Note: Any news conferences from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot or other officials will be streamed in the video player above.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city is officially in its second surge of the coronavirus pandemic as numbers continue to rise to "concerning" levels.
Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker will now deliver daily updates on the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic once again.
The updates come as Illinois' positivity rate continues to rise, with more than 4,200 new coronavirus cases reported statewide on Sunday.
Here are the latest updates from across Illinois on the coronavirus pandemic today (Oct. 19):
Will Illinois See Another Stay-at-Home Order? Here's What Gov. Pritzker Says
As multiple regions across Illinois start to see heightened restrictions due to increased positivity rates during what's being described as a "second surge" of the coronavirus pandemic, could the state see another stay-at-home order?
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It's unlikely, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who noted the state's previous success in targeted mitigations.
"That's not something we're considering right now," Pritzker said when asked about the potential for another order during a press briefing Monday.
Pritzker said the state plans to continue with its current strategy of implementing restrictions in specific locations seeing increased positivity rates.
"We have resurgence plan in place," he said. "It has worked as regions have gone into it and they've come out of it."
‘Not About Punishing Anybody:' Officials Defend COVID-19 Restrictions in Suburban Counties
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration is facing some criticism over its decision to re-impose coronavirus mitigation strategies on bars and restaurants in four healthcare regions, but the governor says that the decisions are meant to be temporary and are based on science and contact tracing.
The Pritzker administration has ordered a halt to indoor dining and bar service in healthcare regions in northwestern and southern Illinois, as well as four suburban counties, as a result of elevated positivity rates in those areas.
New restrictions will go into place Thursday in Region 5, and will go into effect Friday in Kane, DuPage, Will and Kankakee counties.
Those restrictions, which mainly target bars and restaurants, were chosen very carefully, Pritzker says, and are meant to put a stop to spiraling positivity rates and case numbers.
“It’s not about punishing anybody,” he said. “We didn’t pick it because it sounds good or because we want to do it. It’s because all studies done about bars and restaurants show they’re significant spreading locations, and we’re trying to stop that as best we can so that those places can reopen indoor service.”
Illinois Health Officials Identify 3 Primary Locations Where COVID-19 Spreads Most Easily
With indoor bar and restaurant service set to be suspended in at least four healthcare regions across Illinois, health officials are defending their decisions to impact those businesses, calling eateries and taverns “significant spreading locations” of the coronavirus.
Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, says that contact tracing and a multitude of studies have shown that there are three primary locations where the virus is spreading in Illinois and the rest of the United States.
“The top three places that come up over and over again are people’s workplaces, school, and restaurants and bars,” she said.
That data point poses a major problem, as state health officials try to walk a delicate line between allowing businesses to remain open, for children to continue receiving as much in-person education as is safely possible, and to allow bars and restaurants to continue to serve customers.
Ezike broke down each of those challenges in her remarks Tuesday.
“In terms of the workplace, there are simply people who can’t work from home,” she said. “We’re not going to not have people go to school. We’ll continue to let local health departments and school districts decide on what will keep children and teachers safe. The one thing we can act on is bars and restaurants.”
And act is exactly what the state has done in a variety of situations. With positivity rates spiking in Kane, DuPage, Will and Kankakee counties, all indoor bar and restaurant service will be suspended for two weeks effective Friday. In Region 5, located in southern Illinois, indoor service will be suspended beginning Thursday, and such service is already suspended in Region 1, located in northwestern Illinois.
While state officials have been careful not to attribute the recent spike in coronavirus cases and positivity rates to eating in restaurants and drinking at bars, Pritzker says that it is well-documented in various studies and in contact tracing protocols that those locations tend to spread the virus more quickly than other situations, and that is why state officials have been so quick to impose restrictions on those particular establishments.
“It’s because all those studies done about bars and restaurants show they’re significant spreading locations, and we’re trying to stop that as best as we can so those places can reopen indoor service,” Pritzker said.
