chicagosun-times--2020-03-23--Bears free agent tracker: Who’s coming and going?

Tracking the Bears-related free agent moves as the NFL ’ s legal tampering window opened Monday : 8 p.m. : The Bears are bringing back defensive back and special teams ace DeAndre Houston-Carson on a one-year deal , a source confirmed to the Sun-Times .
No one played more on special teams for the Bears last year than Houston-Carson , who participated in 82 percent of the team ’ s kicking snaps .
Noon : The Bears ’ defensive line , one of the better units in the league , is bringing back a depth piece .
Brent Urban , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed in October , will return on a one-year deal .
His wife Kate was the first to announce the deal Monday on Twitter .
Urban started all 16 games in the Ravens ’ 3-4 front in 2018 before signing with the Titans .
He was cut on Oct. 19 , though , just as the Bears were in need of reinforcements .
In nine games with the Bears , Urban had 16 tackles , a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit .
He ’ ll rejoin the Bears ’ formidable front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bilal Nichols figure to start , while Roy Robertson-Harris has emerged as a pass-rush specialist .
11 p.m. : The Bears are adding outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo , the former No .
6 overall pick who turned into a journeyman .
He ’ ll make $ 1.1875 million on a one-year deal , sources confirmed to the Sun-Times .
Mingo , who played for the Texans last season , has never posted more than five sacks in a season .
He has 10 in his career .
He will give the Bears some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Robert Quinn .
Noon : The Bears are bringing back outside linebacker Isaiah Irving on a one-year deal .
Irving was a restricted free agent whom the Bears decided not to tender .
Once he hit the free-agent market , though , the Bears remained interested in retaining him .
Irving has one sack in 33 games with the team , but he played 37 percent of the Bears ’ special teams snaps last season .
11 a.m. : Jimmy Graham ’ s contract details are out .
The two-year , $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a one-year , $ 9 million contract that the Bears can walk away from by taking a $ 3 million dead cap hit in 2021 .
He has a no-trade clause , too .
10:30 a.m. : The Bears are signing Chiefs safety Jordan Lucas to a one-year , $ 1 million deal , per NFL Network .
Lucas played mostly special teams over two years with the Chiefs .
He spent his first two seasons with the Dolphins , the team that drafted him .
1:15 p.m. : The Bears picked up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amukamara by landing former Steeler Artie Burns .
He agreed to a one-year deal Saturday , his agent , Drew Rosenhaus , told the Sun-Times .
Noon : Former linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski , who signed with the Raiders this week , thanked Bears fans on social media .
10 a.m. : With Ha Ha Clinton-Dix off to the Cowboys , the Bears agreed to re-sign safety Deon Bush .
Agent Drew Rosenhaus said it ’ s a one-year deal worth $ 1.4 million .
11:30 p.m. : Ha Ha Clinton-Dix , who signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last season , is heading to the Cowboys .
His agency announced the deal but did not offer terms .
NFL Network reported it ’ s a one-year deal worth $ 4 million , with $ 2.5 million guaranteed .
The Bears were reluctant to spend big money on a safety after giving Eddie Jackson a record-setting extension in January .
4:15 p.m. : Long snapper Patrick Scales is expected to return to the Bears on a one-year deal , sources confirmed .
3 p.m. : Cornelius Lucas , a veteran tackle who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season , is leaving .
He agreed to a two-year , $ 5.3 million contract with Washington , ESPN reported .
4 p.m. : The Bears didn ’ t tender outside linebacker Isaiah Irving , rendering him a free agent .
The team could still sign Irving , who played in 13 games last year and 33 over three seasons , later in the offseason .
Irving played 37.2 percent of the Bears ’ special teams last year , 10th-most on the team .
2 p.m. : Leonard Floyd could end up making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One day after the Bears cut the outside linebacker — and got rid of his $ 13.2 million option for 2020 — he agreed to a one-year contract with the Rams .
The deal is worth $ 10 million , but could reach $ 13 million with incentives , per ESPN .
The landing spot is a familiar one for Floyd .
