(NOTE: Daily press conferences from Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot will be streamed live in the player above. Check back for updates.)
The coronavirus crisis continues to take its toll on the Chicago area and Illinois.
With deaths of famous state natives and first responders making new headlines and warm weather bringing the biggest test of the statewide stay-at-home order, the pandemic has yet to loosen its grip.
Here are the latest developments on the coronavirus crisis today (April 8):
Chicago Police Report 22 Additional Coronavirus Cases
A total of 134 members of the Chicago Police Department have now tested positive for COVID-19, an increase of 22 positive tests in the last 24 hours.
According to the department, 128 sworn police officers have tested positive for the virus, and six civilian members of the department have also tested positive.
In a bit of good news, the department says that three sworn officers who had tested positive for the virus have fully recovered from their symptoms and are back on duty.
Illinois Reports Highest Single-Day Increases in Cases, Deaths Due to COVID-19
Illinois officials say that more than 1,500 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours, and 82 people have died as a result of the virus.
Both of those numbers are new single-day highs in terms of increases, according to officials.
In all, 15,078 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began. The state has reported 462 deaths.
Chicago to Implement Liquor Sales Curfew Beginning Thursday
Beginning Thursday, Chicago will implement a 9 p.m. liquor sales curfew in an effort to stop people from congregating at stores and businesses that sell liquor.
"We are not messing around with this," Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday.
The curfew will remain in effect through the remainder of the statewide stay-at-home order, which lasts through April 30.
"We are putting this curfew in place because too many individuals and businesses have been violating the stay-at-home order," Lightfoot said.
Toni Preckwinkle Self-Isolating After Staff Member Contracts COVID-19
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is self-isolating after a member of her protection detail contracted COVID-19, her office announced Wednesday morning.
The member of her detail was last in the Cook County Building and in a vehicle operated by the security team on March 27, Preckwinkle said in the statement.
46 Members of Chicago Fire Department Have Tested Positive for COVID-19
Several dozen members of the Chicago Fire Department have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the department to 46.
Of those, nine employees had returned to duty as of Tuesday, according to department spokesman Larry Langford. Another 18 department employees are currently quarantined after a confirmed exposure to the coronavirus, he said.
The department announced Tuesday night that Chicago firefighter Mario Araujo died due to complications from the virus.
Celebrated Singer-Songwriter John Prine Dies at 73
John Prine, the ingenious singer-songwriter behind "Angel from Montgomery," "Sam Stone," "Hello in There" and scores of other iconic tunes, died at the age of 73 from complications from the coronavirus, his family announced.
Prine got his start as a musician while delivering mail in Maywood, Illinois. He and his friend, folk singer Steve Goodman, were still polishing their skills at the Old Town School of Folk Music when Kristofferson, a rising star at the time, heard them sing one night in Chicago, and invited them to share his stage in New York City. The late film critic Roger Ebert, then with the Chicago Sun-Times, also saw one of his shows and declared him an "extraordinary new composer."
Chicago Police Begin Roadside Safety and Information Checkpoints to Educate Motorists on 'Stay-at-Home' Order
Chicago police officers set up roadside safety checkpoints overnight to educate motorists on the limitations enforced by the state's "stay-at-home" order.
At the checkpoints, officers give motorists flyers detailing the order. The checkpoints were set up between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. and will continue until Friday morning in all Chicago police districts.