Indoor Dining, Bar Service Suspended in 4 Suburban Counties Amid New COVID-19 Restrictions
Residents in four suburban counties will see enhanced coronavirus restrictions go into effect on Friday, as Regions 7 and 8 in the state’s healthcare system have exceeded the 8% positivity rate threshold for three consecutive days.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker made the announcement during his daily coronavirus press briefing on Tuesday afternoon. The new restrictions will take effect Friday in the impacted counties, and will include the closure of indoor service at restaurants and bars in the effected counties.
Region 7, comprised of Will and Kankakee counties, had already been under the enhanced mitigation rules earlier this year, but will now go back to those policies for at least the next two weeks, according to Pritzker’s office.
Region 8, comprised of DuPage and Kane counties, has seen its positivity rate spike dramatically, rising from 5.6% on Oct. 8 to 9% on Oct. 17, the last date for which data is currently available.
Those increases in positivity rates mean that all indoor dining and bar service will be suspended effective Friday in those four counties. Capacity limits will also be enforced for outdoor seating at those venues, and gatherings of over 25 people will be prohibited under the restrictions.
All party buses will also be banned in those four counties.
Two other Illinois regions are currently under the enhanced mitigation rules, including Region 1 in northwestern Illinois. Region 5, located in southeastern Illinois, will have the new rules go into effect on Thursday as a result of elevated positivity rates.
Lake County Health Officials Recommend Virtual Learning as COVID-19 Cases Increase
The Lake County Health Department recommended Tuesday that schools transition to remote learning in light of a "substantial" transmission of coronavirus cases in the community.
Health officials said the recommended virtual learning for both private and public schools should protect students, staff and their families from the virus.
“We have been seeing ‘substantial’ community transmission of COVID-19 in Lake County for seven consecutive days, with rates of new cases that we haven’t seen since the spring,” Mark Pfister, executive director at the Lake County Health Department, said. “We continue to work closely with our school superintendents to equip them with data and tools to make informed decisions."
Pfister said the decision is now up to individual school districts to use expertise in making the "difficult decision for the health and safety of their school communities and the greater Lake County community as a whole."
On Oct. 11, the seven-day rolling average new case rate in Lake County was above 14 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, according to a release. Over the past week, the rate has risen to over 20 cases per 100,000 residents.
According to the Northern Illinois Return to Schools Metrics plan, which Lake County uses, over 14 new cases per day per 100,000 residents is considered "substantial" community transmission of the coronavirus.
The health officials' remote learning recommendation says schools can return to hybrid learning once Lake County returns to a "moderate" level, or seven COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, for seven consecutive day, a release said.
“Schools are being asked to utilize virtual learning not because schools are the main driver of our new infections, but because the levels of community transmission warrant extra measures to keep our students, staff, and their families safe," Pfister said. "Schools alone cannot bear this burden—we must all take personal responsibility to keep this virus from spreading in any way that we can.”
Illinois Reports 3,714 New Coronavirus Cases, 41 Deaths as Case Total Tops 350K
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,714 new cases of coronavirus Tuesday, along with 41 additional deaths, nearly double the single-day death toll the state saw Monday.
In all, 350,875 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the state during the pandemic.
Tuesday's additional deaths, which are nearly double the 21 reported Monday, bring the total number of coronavirus-related fatalities to 9,277.
In the last 24 hours, 59,077 tests were returned to state laboratories, meaning that the state has performed 6,883,314 total tests during the pandemic.
The state’s seven-day positivity rate increased once again, going up to 5.5%, an increase from the 5.4% reported Monday. That number is the highest the state has reported since early June.
According to new data, hospitalizations rates are also increased. As of Tuesday, 2,261 people were hospitalized with coronavirus, with 489 patients in the ICU and 195 on ventilators. On Monday, the state reported 2,096 hospitalizations with 485 requiring intensive care unit beds and 179 on ventilators.
Chicago Public Schools Says No Decision Made on Winter Sports Yet
No decision has been made yet on whether Chicago Public Schools will allow winter sports to play, the district said Tuesday.
