dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-21--Pritzker: 168 new COVID-19 cases, one new death

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker Saturday asked medical professionals like doctors and nurses who had recently retired or switched jobs to return and help combat the COVID-19 disease outbreak .
`` Come back and join the fight ; we need your help now , '' said Pritzker , reminding Illinoisans that a stay at home order begins at 5 p.m. Saturday in order to tamp down the disease spread .
The state also announced 168 new cases of the respiratory disease , which brings the state 's total to 753 .
A Cook County man in his 70s has died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , Illinois Department of Health Director Ngozi Ezike said .
Cases spiked in Cook County from 411 announced Friday to 548 Saturday , records show , although that 's also due to increased testing .
By county , DuPage has 65 COVID-19 cases , Lake has 63 , Will has 12 , McHenry has 11 and Kane has 8 , data from the state 's coronavirus website show .
No new patients have emerged at a Willowbrook nursing home where an outbreak occurred .
That means people should hunker down and avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that necessary businesses will remain open .
`` The grocery stores , the gas stations and pharmacies will all be open tomorrow , and Monday and Tuesday and every day after that ... and they are being constantly restocked , '' Pritzker said .
`` In fact , you would be better off going to the store Monday than today . ''
The new restrictions ban gatherings of 10 or more people and close licensed child-care centers serving more than six children .
Pritzker urged residents with questions to consult the FAQ tab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The more people stay at home , the less the disease will spread , '' Ezike said .
She noted that the `` vast majority of people recover uneventfully without being in an intensive care unit or on a ventilator . ''
But Pritzker added that `` the numbers of people overall who are getting COVID-19 are so large , even the small number who have trouble recovering '' has the potential to overwhelm the health-care system .
The state will expedite re-licensing for medical professionals seeking to re-engage and more information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Financial and Professional Regulation website .
Pritzker has set April 8 as a tentative date when public and private schools from kindergarten to grade 12 would reopen .
But he could n't say when the situation would normalize , explaining more people need to be tested before scientists can estimate a peak , then a downward trend in cases .
Asked about supplies of masks , gowns and other personal protective equipment ( PPE ) , Pritzker said `` it 's true everyone would like to have more PPE . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ every day I reach out to manufacturers and distributors to get more PPE. ''
I must admit we 're getting no help ... or I should say limited help from the federal government , '' Pritzker said regarding PPE and test kits for COVID-19 .
But `` private companies are developing rapid COVID-19 tests that do n't take four to five hours ... you can do it on the spot .
That would be a revolution , '' Pritzker said .

Pritzker: 168 new COVID-19 cases, one new death
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, shown here Friday, is ordering people to stay at home whenever possible to curtail the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Associated Press
Gov. J.B. Pritzker Saturday asked medical professionals like doctors and nurses who had recently retired or switched jobs to return and help combat the COVID-19 disease outbreak.
"Come back and join the fight; we need your help now," said Pritzker, reminding Illinoisans that a stay at home order begins at 5 p.m. Saturday in order to tamp down the disease spread.
The state also announced 168 new cases of the respiratory disease, which brings the state's total to 753.
A Cook County man in his 70s has died from COVID-19, the sixth fatality in the state, Illinois Department of Health Director Ngozi Ezike said. Cases spiked in Cook County from 411 announced Friday to 548 Saturday, records show, although that's also due to increased testing.
By county, DuPage has 65 COVID-19 cases, Lake has 63, Will has 12, McHenry has 11 and Kane has 8, data from the state's coronavirus website show. No new patients have emerged at a Willowbrook nursing home where an outbreak occurred.
On Friday, Pritzker issued a stay-at-home order lasting through April 7.
That means people should hunker down and avoid nonessential travel, he said, adding that necessary businesses will remain open.
"The grocery stores, the gas stations and pharmacies will all be open tomorrow, and Monday and Tuesday and every day after that ... and they are being constantly restocked," Pritzker said. "In fact, you would be better off going to the store Monday than today."
The new restrictions ban gatherings of 10 or more people and close licensed child-care centers serving more than six children. Pritzker urged residents with questions to consult the FAQ tab on the state's coronavirus website.
"The more people stay at home, the less the disease will spread," Ezike said. She noted that the "vast majority of people recover uneventfully without being in an intensive care unit or on a ventilator."
But Pritzker added that "the numbers of people overall who are getting COVID-19 are so large, even the small number who have trouble recovering" has the potential to overwhelm the health-care system.
The state will expedite re-licensing for medical professionals seeking to re-engage and more information will be available Monday on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation website.
Pritzker has set April 8 as a tentative date when public and private schools from kindergarten to grade 12 would reopen.
But he couldn't say when the situation would normalize, explaining more people need to be tested before scientists can estimate a peak, then a downward trend in cases.
Asked about supplies of masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment (PPE), Pritzker said "it's true everyone would like to have more PPE." The state has an inventory but "every day I reach out to manufacturers and distributors to get more PPE.
" I must admit we're getting no help ... or I should say limited help from the federal government," Pritzker said regarding PPE and test kits for COVID-19.
But "private companies are developing rapid COVID-19 tests that don't take four to five hours ... you can do it on the spot. That would be a revolution," Pritzker said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-21--'The right thing to do': Suburban weddings canceled because of coronavirus

Invitations were sent .
Vendors were secured .
A wedding dress was purchased in India .
A guest list of more than 450 was taking shape .
All the details were falling into place for Nate Miller and his fiancee , Harjot Sangha , who planned to get married April 25 at a gurdwara in Palatine .
The traditional Punjabi Sikh ceremony was expected to be followed by a reception at a Downers Grove banquet hall , culminating a daylong celebration that required months of preparation .
Then less than two weeks ago , as fears of the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Australia asking if the wedding was still on .
At first , Miller and Sangha replied with a confident `` yes . ''
But by March 15 -- just a few days later -- they knew they would have to cancel .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker banned gatherings of more than 50 people the next day , prompting the cancellation of weddings and other momentous occasions statewide .
But Miller and Sangha were among the suburban couples who had been grappling with the decision not because of a mandate but out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and friends .
`` It 's a tough time for everyone , obviously .
The most important thing is keeping everyone healthy and doing our part , '' Miller said .
`` As hard as it is to have to cancel , we knew it was the right thing to do . ''
The situation is having a severe impact on banquet halls such as The Seville in Streamwood , which is operating with a skeleton crew for the next several weeks as large events are forced to shut down , owner Ganesh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great uncertainty , he said , the venue 's top priority is ensuring all customers for the next couple of months are accommodated -- especially brides and grooms .
With wedding venues typically booked a year in advance , couples have been understandably emotional as they call to reschedule for later this year , or even into 2021 , Subramanian said .
Finding an available date on the venue 's calendar that works for everyone can be tricky , he said , but `` we are trying our best . ''
Those with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also face frustrations as they try to predict how long the pandemic will last .
`` For the people who have planned their weddings now , I feel so sorry for each of them , '' Subramanian said .
`` The next ( few ) weeks are going to be so critical to have more clarity . ''
That sense of uncertainty remains for Miller and Sangha , soon-to-be Barrington residents who are still hoping to hold an intimate ceremony April 25 in front of a small group of loved ones .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic blows over .
But if a stay-at-home order extends into late next month , Miller said , their plans to officially tie the knot also might be postponed .
For Lake Zurich resident Nina Pece and her fiance , Justin Greenhalgh , the decision to put off their March 28 wedding until September was made before any official government mandate .
As the number of coronavirus cases increased nationwide this month , the couple reached out to their vendors and started considering the severity of the situation .
Already `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were most at risk , Pece said , they realized the most responsible move would be to postpone their special day until it was safe for all their loved ones to enjoy it .
Though it was necessary , Pece said , it was n't an easy call .
`` We had everything done .
Everything was ready to go , '' she said .
`` I 'm sad .
This is your childhood dream to get married , and I respect why we have to do it , but it still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new set of challenges , Pece said .
Though their venue , the Bartlett Hills Golf Club , has been extremely accommodating , some other vendors had scheduling conflicts with their September date , she said .
And extra time and money will have to go into sending new invitations and creating a new set of programs .
But Pece and Greenhalgh are trying to think of the positives : September will be a beautiful time of year for a wedding , their family and friends will still be there to celebrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer be a global pandemic .
`` We need to do what 's best for us and our families , '' she said .
`` We need to help flatten the curve . ''

