March 29, 2024

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Here’s what’s happening Friday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area

The daily number of new known coronavirus cases announced by Illinois officials Thursday was the highest in nearly five months, except for a day in early September when the state caught up on a testing backlog.

The 3,059 new known cases represents the first time the daily count has topped 3,000 since May 14, when the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,239 cases. The department reported 5,368 new cases on Sept. 4, but that was because of a backlog in processing test results.

In addition to the newly confirmed cases, which bring the total number of known infections to 310,700 statewide since the pandemic began, officials Thursday reported 32 more confirmed deaths. That brings the death toll to 8,910. Officials also reported 72,491 new tests in the last 24 hours. The seven-day statewide positivity rate is 3.7%.

The new numbers came after Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday that the gains that most regions in Illinois had been making in bringing down COVID-19 positivity rates in recent weeks have “cooled off a bit.” The governor noted specifically that the northeastern region that includes Lake and McHenry counties has seen a reversal after a period of decline.

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Here’s what’s happening Friday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:

7:20 a.m.: Chicago businesses cited for violations of masking rules, 3 ordered shut down long-term after alleged violations of COVID-19 rules

The most frequent citation issued to Chicago businesses by city officials under COVID-19 rules since the lifting of tight coronavirus restrictions in June has been for failure to follow rules requiring masks, while only three businesses have been ordered shut long-term, according to the city.

A total of 149 businesses have had tickets issued by the city’s business affairs department for allegations of violating reopening guidelines, 114 of the citations citing violations of mask rules, according to a city news release. Another 72 businesses have had citations issued related to failure to enforce social-distancing rules, according to the city.

City “investigators will continue to hold businesses accountable to all of the reopening guidelines, especially as we approach Halloween, with a particular focus on the most common violations: failure to ensure proper social distancing, and failure to ensure that employers and customers are wearing face coverings,” the city said.

Long-term closure orders have been issued to three businesses “for egregious and repeated violations of the reopening guidelines,” according to the release. All three were drinking establishments: Wise Owl Drinkery & Cookhouse, 324 S. Racine Ave., Cork & Kerry, 10614 S. Western Ave., and The Lotus Black, 1540 W. North Ave. There have been 42 other businesses issued one-day closure orders because of violations, according to the city.

Of the mask citations, 86 involved failure to ensure customers wore face coverings and 70 involved employees failing to wearing face coverings, according to the city. — Chicago Tribune staff

5 a.m.: No parade on Columbus Day amid pandemic concerns and controversy over explorer’s legacy

There will be a lot less fanfare than usual on Columbus Day in Chicago this year.

As criticism of Christopher Columbus’ place in history has grown, clashes erupted over the removal of statues in his honor this summer and Chicago schools officially dropped his name from the holiday.

Traditionally, Monday would be marked with a parade that celebrates Columbus’ voyage to America and Italian American culture. However, the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, facing a reckoning over Columbus’ legacy and concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, dropped plans for the parade.

The organization plans to host a rally and car procession Monday, according to its website. Organizers did not immediately return requests for comment. The city has no scheduled events. Read the full story here. —Jessica Villagomez and Hannah Leone

5 a.m.: Researchers surprised: 20% of Chicagoans in blood-test study came up positive for coronavirus antibodies

Nearly 1 in 5 Chicago residents who sent blood-spot samples to Northwestern University researchers tested positive for antibodies to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, according to preliminary results of an ongoing study.

That 20% infection rate is higher than the scientists anticipated based on earlier research, said Dr. Elizabeth McNally, director of the Center for Genetic Medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. One study by other Northwestern researchers tested hospital workers from across the Chicago region and found antibodies in less than 5%.

The latest project, called Screening for Coronavirus Antibodies in Neighborhoods, or SCAN, is examining infection rates in five pairs of adjoining Chicago ZIP codes where rates of previously reported COVID-19 cases differed widely. Though the research is continuing, McNally said enough testing has been done to draw some initial conclusions.

Read the full story here. — Hal Dardick

In case you missed it

Here are five things that happened Thursday related to COVID-19:

An IHSA doctor said high school basketball could happen in Illinois if players wear masks.

A Winnetka businessman was charged with price gouging in the sale of protective masks during the pandemic.

The daily count of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Illinois topped 3,000 for the first time since mid-May.

Wisconsin surpassed 3,000 new COVID-19 cases for first time as the Upper Midwest and Plains emerge as troubling hot spots.

Orland Park dropped a lawsuit against Gov. J.B. Pritzker challenging COVID-19 restrictions.

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