"The district has not yet made any decisions on the possibility of winter sports and continues to plan for a variety of scenarios to ensure we are prepared for all possible outcomes," spokesperson Emily Bolton said in a statement. "Our final decision will be made in accordance with the state guidelines and informed by our close partners at the Chicago Department of Public Health who will determine if it is safe to proceed with winter sports."
Chicago Public Schools officials announce Friday the district plans to keep all students on remote learning to begin the second quarter, with the goal of bringing some students - pre-k and intensive and moderate cluster programs - back into the classrooms in a phased reopening beginning in January.
Illinois and Chicago health officials have remained firm on their guidance surrounding school sports, despite protests and even a class-action lawsuit demanding change.
"There is higher risk of infection transmission associated with high contact sports. That premise has not changed," Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said in a statement late last month. "There are no plans to amend public health related sports guidance and persistent rumors claiming otherwise makes a challenging time more difficult by giving affected student athletes false hope."
In July, the IHSA announced its plan for the 2020-21 school year, moving some fall sports to the spring and allowing others to continue as planned with restrictions.
Cross country, girls golf, girls swimming and girls tennis were deemed "low-risk" and have been allowed to continue. But that's not the case for other sports like volleyball, soccer and football.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office has repeatedly said that no changes will be made to the current plan for high school sports, saying the governor is following science, but some doctors believe there should be more conversation on the matter.
Contact days, which began on Sept. 7 for CPS athletes, end on Oct. 31.
Meanwhile, boys football, boys soccer, and girls volleyball have been moved to compete in the spring of 2021.
Under the fall plan, CPS teams will only compete against other CPS league teams. They also have the option to practice without competing.
CPS said it is "deeply sympathetic to the students [sic] athletes" eager to return to the court or field. The district said it will inform families when a decision is made, though no timeline was given.
Lightfoot Reportedly Considering Property Tax Increase as Part of Plan to Address Chicago's $1.2B Budget Shortfall
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is reportedly considering a property tax increase as part of her plan to address the city's estimated $1.2 billion budget shortfall.
The Chicago Tribune reported Sunday that sources told the paper that Lightfoot was considering a $94 million property tax increase as well as layoffs for more than 300 city employees and an increase in the gas tax.
When asked Monday about the report, specifically the property tax increase, Lightfoot demurred.
"What I will say is this: on Wednesday, we have a lot to say about the specific ways in which we propose to close the $1.2 billion gap," Lightfoot said. She is scheduled to deliver her annual budget address Wednesday morning, submitting her plan, after releasing in late August a forecast projecting a $1.2 billion shortfall for fiscal year 2021.
That shortfall, Lightfoot said in announcing the projection, was deepened by roughly $799 million due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has cratered revenues like sales tax and more as shutdowns to prevent the spread of the deadly virus have caused widespread economic devastation.
"I've been very clear since my forecast speech on Aug. 31 that we are looking at a range of different tools, because the enormity of this budget gap requires us to look at a number of different options," Lightfoot said Monday.
"We always look internally first; we can't go to taxpayers and ask them for more and we pretend that the status quo turning the size of the budget, the way in which we deliver services, that that's all fine and can't be touched," she continued. "We've got to look internally first, to earn the trust of the taxpayers and demonstrate to them that we are being the fiduciaries that we are obligated to be for their precious hard earned tax dollars."
Lightfoot had previously said in an interview that she couldn't rule out layoffs for city workers due to the shortfall, looking to the federal government for assistance.
“I can’t take it off the table, because we’re still working on solutions for the 2020 budget,” she said in an interview on Aug. 18. “We’re still looking to Washington, but we’re gonna have to formulate some alternative plans if we don’t see that there’s any glimmer of hope of getting more support from Washington DC.”
New Coronavirus Restrictions Go Into Effect Thursday in Illinois' Region 5, Pritzker Says
As coronavirus cases continue to surge around the state of Illinois, three different healthcare regions could be on the verge of having enhanced mitigation strategies put into place as a result of increasing positivity rates.