Brandon Staley , his position coach with the Bears from 2017-18 , is entering his first season as the Rams ’ coordinator .
The Bears cut Floyd on Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contract was to become guaranteed at the start of the league year .
Seeking a stronger pass rusher , they signed former Cowboys edge rusher Robert Quinn to a five-year , $ 70 million deal .
Quinn had 11 ½ sacks last season .
12:30 p.m. : The Bears have their quarterback .
They traded a fourth-round pick to the Jaguars for former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles , who ’ d falled out of favor after just one year in Jacksonville .
Foles has worked with Bears head coach Matt Nagy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John DeFilippo during his career .
11:45 a.m. : Panthers safety Eric Reid will hit the market today , ESPN reported .
Reid , 28 , is expected to be a coveted free agent and could catch the Bears ’ eye as they look to fill one of the two remaining vacancies on their starting defense .
5:41 p.m. : Multiple reports — from ESPN and NFL Network — indicate that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is likely to sign with the Buccaneers .
He announced early Tuesday that he would not return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ever known .
5:40 p.m. : Teddy Bridgewater will get $ 63 million over three years from the Panthers , per ESPN .
3 p.m. : Future Hall of Fame quarterback Philip Rivers is no longer available .
He agreed to a one-year , $ 25 million deal with the Colts .
2:10 p.m. : Inside linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis , who played well in three games as a starter when other Bears were hurt , is signing a one-year , $ 3.45 million deal with Washington , per NFL Network .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will start alongside Roquan Smith next year .
Pierre-Louis who played one year in Chicago .
11:35 a.m. : With Cam Newton free to seek a trade , the Panthers are signing Teddy Bridgewater , per reports .
He has familiarity with new Panthers coordinator Joe Brady , who worked with the Saints before joining LSU .
Bridgewater is another quarterback to cross off the list of potential Bears fits .
11:30 a.m. : Robert Quinn ’ s addition means the end of Leonard Floyd ’ s time with the Bears .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million were he still on the roster at the start of the league year Wednesday afternoon .
11 a.m. : The Bears finally made a big move : they agreed to a five-year , $ 70 million deal with Cowboys pass rusher Robert Quinn , ESPN reported .
That also signals the release of underperforming outside linebacker Leonard Floyd .
10:15 a.m. : Bears backup quarterback Chase Daniel is gone .
He agreed to a three-year , $ 13.1 million contract with the Lions , per ESPN .
10 a.m. : Panthers star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available for trade , the team announced .
He and his agents have permission to seek a deal , which makes him an option for the Bears .
8 a.m. : The Patriots ’ Tom Brady posted on Instagram that he is leaving the team , adding a quarterback — perhaps the greatest of all time — to the market and another team in need of a starting passer .
11 p.m. : Nick Williams , the defensive lineman who finished second on the Bears with six sacks last season , signed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Lions , per sources .
It ’ s a tremendous turn for Williams , who ’ d played on minimum contracts for seven seasons .
The Bears ’ three starters are returning the defensive line , and so is Roy Robertson-Harris .
8:50 p.m. : Former Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota , who some thought to be a good fit with the Bears , is signing with the Raiders .
He figures to back up Derek Carr .
6:45 p.m. : The Bears are signing former Packers tight end Jimmy Graham .
ESPN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million deal with $ 9 million guaranteed over two years .
4:30 p.m. : Cross a quarterback off the Bears ’ list : Case Keenum is signing to be the Browns ’ backup , per ESPN .
12:55 p.m. : Shortly after the start of the NFL ’ s legal tampering period , former Bears inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski signed a three-year , $ 21 million contract with the Raiders that includes $ 13.5 million guaranteed .
It ’ s almost identical to the contract the Bears gave inside linebacker Danny Trevathan when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trevathan ’ s three-year deal is worth $ 21.5 million , with $ 13.65 million guaranteed .
Noon : Within the first hour of the legal tampering period , it appeared the Bears got priced out on a player they coveted .
Multiple reports had two-time Pro Bowl tight end Austin Hooper headed to the Browns .