'The right thing to do': Suburban weddings canceled because of coronavirus
March 28 no longer has the same meaning for Nina Pece and Justin Greenhalgh, whose wedding next weekend has been postponed to September because of the coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy of JPP Studios
Lake Zurich resident Nina Pece and her fiance, Justin Greenhalgh, had to postpone their March 28 wedding until September because of the coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy of JPP Studios
Nate Miller and Harjot Sangha had to cancel their April 25 wedding reception because of the coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy of Nate Miller
Invitations were sent. Vendors were secured. A wedding dress was purchased in India. A guest list of more than 450 was taking shape.
All the details were falling into place for Nate Miller and his fiancee, Harjot Sangha, who planned to get married April 25 at a gurdwara in Palatine. The traditional Punjabi Sikh ceremony was expected to be followed by a reception at a Downers Grove banquet hall, culminating a daylong celebration that required months of preparation.
Then less than two weeks ago, as fears of the coronavirus pandemic escalated worldwide, Sangha's cousin called from Australia asking if the wedding was still on.
At first, Miller and Sangha replied with a confident "yes." But by March 15 -- just a few days later -- they knew they would have to cancel.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker banned gatherings of more than 50 people the next day, prompting the cancellation of weddings and other momentous occasions statewide. But Miller and Sangha were among the suburban couples who had been grappling with the decision not because of a mandate but out of concerns for the safety of their family and friends.
"It's a tough time for everyone, obviously. The most important thing is keeping everyone healthy and doing our part," Miller said. "As hard as it is to have to cancel, we knew it was the right thing to do."
The situation is having a severe impact on banquet halls such as The Seville in Streamwood, which is operating with a skeleton crew for the next several weeks as large events are forced to shut down, owner Ganesh Subramanian said.
In a time of great uncertainty, he said, the venue's top priority is ensuring all customers for the next couple of months are accommodated -- especially brides and grooms.
With wedding venues typically booked a year in advance, couples have been understandably emotional as they call to reschedule for later this year, or even into 2021, Subramanian said. Finding an available date on the venue's calendar that works for everyone can be tricky, he said, but "we are trying our best."
Those with weddings planned for later in the spring also face frustrations as they try to predict how long the pandemic will last.
"For the people who have planned their weddings now, I feel so sorry for each of them," Subramanian said. "The next (few) weeks are going to be so critical to have more clarity."
That sense of uncertainty remains for Miller and Sangha, soon-to-be Barrington residents who are still hoping to hold an intimate ceremony April 25 in front of a small group of loved ones.
The couple are putting off their reception until the coronavirus pandemic blows over. But if a stay-at-home order extends into late next month, Miller said, their plans to officially tie the knot also might be postponed.
For Lake Zurich resident Nina Pece and her fiance, Justin Greenhalgh, the decision to put off their March 28 wedding until September was made before any official government mandate.
As the number of coronavirus cases increased nationwide this month, the couple reached out to their vendors and started considering the severity of the situation. Already "sick with worry" for their guests who were most at risk, Pece said, they realized the most responsible move would be to postpone their special day until it was safe for all their loved ones to enjoy it.
Though it was necessary, Pece said, it wasn't an easy call.
"We had everything done. Everything was ready to go," she said. "I'm sad. This is your childhood dream to get married, and I respect why we have to do it, but it still hurts."
Rescheduling also comes with a new set of challenges, Pece said. Though their venue, the Bartlett Hills Golf Club, has been extremely accommodating, some other vendors had scheduling conflicts with their September date, she said. And extra time and money will have to go into sending new invitations and creating a new set of programs.
But Pece and Greenhalgh are trying to think of the positives: September will be a beautiful time of year for a wedding, their family and friends will still be there to celebrate, and hopefully, the coronavirus will no longer be a global pandemic.
"We need to do what's best for us and our families," she said. "We need to help flatten the curve."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-21--How first responders have changed what they do in midst of COVID-19

If you tried to visit your local police or fire station recently , you might have been disconcerted to find a locked front door .
Suburban cops and firefighters are making it clear -- they remain there to serve people and will continue to respond to emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic .
But they are also taking precautions to protect themselves , and the public , from the risk for transmission .
`` Our focus as fire chiefs and police chiefs is to protect our workforce so we do n't lose a significant number of our workforce to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District Chief Keith Krestan said .
Arlington Heights Police Chief Nick Pecora echoed that .
`` That human contact that is unnecessary to our core services is being temporarily suspended , so we can reduce the possibility of transmission to our staff to ensure we have a healthy workforce to deliver services to the community . ''
Three firefighters in Highland Park and four firefighters in Elgin were placed in isolation in recent days due to exposure to patients who tested positive for the new coronavirus .
Fire department triage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member going in first to assess patients and see if they can walk outside on their own , fire officials said .
Otherwise , the rest of the crew will follow , but that means using more protective equipment , which everyone wants to conserve as much as possible .
Mundelein Fire Deputy Chief Darren Brents said firefighters are taking precautions for all calls , including things like sprained ankles .
`` We still assess them from a few feet away .
If they are coughing or sneezing , we 'll put a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
Precautions also are in place for fire alarm responders , Krestan said .
`` We are limiting people going into buildings .
If we do n't have to have people in buildings or people 's houses , we are not putting people in that position , '' he said .
Police departments ' precautionary measures include stopping fingerprinting services for the public , taking nonemergency reports via phone or online , and letting people into the building based on urgency of the report -- a crime victim , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stolen , not so much .
911 operators are asking health-related questions to screen people for symptoms of COVID-19 , so first responders are prepared to take precautions such as wearing gloves and face masks .
Gurnee police have closed the 911 dispatch center to anyone except communications personnel , Det .
Shawn Gaylor said .
`` The dispatchers , as much as the police officers and first responders from the fire department , they need to be there 24/7 to respond , so that 's just as important , '' she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing from each other .
In Naperville , police employees are asked to walk to each other 's offices for work-related reasons only , and roll call is being done electronically because of the recommendation to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people , Cmdr .
Mike Son said .
`` In a first responder situation , you have to protect yourself and others , and you also do n't want to go home and expose your own family , '' he said .
Firefighter/paramedics always have had personal protective equipment in ambulances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being outfitted with things like gloves , face masks and eye protection .
In Pingree Grove , police Lt. Chris Harris and Chief Shawn Beane spent a day assembling kits that also include rags , hand sanitizer , plastic and paper bags , and a disposable container for soiled materials .
Pingree Grove officers now respond to nonemergency calls by parking outside homes and using their cellphones to call residents , to either take a report by phone or initiate contact if necessary , Harris said .
The goal is to reassure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic by impersonating officers , he said .
Police calls and traffic crashes have decreased in the last week after people started staying home and businesses closed to the public , suburban officials said .
In Arlington Heights , Metra commuter parking spaces had 7.6 % occupancy on Wednesday , compared to up to 95 % normally , Pecora said .
There were 33 calls for service that day , compared to 65 on the same day a year ago .
Call volumes have dropped in Gurnee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of people are holding back and taking this one day at a time , and dealing with their kids and handling things at home . ''
Gurnee cops will continue to patrol Gurnee Mills , which closed Thursday like other suburban malls , to make sure no thieves take advantage , Gaylor said .
There 's been no increase so far in fire department calls because people are heeding the advice of calling their primary care providers if they have COVID-19 symptoms , fire officials said .
So how are fire responders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stressful but we take it day by day , '' Harris said .
The psychological effect will increase over time , Brents said .
`` For the time being , our guys are in good spirits .
Everybody is enjoying coming to work and everybody is serious about it . ''
In the end , it 's about doing your job , Pecora said .
`` It 's kind of cliche , but this is what we signed up for .
When something catastrophic happens , when somebody is having the worst day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They call the police or the fire department , '' he said .
`` ( The COVID-19 outbreak ) is a unique circumstance that requires extraordinary measures , and what 's what we are trained to do . ''