According to data available through the Illinois Department of Public Health, Region 5, located in southeastern Illinois, has exceeded the 8% threshold for its seven-day positivity rate for three consecutive days.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker says that the region will see new coronavirus mitigation standards put into place on Thursday, including a prohibition on indoor dining and bar service.
There will also be outdoor seating and cut-off times of 11 p.m. on a daily basis for those eateries and taverns.
Gatherings of more than 25 people are also dramatically restricted under the proposed mitigation strategies, and party buses are also banned under the rules.
The news is also bad in Region 7, comprised of Will and Kankakee counties. That region, which had already previously had the enhanced mitigation strategies in place earlier this year, has now exceeded the 8% positivity rate threshold for two consecutive days. That number stands at 8.3% as of Monday, and could trigger additional restrictions this week.
Region 8, comprised of Kane and DuPage counties, is also now over that 8% mark, standing at 8.5% according to the latest IDPH data. Restrictions on that region could also come down in coming days.
Region 1, located in northwestern Illinois, is already under enhanced mitigation rules, but has seen its positivity rate climb to an alarming 11.1% in recent days.
Several other regions are also nearing potentially bad territory when it comes to positivity rates, with Regions 3, 4 and 9 all currently over 7% positivity. Cook County and Chicago are both over 6% in positivity rates, as is Region 2, which stands at 6.9% as of Monday.
Gov. Pritzker to Resume Daily Coronavirus Updates as 'Things Have Changed'
Gov. J.B. Pritzker will once again deliver daily coronavirus briefings alongside the Illinois' top public health official as coronavirus cases rise statewide during the pandemic, sparking concerns over a "second wave" of the virus.
"While we continue to see a safer pandemic landscape than back in the spring - in terms of positivity, hospital capacity, and community spread - and safer than much of the Midwest, things have changed," Pritzker announced on Oct. 19. "Every region of the state has started to move in the wrong direction. Cases, positivity rates, hospitalizations and deaths are rising statewide. So to ensure you have utmost transparency on where the state is headed, Dr. Ezike and I will resume these COVID-19 briefings on a daily basis until Illinois returns to a better standing in our handling of this pandemic."
Pritzker had delivered daily updates early on in the pandemic, but those updates were reduced to weekly briefings over the summer "as Illinois began to see relative success in keeping this virus at bay."
Watch the daily updates live here.
'Do Not Invite Anyone Over' to Your Home, Chicago's Top Doctor Urges
Chicago's top doctor urged residents to not invite anyone into their homes or apartments as the city experiences multiple coronavirus "warning signs" and enters what officials are calling a "second surge" in the pandemic.
"Please do not invite anyone over to your house or apartment," Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Monday. "This is not the time for non-essential gatherings, period."
Arwady's comments come as city officials held a press conference to "sound the alarm" on rising metrics across Chicago.
Currently, Chicago is reporting an average of more than 500 new coronavirus cases daily, the "highest daily rate since the tail end of the first surge at the end of May," officials said.
As of Monday, Chicago was seeing a 7-day rolling average of 508 new cases per day, according to the city's coronavirus data dashboard. That marks a significant increase from the roughly 300 new cases per day rolling average the city was seeing just three weeks earlier when restrictions were eased.
The numbers also coincide with a 25% increase in non-ICU COVID-19 hospitalizations since Sept. 22, according to city data.
"This is the second surge that Dr. Fauci and Dr. Arwady have been warning about since March," Mayor Lori Lightfoot said. "And we are now in it."
Health officials said numbers in Chicago show that a majority of coronavirus patients know the person who gave it to them. According to data, two out of every three Chicagoans diagnosed knew the person who became the source of their infection. A majority of those infections came from interactions within a home, Arwady added.
"The virus is just looking for opportunities to spread," Arwady said.
Arwady pleaded with residents to wear masks, even while inside homes and to not invite people into homes who don't already live there, unless they must come for essential reasons.
"We are in the beginning of a second surge here and now is the time to do the things we have in our arsenal," Arwady said.