The Bears had been eying Hooper for months to pair him with Trey Burton , but were on a limited budget because of their salary-cap situation .
The Bears gave defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to give up a second-rounder to sign him away .
Because that won ’ t happen , Robertson-Harris is expected to return next season on a deal worth around $ 3.3 million .
Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan , one of the Bears ’ most influential leaders , agreed to a three-year contract before the start of free agency .
Speaking the next day , Trevathan said his “ whole goal is to bring a Super Bowl back here.
” The Bears cut cornerback Prince Amukamara and receiver Taylor Gabriel to create $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Bears signed former Browns tight end Demetrius Harris , who played for Matt Nagy in Kansas City , to a one-year deal .
Just days after the end of the season , the Bears gaves safety Eddie Jackson a four-year , $ 58.4 million extension .
The $ 14.6 million average is the most ever for a safety .

Tracking the Bears-related moves in NFL free agency:
May 5
10 a.m.: Outside linebacker Aaron Lynch, who spent the last two seasons with the Bears, is signing a one-year deal with the Jaguars. The team made the announcement on Tuesday morning.
April 30
4 p.m.: The Bears have agreed to sign safety Tashaun Gipson to a one-year deal, per Pro Football Talk. Gipson figures to start at strong safety alongside free safety Eddie Jackson.
1:45 p.m.: Speedy veteran receiver Ted Ginn Jr. is signing a one-year contract with the Bears, a source said. Ginn should help take the place of Taylor Gabriel, whom the Bears cut in February.
April 29
4 p.m.: The Bears are signing receiver Trevor Davis to a one-year contract.
April 28
2 p.m.: John Jenkins, the defensive tackle who played for the Bears in 2017, is returning on a one-year deal.
10 a.m.: The Bears signed 11 college free agents.
April 17
5:45 p.m.: The Bears signed kicker Ramiz Ahmed and announcing they’re bringing back two exclusive rights free agents: guard Rashaad Coward and tight end J.P. Holtz.
5:40 p.m.: The Bears reached a one-year deal with former Packers offensive tackle Jason Spriggs. He was a second-round pick in 2016, but has played just 36 games because of injuries. He spent all of last season on Injured Reserve.
4:15 p.m.: The Bears are releasing tight end Trey Burton, according to NFL Network. Burton was hampered all last season by a groin injury that first flared up on the eve of his playoff game against his former team, the Eagles, in January 2019.
April 16
3:30 p.m.: The Bears are bringing back special teams ace Sherrick McManis, their longest-tenured player.
April 15
2:30 pm.: Bears defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris signed his contract tender, making it official that he will return to the Bears for at least one more season . He’d been offered a second-round tender last month, which made his return a fait accompli.
April 1
4:30 p.m.: The Bears made official the signings of outside linebacker Robert Quinn and offensive lineman Germain Ifedi — to five-year and one-year deals, respectively — on Wednesday. Quinn will make $70 million, with $30 million guaranteed. The team had agreed to the deals last month.
March 31
4 p.m.: The Bears’ trade for quarterback Nick Foles, in which they sent a fourth-round pick to the Jaguars, was finally filed to the league. The trade was agreed to last month, but was delayed because of the league-wide slowdown of physicals because of the coronavirus.
We have officially acquired @NickFoles from a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
READ. — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) March 31, 2020
11:30 a.m.: The Bears made official their re-signing of safety/special teamer DeAndre Houston-Carson to a one-year dea.l
March 26
11:30 a.m.: The Bears made seven signings official: tight end Jimmy Graham, third-string quarterback Tyler Bray, cornerback Artie Burns, safety Deon Bush, safety Jordan Lucas, snapper Patrick Scales and defensive end Brent Urban. All but Graham will get a one-year deal. Graham’s contract is for two years, $16 million. All seven deals had been previously reported.
March 25
1:30 p.m.: The Bears have added former first-round pick Germain Ifedi to their offensive line. Ifedi started 60 games at guard and tackle for the Seahawks the last four seasons. It’s likely he’ll get a chance to compete at right guard and could get a chance to compete with starters Charles Leno and Bobby Massie for a spot in the starting lineup as well.
