ just put on hold until we’re through the thick of this pandemic,” Pritzker said in a statement.
Pritzker announced the decision at a press conference on Tuesday that appeared to blindside the Illinois High School Association, which is holding a special board meeting on Wednesday, after which it was scheduled to make an announcement on winter sports.
“We know that this virus is of most concern when people are indoors with high contact, especially in vigorous situations that bring about heavy breathing like in wrestling, hockey and basketball,” Pritzker said. “Sports played at a distance like tennis can be played and sports that can be modified to have virtual elements, like dance for example, offer more leeway in this moment and the IDPH guidance reflects that.”
Basketball practices were scheduled to start on Nov. 16 and games on Nov. 30. There is now no target date for either to begin.
“This isn’t the news anyone wants to hear,” Pritzker said. “And it is not news that I want to deliver but this virus remains dangerous and deadly to kids and parents and especially grandparents and this is the best thing we can do for the health and safety of families under the current circumstances. Life in a pandemic is hard for everyone.”
The IDPH’s new guidelines raise basketball from a medium risk sport to a higher risk sport. That means competitive games can’t be played until the state reaches Level 3 of the IDPH’s guidelines. Higher risk sports are currently at Level 1. The IDPH has not detailed how the state moves between levels and the current level hasn’t change since the guidelines were first released in late July.
Moving basketball up to the higher risk level likely puts an end to club basketball showcase events and evaluation camps like the Pangos event that was held in La Grange last weekend with players from 10 states.
The IHSA, which expected to announce the news on winter sports after its board meeting on Wednesday, rushed out a statement about a half an hour after Pritzker’s announcement.
“About 15 minutes prior to Governor Pritzker’s press conference today, we were alerted that the [IDPH] has elevated the sport of basketball from a medium risk level to a high risk level,” IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said in a statement. “We remain considerate of the recent rise in positive COVID-19 cases in our state. However, in our meeting with IDPH on Friday, we felt that we presented multiple options that would allow for basketball to be conducted safely by IHSA schools this winter, many of which are being utilized in neighboring states who plan to play high school basketball. Despite that setback, there is some positive news, as IDPH accepted the IHSA’s mitigations related to other sports, including cheerleading and dance, allowing them to move from a medium risk level to a low risk level. We will hold our special Board of Directors meeting on October 28 as scheduled, where our board will provide direction on the other winter sports, as well as discuss the IHSA sports schedule for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.”