Illinois Reports 3,113 New Coronavirus Cases, 22 Additional Deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,113 new cases of coronavirus Monday, along with 22 additional deaths.
In all, 347,161 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the state during the pandemic.
Monday's additional deaths bring the total number of coronavirus-related fatalities to 9,236.
In the last 24 hours, 48,684 tests were returned to state laboratories, meaning that the state has performed 6,824,237 total tests during the pandemic.
The state’s seven-day positivity rate increased once again, going up to 5.4%. That number is the highest the state has reported since early June, and comes as the state has reported nearly 25,000 cases last week, the highest seven-day total since the pandemic began.
According to new data, 2,096 Illinois residents remain hospitalized as a result of the virus, with 485 requiring intensive care unit beds, according to IDPH data. As of Monday, 179 patients were on ventilators.
Officials Warn Chicago Could Bring Back Restrictions if Coronavirus Numbers Don't Slow
Chicago could see the return of some restrictions in the coming days if the city's coronavirus metrics continue rising in the midst of what officials said is now a "second surge" of the virus.
"To further fight the spread of COVID-19, the city is considering additional measures in the coming days, including bringing back restrictions on businesses," a release from the mayor's office read Monday.
In a press conference to "sound the alarm," Chicago's top doctor said the city won't wait until the state-mandated 8% positivity threshold to increase restrictions.
"We continue to follow the same framework that we set out way back in June," Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Monday. "We will follow all of those metrics. We will be looking to make decisions about what needs to happen."
Lightfoot warned that if the numbers continue rising, the city could see returns to phase three restrictions.
"We will not hesitate to take the steps to save our city and save our residents," she said.
Currently, Chicago is reporting an average of more than 500 new coronavirus cases daily, the "highest daily rate since the tail end of the first surge at the end of May," officials said.
As of Monday, Chicago was seeing a 7-day rolling average of 508 new cases per day, according to the city's coronavirus data dashboard. That marks a significant increase from the roughly 300 new cases per day rolling average the city was seeing just three weeks earlier when restrictions were eased.
The numbers also coincide with a 25% increase in non-ICU COVID-19 hospitalizations since Sept. 22, according to city data.
"This is the second surge that Dr. Fauci and Dr. Arwady have been warning about since March," Lightfoot said. "And we are now in it."
'Make No Mistake - We Are in the 2nd Surge,' Chicago's Mayor Warns as Coronavirus Cases Rise
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city is in the midst of a second coronavirus surge as cases continue to rise at "concerning" levels, sparking warnings that some restrictions could soon return.
"This is the second surge that Dr. Fauci and Dr. Arwady have been warning about since March," Lightfoot said. "And we are now in it."
She said while the surge is not surprising, she attributed it largely to the fact that "COVID thrives in enclosed spaces."
"We've been talking about these kinds of risks now from the very beginning," she said.
Currently, Chicago is reporting an average of more than 500 new coronavirus cases daily, the "highest daily rate since the tail end of the first surge at the end of May," officials said.
As of Monday, Chicago was seeing a 7-day rolling average of 508 new cases per day, according to the city's coronavirus data dashboard. That marks a significant increase from the roughly 300 new cases per day rolling average the city was seeing just three weeks earlier when restrictions were eased.
Lightfoot warned that if the numbers continue rising, the city could see returns to phase three restrictions.
"We will not hesitate to take the steps to save our city and save our residents," she said.
Mayor Lightfoot to Update on Chicago's COVID-19 Response
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady are set to provide an update on the city's response to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Lightfoot's public schedule.
The news conference will be held at 9:15 a.m. at City Hall, Lightfoot's office said. It can be watched live in the video player above.
Gov. Pritzker to Deliver COVID-19 Update
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to make two public appearances, including a COVID-19 update, on Monday, according to his public schedule.
Pritzker's first event will be an announcement of the "next wave of funding for Broadband grants," according to his office. That event will take place at 10:30 a.m. CST in Staunton.
The second will be a COVID-19 update at the Jackson County Health Department in Murphysboro, his schedule says. That update will be held at 2:30 p.m.