How first responders have changed what they do in midst of COVID-19
Pingree Grove police Lt. Chris Harris holds a surgical mask that's part of a personal protective equipment kit he and police chief Shawn Beane put together for squad cars in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. Rick West | Staff Photographer
Pingree Grove police Lt. Chris Harris runs through the contents of a personal protective equipment kit he and police Chief Shawn Beane put together amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The kit includes the nitrile gloves and protective eyewear he is holding as well as a surgical mask, full body cover-up and other items. Rick West | Staff Photographer
If you tried to visit your local police or fire station recently, you might have been disconcerted to find a locked front door.
Suburban cops and firefighters are making it clear -- they remain there to serve people and will continue to respond to emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. But they are also taking precautions to protect themselves, and the public, from the risk for transmission.
"Our focus as fire chiefs and police chiefs is to protect our workforce so we don't lose a significant number of our workforce to have a significant impact on our operations," Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District Chief Keith Krestan said.
Arlington Heights Police Chief Nick Pecora echoed that. "That human contact that is unnecessary to our core services is being temporarily suspended, so we can reduce the possibility of transmission to our staff to ensure we have a healthy workforce to deliver services to the community."
Three firefighters in Highland Park and four firefighters in Elgin were placed in isolation in recent days due to exposure to patients who tested positive for the new coronavirus. And on Saturday, Aurora said a member of the police supervisory staff tested positive for COVID-19. The person is improving and expected to make a full recovery.
Fire department triage protocols have changed, with one crew member going in first to assess patients and see if they can walk outside on their own, fire officials said. Otherwise, the rest of the crew will follow, but that means using more protective equipment, which everyone wants to conserve as much as possible.
Mundelein Fire Deputy Chief Darren Brents said firefighters are taking precautions for all calls, including things like sprained ankles. "We still assess them from a few feet away. If they are coughing or sneezing, we'll put a mask on them to protect the crew," he said.
Precautions also are in place for fire alarm responders, Krestan said. "We are limiting people going into buildings. If we don't have to have people in buildings or people's houses, we are not putting people in that position," he said.
Police departments' precautionary measures include stopping fingerprinting services for the public, taking nonemergency reports via phone or online, and letting people into the building based on urgency of the report -- a crime victim, yes, a person whose bike was stolen, not so much.
911 operators are asking health-related questions to screen people for symptoms of COVID-19, so first responders are prepared to take precautions such as wearing gloves and face masks.
Gurnee police have closed the 911 dispatch center to anyone except communications personnel, Det. Shawn Gaylor said. "The dispatchers, as much as the police officers and first responders from the fire department, they need to be there 24/7 to respond, so that's just as important," she said.
First responders are also practicing social distancing from each other.
In Naperville, police employees are asked to walk to each other's offices for work-related reasons only, and roll call is being done electronically because of the recommendation to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, Cmdr. Mike Son said.
"In a first responder situation, you have to protect yourself and others, and you also don't want to go home and expose your own family," he said.
Firefighter/paramedics always have had personal protective equipment in ambulances. Now, police squad cars also are being outfitted with things like gloves, face masks and eye protection.
In Pingree Grove, police Lt. Chris Harris and Chief Shawn Beane spent a day assembling kits that also include rags, hand sanitizer, plastic and paper bags, and a disposable container for soiled materials.
Pingree Grove officers now respond to nonemergency calls by parking outside homes and using their cellphones to call residents, to either take a report by phone or initiate contact if necessary, Harris said. The goal is to reassure residents and prevent scammers from trying to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic by impersonating officers, he said.
Police calls and traffic crashes have decreased in the last week after people started staying home and businesses closed to the public, suburban officials said.
In Arlington Heights, Metra commuter parking spaces had 7.6% occupancy on Wednesday, compared to up to 95% normally, Pecora said. There were 33 calls for service that day, compared to 65 on the same day a year ago.
Call volumes have dropped in Gurnee, too, Gaylor said. "A lot of people are holding back and taking this one day at a time, and dealing with their kids and handling things at home."
Gurnee cops will continue to patrol Gurnee Mills, which closed Thursday like other suburban malls, to make sure no thieves take advantage, Gaylor said.
There's been no increase so far in fire department calls because people are heeding the advice of calling their primary care providers if they have COVID-19 symptoms, fire officials said.
So how are fire responders handling things mentally? "It's stressful but we take it day by day," Harris said.
The psychological effect will increase over time, Brents said. "For the time being, our guys are in good spirits. Everybody is enjoying coming to work and everybody is serious about it."
In the end, it's about doing your job, Pecora said.
"It's kind of cliche, but this is what we signed up for. When something catastrophic happens, when somebody is having the worst day of their lives, they call 911. They call the police or the fire department," he said.
"(The COVID-19 outbreak) is a unique circumstance that requires extraordinary measures, and what's what we are trained to do."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-21--What does the stay-at-home order mean exactly? Here are some guidelines.

It sounds scary , but what does a stay-at-home order really mean ?
Essentially , it 's tightening existing rules about social distancing and staying at home as the world copes with COVID-19 , the infectious virus that can cause pneumonia .
But for many Illinoisans it 's a big change .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker 's order bans gatherings of 10 or more people , cancels day care , and temporarily closes thousands businesses like salons and fitness centers in an effort to prevent the spread of the respiratory disease .
Here 's a look at some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The following is not an all-inclusive list .
More information may be found at illinois.gov/sites/coronavirus .
What can you do outside your home ?
• Travel to essential services .
These include hospitals , medical appointments and to pick up medicine .
• Buy groceries , work supplies or anything necessary to keep your home running .
• Hike , bike , visit parks and open spaces -- but not playgrounds .
• Work outside home if your job is considered an essential service .
• Government facilities for people with physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adoption agencies , shelters and food pantries .
• That includes groceries , pharmacies , agriculture , charities and social services , media , gas stations , financial institutions , hardware stores , trade like plumbers and electricians , post offices , shipping and delivery , laundromats , home-based care and services , hotels and motels and funeral services .
• Bars and restaurants that provide takeout .
Bars and restaurants are not open for the public to dine in .
What other services are temporarily closed ?
• Licensed child care centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than six children .
The state is working to provide child care for essential workers .
• Only essential trips are permitted and individuals are cautioned to use social distancing by staying 6 feet from other people .
• Essential travel includes : traveling to jobs deemed essential ; caring for the elderly , minors , dependents and people with disabilities ; trips related to law enforcement or court orders like custody arrangements .
What if someone is making my home dangerous ?
• For help call the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline at @ @

What does the stay-at-home order mean exactly? Here are some guidelines.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker listens to a question after announcing a shelter in place order to combat the spread of the Covid-19 virus, during a news conference Friday, March 20, 2020, in Chicago.
It sounds scary, but what does a stay-at-home order really mean?
Essentially, it's tightening existing rules about social distancing and staying at home as the world copes with COVID-19, the infectious virus that can cause pneumonia.
But for many Illinoisans it's a big change. Gov. J.B. Pritzker's order bans gatherings of 10 or more people, cancels day care, and temporarily closes thousands businesses like salons and fitness centers in an effort to prevent the spread of the respiratory disease.
Here's a look at some of the things you can and can't do. The following is not an all-inclusive list. More information may be found at illinois.gov/sites/coronavirus.
What can you do outside your home?
• Travel to essential services. These include hospitals, medical appointments and to pick up medicine.
• Buy groceries, work supplies or anything necessary to keep your home running.
• Hike, bike, visit parks and open spaces -- but not playgrounds.
• Work outside home if your job is considered an essential service.
• Care for relatives, friends or pets.
What's an essential business or service?
• Health care-related services like: clinics, dentists, blood banks, medical marijuana dispensaries, eye-care centers, reproductive health providers, mental health services and veterinarians.
• Government facilities for people with physical or mental disabilities, group homes, adoption agencies, shelters and food pantries.
• Food production, construction, building maintenance, airports, utilities, roads and highways, transit, railroads, cybersecurity, solid waste and recycling, telecommunications.
• That includes groceries, pharmacies, agriculture, charities and social services, media, gas stations, financial institutions, hardware stores, trade like plumbers and electricians, post offices, shipping and delivery, laundromats, home-based care and services, hotels and motels and funeral services.
• Bars and restaurants that provide takeout. Bars and restaurants are not open for the public to dine in.
What isn't essential?
• Gyms and fitness centers, salons, barbershops and tattoo parlors.
What other services are temporarily closed?
• Licensed child care centers and child care in homes serving more than six children. The state is working to provide child care for essential workers.
What about travel?
• Only essential trips are permitted and individuals are cautioned to use social distancing by staying 6 feet from other people.
• Essential travel includes: traveling to jobs deemed essential; caring for the elderly, minors, dependents and people with disabilities; trips related to law enforcement or court orders like custody arrangements.
What if someone is making my home dangerous?
• For help call the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-877-863-6338.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-21--Constable: A decade after Afghanistan, suburban veteran ready for the Space Force