4 p.m.: ESPN reported the Bears agreed to a one-year deal for quarterback Tyler Bray to return. Bray has been with coach Matt Nagy since his Chiefs years and was the No. 3 quarterback last season. He spent most of it on the practice squad, but was promoted to backup when Mitch Trubisky was out with an injury.
March 23
8 p.m.: The Bears are bringing back defensive back and special teams ace DeAndre Houston-Carson on a one-year deal, a source confirmed to the Sun-Times. No one played more on special teams for the Bears last year than Houston-Carson, who participated in 82 percent of the team’s kicking snaps.
Noon: The Bears’ defensive line, one of the better units in the league, is bringing back a depth piece. Brent Urban, the 6-foot-7, 300-pound end the Bears signed in October, will return on a one-year deal. His wife Kate was the first to announce the deal Monday on Twitter.
Urban started all 16 games in the Ravens’ 3-4 front in 2018 before signing with the Titans. He was cut on Oct. 19, though, just as the Bears were in need of reinforcements.
In nine games with the Bears, Urban had 16 tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit. He’ll rejoin the Bears’ formidable front — Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman and Bilal Nichols figure to start, while Roy Robertson-Harris has emerged as a pass-rush specialist.
March 22
11 p.m.: The Bears are adding outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo, the former No. 6 overall pick who turned into a journeyman. He’ll make $1.1875 million on a one-year deal, sources confirmed to the Sun-Times. Mingo, who played for the Texans last season, has never posted more than five sacks in a season. He has 10 in his career. He will give the Bears some depth at the position behind Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn.
Noon: The Bears are bringing back outside linebacker Isaiah Irving on a one-year deal. Irving was a restricted free agent whom the Bears decided not to tender. Once he hit the free-agent market, though, the Bears remained interested in retaining him. Irving has one sack in 33 games with the team, but he played 37 percent of the Bears’ special teams snaps last season.
11 a.m.: Jimmy Graham’s contract details are out. The two-year, $16 million deal he signed is ostensibly a one-year, $9 million contract that the Bears can walk away from by taking a $3 million dead cap hit in 2021. He has a no-trade clause, too.
10:30 a.m.: The Bears are signing Chiefs safety Jordan Lucas to a one-year, $1 million deal, per NFL Network. Lucas played mostly special teams over two years with the Chiefs. He spent his first two seasons with the Dolphins, the team that drafted him.
March 21
1:15 p.m.: The Bears picked up a potential starting cornerback to replace Prince Amukamara by landing former Steeler Artie Burns. He agreed to a one-year deal Saturday, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told the Sun-Times.
Noon: Former linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski, who signed with the Raiders this week, thanked Bears fans on social media.
March 20
10 a.m.: With Ha Ha Clinton-Dix off to the Cowboys, the Bears agreed to re-sign safety Deon Bush. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said it’s a one-year deal worth $1.4 million.
March 19
11:30 p.m.: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Bears last season, is heading to the Cowboys. His agency announced the deal but did not offer terms. NFL Network reported it’s a one-year deal worth $4 million, with $2.5 million guaranteed. The Bears were reluctant to spend big money on a safety after giving Eddie Jackson a record-setting extension in January.
4:15 p.m.: Long snapper Patrick Scales is expected to return to the Bears on a one-year deal, sources confirmed.
3 p.m.: Cornelius Lucas, a veteran tackle who started eight games for the Bears last season, is leaving. He agreed to a two-year, $5.3 million contract with Washington, ESPN reported.
March 18
4 p.m.: The Bears didn’t tender outside linebacker Isaiah Irving, rendering him a free agent. The team could still sign Irving, who played in 13 games last year and 33 over three seasons, later in the offseason. Irving played 37.2 percent of the Bears’ special teams last year, 10th-most on the team.
2 p.m.: Leonard Floyd could end up making $13 million this year after all. One day after the Bears cut the outside linebacker — and got rid of his $13.2 million option for 2020 — he agreed to a one-year contract with the Rams. The deal is worth $10 million, but could reach $13 million with incentives, per ESPN.