The COVID-19 update can we watched live in the video player above.
Northwestern School Halts In-Person Classes After Positive COVID-19 Tests
Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management says it has suspended in-person classes for two weeks after four students who attended recent off-campus gatherings tested positive for COVID-19.
Kellogg’s program for full-time Master of Business Administration students, based in Evanston, will shift to remote learning Monday through Oct. 30, a school spokesman said.
Northwestern's announcement Friday came two days after the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business announced it would go remote due to an increase in COVID-19 cases among its students. More than 100 students were told to quarantine after a large group of full-time MBA students gathered off-campus on Chicago’s North Side, many without face coverings, the school said.
Illinois Reports 4,245 New Coronavirus Cases, 22 Additional Deaths
The positivity rate in the state of Illinois kept up its rapid rise on Sunday, as the seven-day rate now stands at 5.3%, its highest level since early June.
According to new data from the Illinois Department of Public Health, 4,245 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed over the last 24 hours, the second-largest single day increase in the number of cases since the pandemic began.
Illinois has now reported 4,000 or more cases on three of the last four days, according to IDPH figures.
In all, 344,048 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the state during the pandemic.
On Sunday, health officials confirmed 22 additional deaths, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related fatalities to 9,214.
In the last 24 hours, 79,296 tests were returned to state laboratories, meaning that the state has performed 6,775,553 total tests during the pandemic.
The state’s seven-day positivity rate increased once again, going up to 5.3%. That number is the highest the state has reported since early June, and comes as the state has reported nearly 25,000 cases in the last week, the highest seven-day total since the pandemic began.
More than 2,000 Illinois residents remain hospitalized as a result of the virus, with 408 requiring intensive care unit beds, according to IDPH data.
‘Tighten Up Your Social Circles,’ Chicago Doctor Says as COVID-19 Cases Surge
The University of Chicago doctor who captured the nation’s attention with an impassioned, and rather blunt, plea for social distancing is advising people to hunker down and to limit their social contacts as Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin all see record numbers of coronavirus cases.
“It looks a bit like we’re climbing a mountain,” Dr. Emily Landon, executive medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at the University of Chicago Medicine, said. “We went up in March and April, then came down a bit. Now we’re going back up again.”
Landon added that she’s concerned the current peak will be higher than the one Illinois experienced in the summer, but says she understands why residents are getting frustrated with continued restrictions.
“Everyone is getting sick of COVID,” she said. “I’m getting sick of it, you’re getting sick of COVID, and the idea of continuing to make sacrifices as we head into the fall and to have another winter stuck at home is weighing heavily on people’s minds.”
Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin Each Broke Coronavirus Case Records Friday
Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin each broke their own records Friday for the most new coronavirus cases reported statewide in a single day since the pandemic began.
It marks the second day in a row each of the three states have set records in the category as the virus continues to grip the Midwest.
Illinois' daily case total topped 4,000 for the second straight day as the state also reported its highest single-day testing total of the pandemic so far.
The 4,554 new cases mark an increase of 13% over the previous one-day high, which was reported on Thursday.
Illinois also broke its record for the most cases reported in the past seven days, with 22,656 new cases added. That’s the third-highest in the nation, behind only Texas at 28,014 cases and California at 23,601.
While the state saw a record 87,759 tests in the previous 24 hours, the increasing number of cases can't be entirely attributed to the large amount of tests conducted. That's because the 7-day rolling statewide positivity rate also jumped from 4.9% to 5.1% on Friday, continuing a gradual rise and crossing 5% for the first time in several weeks.
At the same time, health officials in Indiana reported 2,328 new cases of coronavirus, the state's first-ever daily total above 2,000.
While the state has also seen an increase in testing over the last few days, the positivity rate there spiked on Friday, jumping from 5.4% to 5.8% on all tests over the last seven days and from 9.9% to 10.4% on individuals tested.
Indiana is now averaging more new coronavirus cases, per day, than the state ever has before.