Whether he was a captain on the Glenbard East High School football team or an Army platoon leader for combat missions in Afghanistan , Matt Spartz always gravitated toward leadership positions .
Now , 10 years after his combat tour , Spartz is starting a new job as an Army reservist assigned to the recently established Space Force .
`` I was ready for something new and a new challenge , '' says Spartz , who works in the Space and Missile Systems Center , which a blog from the industry journal Aerotech News called `` the U.S. Space Force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developing military space systems . ''
`` My focus will be on getting contracts in place for new and prototype space technologies , '' Spartz says .
Spartz and his wife , Brittany , moved from Indianapolis , where he had a civilian aerospace job , to Marina del Rey , California , for his new post on the Los Angeles Air Force Base just south of Los Angeles International Airport .
On top of being an Army major , Spartz is a University of Illinois-trained journalist who wrote his first Daily Herald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than three years after first deciding to join the Army , I will finally be going on my first deployment , to the eastern provinces of Afghanistan , '' Spartz wrote on May 23 , 2010 , in his first of a series about life in a combat zone .
`` Two years of training in the Reserve Officer Training Corps , Air Assault school , Basic Officer Leaders Course , Field Artillery school , Pathfinder school , the Joint Fires Observer school , and a full year at Fort Campbell , Kentucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and now it 's time to get in the game . ''
He looked at the Army as a much more dangerous football team .
`` This is my chance to be in a physical , active team sport , and I approached it with that same mindset , '' Spartz remembers thinking .
`` War is easy , '' he wrote in his last column on Nov. 11 , Veterans Day , 2011 .
`` Wake up , eat , walk , shoot , sleep .
Repeat . ''
In the grueling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremes .
`` An infantryman runs and rucks hundreds of miles of hardened terrain , shoots thousands of bullets , and develops orders to close in and destroy the enemy .
Here , he is told to build a well for a village , so he does it , '' Spartz wrote on Feb. 24 , 2011 .
`` We watch normal Afghans hanging clothes on lines in their yards and kids hitting cricket balls in their fields , no more fazed by a mortar hitting their village than an American driving past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he wrote on Aug. 10 , 2010 .
Spartz , who was awarded a Bronze Star , earned his Purple Heart on the day he was wounded and six of his fellow soldiers were killed .
`` My greatest fear was not death .
I 've been incrementally inoculated from the physical pains of war with every rocket-propelled grenade ( RPG ) that blew up within 20 feet of me without harm , and every bullet that has kicked up the dirt next to me , including the one that found a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wrote .
`` My greatest fear has always been that during the crucial time , when another soldier needed me the most , I would fail him . ''
His only break came after 9½ months of the daily grind of `` 10 % horrible , frightening violence and 90 % horrible , excruciating boredom , '' when he went to Mexico with Brittany during his leave .
`` It was super bizarre .
I was literally sitting on a beach in Mexico with a cocktail , '' he says , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a full vacation from his duty .
`` I was anxious to get back because I knew they needed my help . ''
His last day in Afghanistan was a memorable one .
`` I literally left the day we killed bin Laden , '' he says .
`` We were in the hangar waiting for our flight from Bagram when a guy walked in and said , 'We killed bin Laden . '
'' When he finally arrived back in the U.S. , Spartz was sequestered at Fort Campbell on May 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flew there to congratulate the team that killed Osama bin Laden .
`` I was in the bleachers , six rows from Geraldo Rivera , '' Spartz says .
He officially completed his duty in December 2011 and joined the Army Reserves .
He and his longtime girlfriend , Brittany Powers , married in May 2014 .
Employed with the Rolls-Royce aeronautical division in Indianapolis , Spartz worked his way up from buyer to senior manager for the international program , where he developed business relationships with the military in Italy and Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University .
`` We can teach you technical stuff , but we ca n't teach leadership and work ethic , '' he remembers being told .
`` It took two years to get the groove of civilian life and find my footing , '' Spartz says .
`` The civilian world is a lot more open for people to assume leadership . ''
He was just a day away from leaving the Army Reserves when he was selected for the Army Reserve Acquisition Corps , which makes him more marketable in the civilian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new office is `` more like a business center , '' Spartz says .
`` Most of the civilians are curious about how an Army guy got here . ''
The key is his approach .
The oldest of three kids born to Ray and Nancy Spartz , his name first appeared in this newspaper in 1997 as part of the honor roll for Westlake Middle School in Lombard .
He was the starting center on the Glenbard East football team , threw the shot put and discus for the track team , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and handled bass guitar in a garage band .
The Daily Herald featured him in a 2004 story after he won a Livingston Human Relations Award for his leadership and community work .
Space Force is his new commitment .
`` The stakes are high and the pressure to do high-caliber things is harder , '' Spartz says , adding that acquiring the right materials for Space Force is more involved than finding the best plastic for a water bottle in the civilian market .
`` Having 100 % dedication to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comforting .
The intensity makes it all the more compelling . ''