The landing spot is a familiar one for Floyd. Brandon Staley, his position coach with the Bears from 2017-18, is entering his first season as the Rams’ coordinator.
The Bears cut Floyd on Tuesday, one day before his $13.2 million contract was to become guaranteed at the start of the league year. Seeking a stronger pass rusher, they signed former Cowboys edge rusher Robert Quinn to a five-year, $70 million deal. Quinn had 11 ½ sacks last season.
12:30 p.m.: The Bears have their quarterback. They traded a fourth-round pick to the Jaguars for former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles, who’d falled out of favor after just one year in Jacksonville. Foles has worked with Bears head coach Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo during his career.
11:45 a.m.: Panthers safety Eric Reid will hit the market today, ESPN reported. Reid, 28, is expected to be a coveted free agent and could catch the Bears’ eye as they look to fill one of the two remaining vacancies on their starting defense.
March 17
5:41 p.m.: Multiple reports — from ESPN and NFL Network — indicate that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is likely to sign with the Buccaneers. He announced early Tuesday that he would not return to the Patriots, the only team he’s ever known.
5:40 p.m.: Teddy Bridgewater will get $63 million over three years from the Panthers, per ESPN.
3 p.m.: Future Hall of Fame quarterback Philip Rivers is no longer available. He agreed to a one-year, $25 million deal with the Colts.
2:10 p.m.: Inside linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis, who played well in three games as a starter when other Bears were hurt, is signing a one-year, $3.45 million deal with Washington, per NFL Network. The Bears kept Danny Trevathan, who will start alongside Roquan Smith next year. Pierre-Louis who played one year in Chicago.
Kevin Pierre-Louis gets a 1-year deal worth up to $3.45M with playtime incentives. https://t.co/iy6WTMerLd — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2020
11:35 a.m.: With Cam Newton free to seek a trade, the Panthers are signing Teddy Bridgewater, per reports. He has familiarity with new Panthers coordinator Joe Brady, who worked with the Saints before joining LSU. Bridgewater is another quarterback to cross off the list of potential Bears fits.
Panthers finalizing a deal with QB Teddy Bridgewater. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/zsgMneycyI — NFL (@NFL) March 17, 2020
11:30 a.m.: Robert Quinn’s addition means the end of Leonard Floyd’s time with the Bears. The Bears would have owed Floyd $13.2 million were he still on the roster at the start of the league year Wednesday afternoon.
11 a.m.: The Bears finally made a big move: they agreed to a five-year, $70 million deal with Cowboys pass rusher Robert Quinn, ESPN reported. That also signals the release of underperforming outside linebacker Leonard Floyd.
Robert Quinn finished the 2019 season with 49 QB pressures, the same number as Khalil Mack, on 116 fewer pass rushes. — Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 17, 2020
10:15 a.m.: Bears backup quarterback Chase Daniel is gone. He agreed to a three-year, $13.1 million contract with the Lions, per ESPN.
10 a.m.: Panthers star and former NFL MVP Cam Newton is available for trade, the team announced. He and his agents have permission to seek a deal, which makes him an option for the Bears.
8 a.m.: The Patriots’ Tom Brady posted on Instagram that he is leaving the team, adding a quarterback — perhaps the greatest of all time — to the market and another team in need of a starting passer.
March 16
11 p.m.: Nick Williams, the defensive lineman who finished second on the Bears with six sacks last season, signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Lions, per sources. It’s a tremendous turn for Williams, who’d played on minimum contracts for seven seasons. The Bears’ three starters are returning the defensive line, and so is Roy Robertson-Harris.
🦁 — Nicholas Williams (@NickWilliams_98) March 17, 2020
8:50 p.m.: Former Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, who some thought to be a good fit with the Bears, is signing with the Raiders. He figures to back up Derek Carr.
Marcus Mariota is joining the Las Vegas @Raiders! pic.twitter.com/4ZzLTTYDnq — NFL (@NFL) March 17, 2020
6:45 p.m.: The Bears are signing former Packers tight end Jimmy Graham. ESPN reported the deal is worth $16 million deal with $9 million guaranteed over two years.