Meanwhile, in Wisconsin broke its daily case record for the third time in a week as a surge that began in early September shows no signs of abating.
The state also hit record highs for daily deaths and hospitalizations this week as a third lawsuit was filed arguing that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers had overstepped his authority by issuing public health emergencies and implementing a statewide mask mandate and capacity limits for bars and restaurants.
There were 3,861 new coronavirus cases reported in Wisconsin on Friday by the state Department of Health Services, breaking the previous record set just a day earlier of 3,747.
Wisconsin is now reporting so many daily cases, that it ranks fourth in the country for its seven-day tally of new cases, behind Illinois, which has more than twice its population.
The state’s positivity rate did decrease by one tenth of a percentage point Friday, dropping from 20.8% to 20.7%.
As a result of these two days’ worth of record-breaking numbers in the three states surrounding the Chicago area, more than 20,000 [20,467] have become sick with coronavirus in the past 48 hours.
And in that same 48 hours, in these three states, 174 people have died.
Across the Midwest, similar trends are being reported.
Minnesota health officials reported nearly 2,300 new coronavirus cases Friday, the first time the state has surpassed the 2,000 mark since the pandemic began.
Friday’s case count was 50% higher than the state's last daily record of 1,516 cases set last Saturday. The results came on record-high testing.
North Dakota leads the country with 978 cases per 100,000 residents as of Thursday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, followed by South Dakota at 893 cases per 100,000 residents. Wisconsin ranked fourth at 639, while Iowa was ninth at 432.
Missouri has reached record hospitalization levels several times over the past few weeks, with the latest record of 1,443 being set Wednesday. Data has not yet been released for Thursday or Friday.
34 Illinois Counties Now at 'Warning Level' for Coronavirus, Health Officials Say
Thirty-four counties in Illinois are now at a "warning level" for coronavirus, the state's health department said Friday
The warning means each of the counties saw increases in two or more COVID-19 "risk indicators," the health department said.
The counties now under a warning include: Adams, Alexander, Boone, Cass, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, DeKalb, DeWitt, Jasper, Jefferson, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Kane, Lee, Macon, McDonough, McHenry Mercer, Monroe, Pike, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Stephenson, Union, Vermilion, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago.
Last week, 26 counties were at a "warning level." The week before that it was 28.
"Although the reasons for counties reaching a warning level varies, some of the common factors for an increase in cases and outbreaks are associated with university and college parties as well as college sports teams, large gatherings and events, bars and clubs, weddings and funerals, family gatherings, long-term care facilities, correctional centers, schools, and cases among the community at large, especially people in their 20s," the Illinois Department of Public Health said in a statement.
IDPH said officials observed businesses "blatantly disregarding mitigation measures, people not social distancing, gathering in large groups and not using face coverings."
"Mayors, local law enforcement, state’s attorneys and other community leaders can be influential in ensuring citizens and businesses follow best practices," IDPH added.
Quarantine Requirement Begins for Anyone Coming to Chicago From Indiana
A quarantine requirement for anyone traveling to Chicago from Indiana began Friday as the state was officially added to the city's emergency travel order.
Officials announced Tuesday that Indiana and three other states would be added to Chicago's travel order, effective Friday, with few exceptions to the quarantine requirement.
States are added to the list if they have "a case rate greater than 15 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 resident population, per day, over a 7-day rolling average." If they fall below that threshold, they could be removed as well.
The city's travel order is evaluated every Tuesday, with any additions taking effect the following Friday.
Students and people who usually travel to Indiana for work are exempt from the quarantine restrictions, but only if they travel for school and work purposes. People needing medical care or those traveling for parental shared custody are also exempt.
CPS Announces Plan for Second Quarter, With Aim to Bring Some Students Back in Schools
Chicago Public Schools on Friday announced its plan for the second quarter of the school year as the coronavirus pandemic continues, with all students beginning with remote learning as the district says it aims to bring back some in a phased reopening.
CPS said in a statement that it plans to begin its phased reopening with the "most vulnerable students in pre-k and intensive and moderate cluster programs who encounter significant challenges participating in remote learning without the support of a guardian, which further exacerbates inequities."