Constable: A decade after Afghanistan, suburban veteran ready for the Space Force
Their relationship, which started when Matt Spartz and Brittany Powers were students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, endured Spartz's Army stint fighting the war in Afghanistan. Now the married couple are in California, where she plans to work in the wine industry and Spartz is starting an assignment with Space Force. Courtesy of Matt Spartz
Lombard native Matt Spartz is an Army Reserve major assigned to the Space Force. His Los Angeles Air Force base looks more like a suburban office park with palm trees. Courtesy of Matt Spartz
By Burt Constable
Whether he was a captain on the Glenbard East High School football team or an Army platoon leader for combat missions in Afghanistan, Matt Spartz always gravitated toward leadership positions. Now, 10 years after his combat tour, Spartz is starting a new job as an Army reservist assigned to the recently established Space Force.
"I was ready for something new and a new challenge," says Spartz, who works in the Space and Missile Systems Center, which a blog from the industry journal Aerotech News called "the U.S. Space Force's center of excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems."
"My focus will be on getting contracts in place for new and prototype space technologies," Spartz says.
Spartz and his wife, Brittany, moved from Indianapolis, where he had a civilian aerospace job, to Marina del Rey, California, for his new post on the Los Angeles Air Force Base just south of Los Angeles International Airport.
On top of being an Army major, Spartz is a University of Illinois-trained journalist who wrote his first Daily Herald column a decade ago.
"More than three years after first deciding to join the Army, I will finally be going on my first deployment, to the eastern provinces of Afghanistan," Spartz wrote on May 23, 2010, in his first of a series about life in a combat zone. "Two years of training in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, Air Assault school, Basic Officer Leaders Course, Field Artillery school, Pathfinder school, the Joint Fires Observer school, and a full year at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in the 101st Airborne Division, and now it's time to get in the game."
He looked at the Army as a much more dangerous football team.
"This is my chance to be in a physical, active team sport, and I approached it with that same mindset," Spartz remembers thinking.
"War is easy," he wrote in his last column on Nov. 11, Veterans Day, 2011. "Wake up, eat, walk, shoot, sleep. Repeat."
In the grueling months between those columns, Spartz saw extremes.
"An infantryman runs and rucks hundreds of miles of hardened terrain, shoots thousands of bullets, and develops orders to close in and destroy the enemy. Here, he is told to build a well for a village, so he does it," Spartz wrote on Feb. 24, 2011.
"We watch normal Afghans hanging clothes on lines in their yards and kids hitting cricket balls in their fields, no more fazed by a mortar hitting their village than an American driving past a fender bender on the interstate," he wrote on Aug. 10, 2010.
Spartz, who was awarded a Bronze Star, earned his Purple Heart on the day he was wounded and six of his fellow soldiers were killed. "My greatest fear was not death. I've been incrementally inoculated from the physical pains of war with every rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) that blew up within 20 feet of me without harm, and every bullet that has kicked up the dirt next to me, including the one that found a place in my right arm," he wrote. "My greatest fear has always been that during the crucial time, when another soldier needed me the most, I would fail him."
His only break came after 9½ months of the daily grind of "10% horrible, frightening violence and 90% horrible, excruciating boredom," when he went to Mexico with Brittany during his leave.
"It was super bizarre. I was literally sitting on a beach in Mexico with a cocktail," he says, adding that even then he couldn't take a full vacation from his duty. "I was anxious to get back because I knew they needed my help."
His last day in Afghanistan was a memorable one.
"I literally left the day we killed bin Laden," he says. "We were in the hangar waiting for our flight from Bagram when a guy walked in and said, 'We killed bin Laden.'"
When he finally arrived back in the U.S., Spartz was sequestered at Fort Campbell on May 6, 2011, as President Barack Obama flew there to congratulate the team that killed Osama bin Laden.
"I was in the bleachers, six rows from Geraldo Rivera," Spartz says.
He officially completed his duty in December 2011 and joined the Army Reserves. He and his longtime girlfriend, Brittany Powers, married in May 2014. Employed with the Rolls-Royce aeronautical division in Indianapolis, Spartz worked his way up from buyer to senior manager for the international program, where he developed business relationships with the military in Italy and Israel, and got his MBA at Indiana University.
"We can teach you technical stuff, but we can't teach leadership and work ethic," he remembers being told.
"It took two years to get the groove of civilian life and find my footing," Spartz says. "The civilian world is a lot more open for people to assume leadership."
He was just a day away from leaving the Army Reserves when he was selected for the Army Reserve Acquisition Corps, which makes him more marketable in the civilian world and in the Army. His new office is "more like a business center," Spartz says. "Most of the civilians are curious about how an Army guy got here."
The key is his approach. The oldest of three kids born to Ray and Nancy Spartz, his name first appeared in this newspaper in 1997 as part of the honor roll for Westlake Middle School in Lombard. He was the starting center on the Glenbard East football team, threw the shot put and discus for the track team, played saxophone in the high school band, and handled bass guitar in a garage band. The Daily Herald featured him in a 2004 story after he won a Livingston Human Relations Award for his leadership and community work.
Space Force is his new commitment.
"The stakes are high and the pressure to do high-caliber things is harder," Spartz says, adding that acquiring the right materials for Space Force is more involved than finding the best plastic for a water bottle in the civilian market. "Having 100% dedication to a job, to a task, is comforting. The intensity makes it all the more compelling."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-21--Economic rescue balloons past $1 trillion as talks resume

WASHINGTON -- Negotiators from Congress and the White House were resuming top-level talks Saturday on a ballooning $ 1 trillion-plus economic rescue package , racing to strike a deal after President Donald Trump unleashed fury on those questioning his handling of the coronavirus outbreak .
It was an extraordinary moment in Washington : Congress undertaking the most ambitious federal effort yet to shore up households and the U.S. economy and an angry president lashing out at all comers .
All while the global pandemic and the nationwide shutdown grip an anxious , isolated population bracing for a healthcare crisis and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing at the White House on Saturday , expressed optimism that the stimulus package could be agreed upon before long .
`` They 're all negotiating and everybody 's working hard and they want to get to a solution that 's the right solution , I think we 're very close , '' said Trump , who continued to strike a confident tone about the nation 's ability to defeat the pandemic soon .
`` We are going to be celebrating a great victory in the not too distant future , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional and White House officials converged Saturday for more talks .
The sweeping aid package of paychecks for suddenly jobless Americans , money for hospitals and aid to industry is all but certain to swell far beyond the initial $ 1 trillion price tag .
Combined with other actions by the Federal Reserve , it could be a $ 2 trillion pump to the economy , officials said Saturday .
The Senate was convening the rare weekend session with the aim of drafting the package Saturday , holding an initial vote Sunday and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Saturday negotiators are making `` important progress , '' but urged talks to wrap up .
`` This is not a political opportunity , this is a national emergency , '' he said .
`` It 's time to come together , finalize the results of our bipartisan discussions and close this out . ''
McConnell said he wants to pass the aid package `` as quickly as humanly possible . ''
It was a sentiment shared by White House legislative affairs director Eric Ueland .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to act with significance , we need to act with boldness , '' he told reporters .
Despite the enormous pressure on Washington to swiftly act , the challenges are apparent .
Lawmakers and administration officials labored late into the evening Friday over eye-popping sums and striking federal interventions , surpassing even the 2008-09 bank bailout and stimulus .
`` Everybody is working very hard , '' Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said , exiting one closed-door session and heading into another .
Mnuchin began negotiations with McConnell , Senate Democratic leader Chuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell 's GOP offer as a starting point.. Pelosi late Friday called the GOP plan a `` non-starter '' but Schumer , the next morning , declared `` We are making very good progress . ''
The GOP plan aims to pump billions into $ 1,200 direct checks to Americans and billions to small businesses to pay idled workers during the global pandemic .
But Democrats say McConnell 's plan is insufficient , arguing for greater income support for workers and a `` Marshall Plan '' for the U.S. healthcare industry , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick patients .
At the White House , Trump welcomed the stimulus plan , believing it is needed to stabilize the economy .
On Saturday , he opened the briefing with a roll call of his administration 's accomplishments , a week-in-review meant to rebut criticism that the White House was moving too slowly to combat the crisis .
It came a day after he spent Friday 's daily briefing in a fury , lashing out at reporters .
When one reporter asked Trump what he would tell a worried nation , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're a terrible reporter . ''
At times , he seemed to refuse to want to hear the reality of an increasingly dire situation .
It was when one reporter noted the hard facts in the U.S. -- that more than 200 are dead , more than 14,000 infected and millions scared -- that he snapped back .
Health officials on Saturday again warned Americans that the number of coronavirus cases would continue to increase in part as testing grew more widespread .
But Dr. Anthony Fauci , the government 's top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration 's measures were slowing the spread even though they were not yet easily quantified .
Trump also sowed further confusion about whether he is using the powers of the Defense Production Act to force American businesses to manufacture needed medical supplies .
He offered conflicting accounts of when he officially authorized it and did not provide any details to companies or products he was mobilizing .
The administration also announced a further closing of the nation 's borders , as the U.S. and Mexico agreed to limit crossings to all but essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved to restrict entry to anyone without documentation .
Later Friday , the White House said a member of Vice President Mike Pence 's staff had tested positive for the new coronavirus .
Pence spokeswoman Katie Miller said the staff member , who is not being identified , did not have `` close contact '' with either the vice president or Trump .
Pence said Saturday that staffer was doing well and that , out of abundance of caution , the vice president and his wife Karen would be tested for the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposal from Republicans builds on Trump 's request for Congress to `` go big . ''
The GOP plan proposes $ 300 billion for small businesses to keep idled workers on payroll and $ 208 billion in loans to airlines and other industries .
It also seeks to relax a just-enacted family and medical leave mandate on small to medium-sized businesses from an earlier rescue package .
It puts McConnell 's imprint on the GOP approach after the Senate leader left earlier negotiations to Pelosi and Mnuchin , which angered some of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final product .
Keeping paychecks flowing for workers not at work is a top priority for both Democrats and Republicans as jobless claims skyrocket .
But how best to send direct payments to Americans -- as one-time stipends , ongoing payroll support or unemployment checks -- is a crucial debate .
Under McConnell 's approach , small businesses with 500 or fewer employees would be able to tap up to $ 10 million in forgivable loans from the federal government to continue cutting paychecks .
Democrats prefer sending the money to workers via @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called it `` unemployment insurance on steroids . ''
Both income support approaches have benefits and drawbacks , lawmakers said .
Republicans say their plan would keep workers linked to employers , for easy recall once the crisis abates .
Democrats argue the unemployment system provides a ready-made distribution channel , though states could also become overwhelmed by the surge of jobless claims .
Meanwhile , industries of all kinds are lining up for help , with sharp political divides forming on what industries should receive government assistance .
For most people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus .
According to the World Health Organization , people with mild illness recover in about two weeks , while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover .
Bev Banks contributed .
Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick , Bev Banks Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar , Alan Fram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute 's Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

Economic rescue balloons past $1 trillion as talks resume
President Donald Trump speaks Saturday during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, left, and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci listen. Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- Negotiators from Congress and the White House were resuming top-level talks Saturday on a ballooning $1 trillion-plus economic rescue package, racing to strike a deal after President Donald Trump unleashed fury on those questioning his handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
It was an extraordinary moment in Washington: Congress undertaking the most ambitious federal effort yet to shore up households and the U.S. economy and an angry president lashing out at all comers. All while the global pandemic and the nationwide shutdown grip an anxious, isolated population bracing for a healthcare crisis and looming recession.
Trump, during a briefing at the White House on Saturday, expressed optimism that the stimulus package could be agreed upon before long.
"They're all negotiating and everybody's working hard and they want to get to a solution that's the right solution, I think we're very close," said Trump, who continued to strike a confident tone about the nation's ability to defeat the pandemic soon.
"We are going to be celebrating a great victory in the not too distant future," he said.
On Capitol Hill, key congressional and White House officials converged Saturday for more talks. The sweeping aid package of paychecks for suddenly jobless Americans, money for hospitals and aid to industry is all but certain to swell far beyond the initial $1 trillion price tag. Combined with other actions by the Federal Reserve, it could be a $2 trillion pump to the economy, officials said Saturday.
The Senate was convening the rare weekend session with the aim of drafting the package Saturday, holding an initial vote Sunday and winning Senate passage on Monday.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Saturday negotiators are making "important progress," but urged talks to wrap up.
"This is not a political opportunity, this is a national emergency," he said. "It's time to come together, finalize the results of our bipartisan discussions and close this out."
McConnell said he wants to pass the aid package "as quickly as humanly possible."
It was a sentiment shared by White House legislative affairs director Eric Ueland. "We need to act with urgency, we need to act with significance, we need to act with boldness," he told reporters.
Despite the enormous pressure on Washington to swiftly act, the challenges are apparent. Lawmakers and administration officials labored late into the evening Friday over eye-popping sums and striking federal interventions, surpassing even the 2008-09 bank bailout and stimulus.
"Everybody is working very hard," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, exiting one closed-door session and heading into another.
Mnuchin began negotiations with McConnell, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and senators from both parties using McConnell's GOP offer as a starting point.. Pelosi late Friday called the GOP plan a "non-starter" but Schumer, the next morning, declared "We are making very good progress."
The GOP plan aims to pump billions into $1,200 direct checks to Americans and billions to small businesses to pay idled workers during the global pandemic.
But Democrats say McConnell's plan is insufficient, arguing for greater income support for workers and a "Marshall Plan" for the U.S. healthcare industry, which is preparing for an onslaught of newly sick patients.
At the White House, Trump welcomed the stimulus plan, believing it is needed to stabilize the economy. On Saturday, he opened the briefing with a roll call of his administration's accomplishments, a week-in-review meant to rebut criticism that the White House was moving too slowly to combat the crisis.
It came a day after he spent Friday's daily briefing in a fury, lashing out at reporters. When one reporter asked Trump what he would tell a worried nation, the president snapped, "I say that you're a terrible reporter."
At times, he seemed to refuse to want to hear the reality of an increasingly dire situation. It was when one reporter noted the hard facts in the U.S. -- that more than 200 are dead, more than 14,000 infected and millions scared -- that he snapped back.
Health officials on Saturday again warned Americans that the number of coronavirus cases would continue to increase in part as testing grew more widespread. But Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert, promised that the administration's measures were slowing the spread even though they were not yet easily quantified.
Trump also sowed further confusion about whether he is using the powers of the Defense Production Act to force American businesses to manufacture needed medical supplies. He offered conflicting accounts of when he officially authorized it and did not provide any details to companies or products he was mobilizing.
The administration also announced a further closing of the nation's borders, as the U.S. and Mexico agreed to limit crossings to all but essential travel and trade, while the U.S. moved to restrict entry to anyone without documentation.
Later Friday, the White House said a member of Vice President Mike Pence's staff had tested positive for the new coronavirus. Pence spokeswoman Katie Miller said the staff member, who is not being identified, did not have "close contact" with either the vice president or Trump.
Pence said Saturday that staffer was doing well and that, out of abundance of caution, the vice president and his wife Karen would be tested for the virus.
Unveiled Thursday, McConnell's rescue proposal from Republicans builds on Trump's request for Congress to "go big."
The GOP plan proposes $300 billion for small businesses to keep idled workers on payroll and $208 billion in loans to airlines and other industries. It also seeks to relax a just-enacted family and medical leave mandate on small to medium-sized businesses from an earlier rescue package.
It puts McConnell's imprint on the GOP approach after the Senate leader left earlier negotiations to Pelosi and Mnuchin, which angered some of his GOP senators feeling cut out of the final product.
Keeping paychecks flowing for workers not at work is a top priority for both Democrats and Republicans as jobless claims skyrocket. But how best to send direct payments to Americans -- as one-time stipends, ongoing payroll support or unemployment checks -- is a crucial debate.
Under McConnell's approach, small businesses with 500 or fewer employees would be able to tap up to $10 million in forgivable loans from the federal government to continue cutting paychecks. Democrats prefer sending the money to workers via the existing unemployment insurance system. Schumer called it "unemployment insurance on steroids."
Both income support approaches have benefits and drawbacks, lawmakers said. Republicans say their plan would keep workers linked to employers, for easy recall once the crisis abates. Democrats argue the unemployment system provides a ready-made distribution channel, though states could also become overwhelmed by the surge of jobless claims.
Meanwhile, industries of all kinds are lining up for help, with sharp political divides forming on what industries should receive government assistance.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.
------
Bev Banks contributed. Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Bev Banks Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Alan Fram and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report.
------
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-21--Drive-through baby shower, birthday parade keep celebrations going

A long line of honking cars and cheering drivers interrupted a pregnant Megan Payleitner 's yard work Thursday at her St. Charles home .
When Josie Wallace and her co-workers at Mid-Valley Special Education Cooperative in St. Charles heard they would likely spend the next few weeks at home because of the coronavirus , they knew that they had to do something for Payleiter 's baby shower .
Describing Payleitner , who is due in June , as a `` chronic online shopper , '' Wallace , of Pingree Grove , and her co-workers said they were worried she would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The group discussed its plan of attack as members met in a parking lot near the St. Charles woman 's home -- all while keeping good social distance and wearing gloves .
Each of them took turns driving up and dropping off wrapped gifts in a large cardboard box at the end of the driveway .
`` Oh my gosh .
it was amazing , '' said Payleitner of the surprise drive-through baby shower .
`` I am pretty sure that my husband , Max , was in on it , too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with a similar safe celebration when 5-year-old Olivia Williamson 's birthday party had to be canceled .
Her mom Jenny Williamson organized a parade .
Neighbors drove by with signs , honked and waved to help make Olivia 's day special .
Payleitner , who moved to her neighborhood three weeks ago with her family , said `` this is such a weird time right now and this was so special , a total surprise . ''
Wallace offered some advice about moving forward in these challenging times .
`` Get creative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't physically be there , and check on your friends .
Love each other now more than ever , even if it 's from a distance . ''