The students returning to classrooms would be brought back as early as January, with time needed to prepare the "significant new operational processes needed to open schools," CPS said. The district plans to reach out to parents of students in other grades later this year to gauge their interest in their students returning to the classroom.
“We have a moral imperative to do everything in our power to safely open our schools for our youngest and most vulnerable learners who cannot be served well enough by any form of remote learning,” CPS CEO Dr. Janice Jackson said in a statement. “The availability of safe, in-person instruction is an issue of equity and if public health officials continue to support in-person instruction and parents choose to participate, we will be eager to open our doors as soon as possible.”
CPS said it will send all parents and guardians of pre-K and cluster program students an intent form on Oct. 21 to indicate if they will feel comfortable sending their children to school, asking them to return it by Oct. 28. The district noted that parents will have the option to opt out at any time and that each school will hold a meeting to answer any questions before a potential reopening.
CPS said a final decision on in-person learning would be made in conjunction with the Chicago Department of Public Health closer to the beginning of the second quarter, which falls on Nov. 9.
"Though remote learning has allowed a great number of our students to safely continue learning in light of COVID-19, the fact of the matter is that it has also exacerbated social and economic inequities—preventing our youngest students, cluster program students and students of color from getting the high-quality education they deserve," Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement. "We are working on a thoughtful and strategic plan that lays a strong foundation for a return to in-person learning. With the collaboration of CPS and CDPH, we will ensure that this next phase is engaging, equitable and above all, safe—especially for our most vulnerable students."
The district said it has committed to several measures to keep anyone inside school buildings safe. Those efforts include:
- Face Coverings: Cloth face coverings will be provided to all staff and students and required at all times.
- Pods: Students and educators will be grouped into stable pods or small class sizes to minimize exposure to other students, allow for social distancing in classrooms, and support contact tracing
- Daily Screenings: Temperature checks, hand washing, and daily symptom screenings are required before students enter the classroom.
- Testing: To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the district will ensure that any student or staff member who is symptomatic or a close contact of someone who tested positive has access to a free COVID-19 test.
- Contact Tracing: To help reduce the transmission of COVID-19, CPS has hired dedicated staff to support the intake of cases and provide proper notification. CPS will work in coordination with CDPH to ensure that those identified as close contacts have rapid contact tracing and are connected to city resources such as monitoring and testing.
- Additional Custodians: To ensure comprehensive cleaning protocols are completed every day, the district is hiring 400 additional custodians.
- Sanitizer and Soap: The district invested over $3.5 million to secure over 50,000 hand sanitizer dispensers in all high-traffic areas and soap dispensers to support regular hand washing and sanitizing.
- Disinfectant Wipes: The district allocated over $2 million to purchase 86,000 containers of EPA approved disinfectant wipes for classrooms, offices and other high-touch areas.
- Hospital-Grade Disinfectant Sprayers: Every CPS school has a hospital-grade mister spray unit that will evenly apply EPA-approved disinfectant for maximum disinfection.
- Community Notifications: CPS adopted consistent procedures and community notification protocols developed by CDPH to respond to any confirmed cases of COVID-19. To ensure public awareness, the district is tracking confirmed COVID cases at cps.edu/school-reopening-2020.
- Sneeze Guards and Signage: All schools installed sneeze guards and other physical barriers to protect staff when visitors arrive, and posted signage throughout school facilities to emphasize new policies and procedures.
The Chicago Teachers Union said in a statement Thursday, in anticipation of a the plan's release, that an effort to bring students and teachers back to schools "defies the science and puts thousands of students, family members and educators at risk from the deadly pandemic."
"The mayor's move to in-person learning also defies the standards that CPS itself set this summer, when the district said that the city should be showing fewer than 400 new cases daily based on a seven-day rolling average, or fewer than 200 new cases daily if those numbers come with concerning epidemiological factors like rapid increase of cases and inadequate hospital capacity," the union said in a statement.