Drive-through baby shower, birthday parade keep celebrations going
When her daughter's 5th birthday party was canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak, Olivia Williamson's mom organized a social distance parade. Neighbors drove by with signs, honked and waved to help make her day special. Photo courtesy of Jenny Williamson
When her daughter's 5th birthday party was canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak, Olivia Williamson's mom organized a social distance parade. Neighbors drove by with signs, honked and waved to help make her day special. Photo courtesy of Jenny Williamson
Some of the wrapped gifts were placed in a hamper before being delivered during the drive-through baby shower for Megan Payleitner of St. Charles. Courtesy of Josie Wallace
Megan Payleitner, who is due in June, stands with some of her gifts outside her St. Charles home with husband Max and kids Jackson, 6, and Reese, 4. Payleitner's co-workers at Mid-Valley Special Education Cooperative in St. Charles gathered to have a drive-through baby shower. Courtesy of Josie Wallace
Some employees at Mid-Valley Special Education Cooperative in St. Charles kept their social distance as they gathered to have a drive-through baby shower for their co-worker. Courtesy of Josie Wallace
Tim Stoudt of Mid-Valley Special Education Cooperative in St. Charles wears gloves as he drops off a gift during a drive-through baby shower for his co-worker, Megan Payleitner of St. Charles, who is due in June. Courtesy of Josie Wallace
A long line of honking cars and cheering drivers interrupted a pregnant Megan Payleitner's yard work Thursday at her St. Charles home.
When Josie Wallace and her co-workers at Mid-Valley Special Education Cooperative in St. Charles heard they would likely spend the next few weeks at home because of the coronavirus, they knew that they had to do something for Payleiter's baby shower.
Describing Payleitner, who is due in June, as a "chronic online shopper," Wallace, of Pingree Grove, and her co-workers said they were worried she would buy everything on her own shower registry.
The group discussed its plan of attack as members met in a parking lot near the St. Charles woman's home -- all while keeping good social distance and wearing gloves.
Each of them took turns driving up and dropping off wrapped gifts in a large cardboard box at the end of the driveway.
"Oh my gosh. it was amazing," said Payleitner of the surprise drive-through baby shower. "I am pretty sure that my husband, Max, was in on it, too."
A family in Elgin came up with a similar safe celebration when 5-year-old Olivia Williamson's birthday party had to be canceled. Her mom Jenny Williamson organized a parade.
Neighbors drove by with signs, honked and waved to help make Olivia's day special.
Payleitner, who moved to her neighborhood three weeks ago with her family, said "this is such a weird time right now and this was so special, a total surprise."
Wallace offered some advice about moving forward in these challenging times.
"Get creative, be present even if you can't physically be there, and check on your friends. Love each other now more than ever, even if it's from a distance."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-21--Buffalo Grove family left in limbo in Dominican Republic when flights canceled

If luck is with the Shoichets , they 'll be home in Buffalo Grove this weekend .
But as of Saturday , the family of four still were among the collateral damage of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic along with other Americans stranded in the Dominican Republic .
`` We were supposed to fly home today on United -- our flight ( was ) canceled yesterday , and that 's the last we 've heard from United , '' Eliott Shoichet said in an email Thursday .
He `` spent hours on hold with ( United ) without getting through .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight to Boston with Delta Air Lines but the extra travel expenses came to about $ 3,000 .
The Dominican Republic suspended all incoming flights on March 19 for 15 days in order to reduce spread of COVID-19 , leaving myriad vacationers in the lurch .
Shoichet said there were no travel restrictions between the U.S. and Dominican Republic on March 13 when he , his wife and their two children , a college student and sixth-grader left .
`` Yes , of course , we debated whether to cancel , but based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honestly , on the fact this spring break trip was planned months in advance and nonrefundable , we decided the risk was worth taking and if worse comes to worst , United will bring us home no matter what . ''
The family did appeal to U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider 's office , which assisted .
`` We are taking calls from all over the world '' from stranded travelers , the Deerfield Democrat said Friday .
`` We reach out to the airlines and the State Department when we can , depending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he could n't fathom why other airlines like Delta and American were able to pick up stranded passengers .
United officials said after the government 's order their jets were unable to fly to the Dominican Republic .
`` Due to government mandates or restrictions in place prohibiting international travel , airlines are currently barred from flying to many countries , '' a United spokesman said Saturday .
`` We are monitoring the individual situations in these countries and evaluating our options given the various governmental restrictions in place . ''
The coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make last-minute changes , which leaves consumers in limbo , '' DePaul University transportation Professor Joseph Schwieterman said .
`` After this crisis is over , there will be vigorous debate about the difficulties of reaching by phone both airlines and third-party booking agencies .
Some consumers spent inordinate amounts of time trying to change their flights . ''

Buffalo Grove family left in limbo in Dominican Republic when flights canceled
A Buffalo Grove family is expecting to return to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic Saturday after being left in limbo Wednesday after United Airlines flights to the island were suspended because of the COVID-19 crisis. Associated Press
If luck is with the Shoichets, they'll be home in Buffalo Grove this weekend.
But as of Saturday, the family of four still were among the collateral damage of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic along with other Americans stranded in the Dominican Republic.
"We were supposed to fly home today on United -- our flight (was) canceled yesterday, and that's the last we've heard from United," Eliott Shoichet said in an email Thursday. He "spent hours on hold with (United) without getting through."
Shoichet managed to book a Saturday flight to Boston with Delta Air Lines, but the extra travel expenses came to about $3,000.
The Dominican Republic suspended all incoming flights on March 19 for 15 days in order to reduce spread of COVID-19, leaving myriad vacationers in the lurch.
Shoichet said there were no travel restrictions between the U.S. and Dominican Republic on March 13 when he, his wife and their two children, a college student and sixth-grader left.
"Yes, of course, we debated whether to cancel, but based on all the available information, and honestly, on the fact this spring break trip was planned months in advance and nonrefundable, we decided the risk was worth taking and if worse comes to worst, United will bring us home no matter what."
The family did appeal to U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider's office, which assisted.
"We are taking calls from all over the world" from stranded travelers, the Deerfield Democrat said Friday. "We reach out to the airlines and the State Department when we can, depending on the circumstances."
Shoichet said he couldn't fathom why other airlines like Delta and American were able to pick up stranded passengers.
United officials said after the government's order their jets were unable to fly to the Dominican Republic.
"Due to government mandates or restrictions in place prohibiting international travel, airlines are currently barred from flying to many countries," a United spokesman said Saturday. "We are monitoring the individual situations in these countries and evaluating our options given the various governmental restrictions in place."
The coronavirus epidemic gives airlines "wide latitude to make last-minute changes, which leaves consumers in limbo," DePaul University transportation professor Joseph Schwieterman said.
"After this crisis is over, there will be vigorous debate about the difficulties of reaching by phone both airlines and third-party booking agencies. Some consumers spent inordinate amounts of time trying to change their flights," he said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-20--Coronavirus means many US workers are making no-win choices

When Javier Parodi returned home from a nightmare vacation in Egypt complete with several days of quarantine on a coronavirus-infested ship , he yearned to go back to work .
But Parodi , a building inspector for the city of Miami Beach , called in sick as a precaution when he started to feel feverish within two days of coming home .
He had tested negative aboard the Nile cruise ship MS Asara .
Parodi , 35 , was told he would use his paid time off while under quarantine .
City workers would have to use their own sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in which case they would be given special administrative leave , according to a March 10 internal memo to employees .
The city did n't immediately respond to a request for comment on that policy .
However , as of Tuesday , his extra hours wo n't be tapped .
Parodi tested positive for the coronavirus .
Americans have been told they need to stay home to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
For some workers , it 's hard to choose between a paycheck and public health , keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their families and even losing sick time or testing positive .
About a quarter of U.S. workers are ineligible for paid sick leave , and while Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act , which would give paid leave to workers who did not have it and extend paid leave for workers who only got a few days , U.S. employees are still making wrenching decisions .
Some who think they may have become infected are unable to get one of the limited tests offered .
Many have been laid off or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some , it feels like any choice they make will be wrong .
Heather Harvey , an education coordinator at a corporate-owned child-care center in West Lafayette , Indiana , had to decide her priorities Sunday : The health of her and her husband , who has Type 1 diabetes , or helping parents who need to be at work , like doctors , with their child care .
There is no upside , Harvey , 50 , said .
At first , she had planned to work this week , but at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realized she did n't want to potentially expose her husband , who had already self-quarantined for five days , by going to work .
`` It felt bad for me to go and bring 140 people 's germs home with me , '' she said .
`` Working with kids , you are always getting sneezed on and coughed on , and you try to wash your hands but you ca n't do it .
It 's impossible to work in that situation and not get sneezed on or coughed on . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick time , unsure whether her center will close .
Harvey is spending the time working on homework for a bachelor 's degree , which the company is paying for -- for now .
Loretta Warren , a customer service representative in Bristol , Pennsylvania , felt like she was letting down her team of 10 at work when she asked to work from home .
At 74 , she 's the oldest in the office and is worried about getting infected .
`` When we 're short-handed , it makes everyone 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` But I 'd rather be wrong than dead .
I never miss work , no matter what , but in this situation , for my own well-being and my daughter 's , I 'm following the advice of experts . ''
Lani Gerson 's daughter Hannah is in her early 30s and young enough to bounce back from an infection .
But if she 's not symptomatic , she can still carry home an infection from her job at a day-care center near Boston and get her parents sick .
She elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision that plagued the whole family , Lani Gerson said .
`` My daughter feels the burden of it , but we 're all weighing it , '' she said .
`` We 're trying to be thoughtful and caring of everything -- like everyone else is . ''

Coronavirus means many US workers are making no-win choices
FILE -- In this March 17, 2020 file photo, Kenneth Evans wipes down hand rails with disinfectant as he cleans a DART rail train at the transit authority's Central Rail Operating Facility in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP, File)
When Javier Parodi returned home from a nightmare vacation in Egypt complete with several days of quarantine on a coronavirus-infested ship, he yearned to go back to work.
But Parodi, a building inspector for the city of Miami Beach, called in sick as a precaution when he started to feel feverish within two days of coming home. He had tested negative aboard the Nile cruise ship MS Asara.
Parodi, 35, was told he would use his paid time off while under quarantine. City workers would have to use their own sick leave if quarantined unless they tested positive, in which case they would be given special administrative leave, according to a March 10 internal memo to employees. The city didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on that policy.
However, as of Tuesday, his extra hours won't be tapped. Parodi tested positive for the coronavirus.
Americans have been told they need to stay home to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. For some workers, it's hard to choose between a paycheck and public health, keeping benefits or keeping the coronavirus from infecting their families and even losing sick time or testing positive.
About a quarter of U.S. workers are ineligible for paid sick leave, and while Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which would give paid leave to workers who did not have it and extend paid leave for workers who only got a few days, U.S. employees are still making wrenching decisions.
Some who think they may have become infected are unable to get one of the limited tests offered. Many have been laid off or face the threat of furlough.
For some, it feels like any choice they make will be wrong.
Heather Harvey, an education coordinator at a corporate-owned child-care center in West Lafayette, Indiana, had to decide her priorities Sunday: The health of her and her husband, who has Type 1 diabetes, or helping parents who need to be at work, like doctors, with their child care.
There is no upside, Harvey, 50, said.
At first, she had planned to work this week, but at the end of the weekend, she realized she didn't want to potentially expose her husband, who had already self-quarantined for five days, by going to work.
"It felt bad for me to go and bring 140 people's germs home with me," she said. "Working with kids, you are always getting sneezed on and coughed on, and you try to wash your hands but you can't do it. It's impossible to work in that situation and not get sneezed on or coughed on."
Instead, she is using up her sick time, unsure whether her center will close.
Harvey is spending the time working on homework for a bachelor's degree, which the company is paying for -- for now.
Loretta Warren, a customer service representative in Bristol, Pennsylvania, felt like she was letting down her team of 10 at work when she asked to work from home. At 74, she's the oldest in the office and is worried about getting infected.
"When we're short-handed, it makes everyone's jobs harder," she said. "But I'd rather be wrong than dead. I never miss work, no matter what, but in this situation, for my own well-being and my daughter's, I'm following the advice of experts."
Lani Gerson's daughter Hannah is in her early 30s and young enough to bounce back from an infection. But if she's not symptomatic, she can still carry home an infection from her job at a day-care center near Boston and get her parents sick.
She elected not to return to work, a decision that plagued the whole family, Lani Gerson said.
"My daughter feels the burden of it, but we're all weighing it," she said. "We're trying to be thoughtful and caring of everything -- like everyone else is."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-21--Shut down by coronavirus, Lake Zurich distillery now producing sanitizer to help fight back

After being silenced last week by coronavirus precautions , the still at Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich roared back to life Friday .
But instead of producing gin or vodka , owner Andrew Macker and his team were putting the machine to work making sanitizer to help first responders stay safe during the pandemic .
Macker said they made about 100 bottles of sanitizer to give away to local police and fire departments .
The sanitizer project started Thursday after a call from state Sen. Dan McConchie , a Hawthorn Woods Republican .
McConchie said he 'd heard from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departments were running low on sanitizer .
Even though most people are asked to remain inside , first responders must be available to help and they need to use sanitizer on their hands and shared equipment , McConchie said .
`` I am proud of the willingness of Copper Fiddle to respond to the call to ensure our first responders are cared for and protected during this crisis , '' McConchie said .
`` We are so much stronger when we stand together . ''
Usually it takes about a week to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but for the first batch produced Friday his team used about 45 cases of unsold bottles of rum to speed up the process .
`` They are at 80 proof and we have to get them up to 140 to 160 proof , '' Macker said .
`` We just filled the still and fired it up . ''
It took less than a day to produce the first batch , which will be distributed to first responders who reach out to him via email at andrew @ copperfiddle.com .
Macker said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ batch for first responders which should be ready around March 30 .
McConchie 's office helped set up a link where people so inclined can donate money to Copper Fiddle to support their production of sanitizer for first responders .
To donate click here .
Macker said regular sales have pretty much dried up since coronavirus fears shut down their taproom and others like it in the state .
He said if Copper Fiddle receives enough donations he would like to produce a batch of sanitizer to sell to regular customers .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was upbeat Friday .
`` We are going to get through this , '' Macker said .

Shut down by coronavirus, Lake Zurich distillery now producing sanitizer to help fight back
State Sen. Dan McConchie talks with Andrew Macker, middle, owner and operator of Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich, and Rob Scaramella, master distiller, as they work to produce hand sanitizer for police and fire departments. Courtesy of Sen. Dan McConchie
Andrew Macker, left, owner and operator of Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich, and Rob Scaramella, master distiller, work on producing hand sanitizer for local police and fire departments. Courtesy of Sen. Dan McConchie
After being silenced last week by coronavirus precautions, the still at Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich roared back to life Friday.
But instead of producing gin or vodka, owner Andrew Macker and his team were putting the machine to work making sanitizer to help first responders stay safe during the pandemic.
Macker said they made about 100 bottles of sanitizer to give away to local police and fire departments.
The sanitizer project started Thursday after a call from state Sen. Dan McConchie, a Hawthorn Woods Republican.
McConchie said he'd heard from local mayors that their police and fire departments were running low on sanitizer. Even though most people are asked to remain inside, first responders must be available to help and they need to use sanitizer on their hands and shared equipment, McConchie said.
Macker immediately agreed to help.
"I am proud of the willingness of Copper Fiddle to respond to the call to ensure our first responders are cared for and protected during this crisis," McConchie said. "We are so much stronger when we stand together."
Usually it takes about a week to make a batch of sanitizer, Macker said, but for the first batch produced Friday his team used about 45 cases of unsold bottles of rum to speed up the process.
"They are at 80 proof and we have to get them up to 140 to 160 proof," Macker said. "We just filled the still and fired it up."
It took less than a day to produce the first batch, which will be distributed to first responders who reach out to him via email at andrew@copperfiddle.com.
Macker said he and his team will make another batch for first responders which should be ready around March 30.
McConchie's office helped set up a link where people so inclined can donate money to Copper Fiddle to support their production of sanitizer for first responders. To donate click here.
Macker said regular sales have pretty much dried up since coronavirus fears shut down their taproom and others like it in the state. He said if Copper Fiddle receives enough donations he would like to produce a batch of sanitizer to sell to regular customers.
As bad as things may seem, Macker was upbeat Friday.
"We are going to get through this," Macker said.