Graham Tweeted an appropriate video.
4:30 p.m.: Cross a quarterback off the Bears’ list: Case Keenum is signing to be the Browns’ backup, per ESPN.
Browns reached agreement with former Redskins' QB Case Keenum on a three-year, $18 million deal that includes $10 million guaranteed, per source. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020
12:55 p.m.: Shortly after the start of the NFL’s legal tampering period, former Bears inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Raiders that includes $13.5 million guaranteed.
It’s almost identical to the contract the Bears gave inside linebacker Danny Trevathan when they chose him over Kwiatkoski last week. Trevathan’s three-year deal is worth $21.5 million, with $13.65 million guaranteed.
Noon: Within the first hour of the legal tampering period, it appeared the Bears got priced out on a player they coveted. Multiple reports had two-time Pro Bowl tight end Austin Hooper headed to the Browns. The Bears had been eying Hooper for months to pair him with Trey Burton, but were on a limited budget because of their salary-cap situation.
March 13
The Bears gave defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris a second-round tender, meaning that teams would have to give up a second-rounder to sign him away. Because that won’t happen, Robertson-Harris is expected to return next season on a deal worth around $3.3 million.
March 12
Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan, one of the Bears’ most influential leaders, agreed to a three-year contract before the start of free agency. Speaking the next day, Trevathan said his “whole goal is to bring a Super Bowl back here.”
Feb. 21
The Bears cut cornerback Prince Amukamara and receiver Taylor Gabriel to create $13.5 million in salary cap space.
Feb. 20
The Bears signed former Browns tight end Demetrius Harris, who played for Matt Nagy in Kansas City, to a one-year deal.
Jan. 3
Just days after the end of the season, the Bears gaves safety Eddie Jackson a four-year, $58.4 million extension. The $14.6 million average is the most ever for a safety.


chicagosun-times--2020-03-23--Horoscope for Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Horoscope for Tuesday, March 24, 2020

We have the all clear to shop and do business .
The new moon is in Aries .
The new moon is in your sign , which happens only once a year .
This is an excellent opportunity to take a realistic look in the mirror and ask yourself what you can do to improve the image you create on your world .
New hat ?
New glasses ?
Today ’ s new moon might prompt you to think about your inner , spiritual values .
What is the basis for how you make important decisions in your life ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ some time and give thought to the subtle aspect .
You are one of the friendliest signs of the zodiac and you love an adoring peanut gallery !
Today ’ s new moon is the best day of the year to ponder the relations you have with your friends as well as clubs and associations .
How can you improve these relationships ?
Today ’ s new moon is the perfect time ( actually the best day of the year ) to think about your life direction .
Are you headed where you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your own goals or the goals of someone else ?
You might also examine your relations with authority figures .
What further education or training can you get to improve your job and what you do ?
Likewise , what travel might you pursue to enhance your life ?
Today ’ s new moon is the best day of the year to think about these things .
Ideas ?
The new moon today is the perfect day to think about how to reduce your debt and better handle details related to inheritances , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can you make your life easier by taking a better approach to these things ?
Today the only new moon opposite your sign all year is taking place , which means this is your opportunity to give serious thought about how to improve your closest relationships .
This includes close friendships , spouses and partners ( both intimate and professional ) .
Ideas ?
Today offers you the best chance this year to think about what you can do to improve your health , and also , what you can do to improve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job .
This is because the new moon is always an opportunity to make resolutions and set intentions .
Today ’ s new moon is the best day of the year to think about how you value and use your creative potential .
It ’ s important to express your creativity , even if you ’ re not a professional .
Sing , dance , sculpt , sew , draw and paint because this enriches your life !
Creative play time is important for you .
What can you do to improve your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members , especially parents ?
This is the question to ponder today during this particular new moon .
Obviously , as with everything in life , there is always room for improvement .
We are gregarious creatures , and how we communicate with each other is vital .
Today ’ s new moon is the best day of the year for you to think about your style of communicating , especially to siblings , relatives and neighbors .
Are you a clear communicator ?
Once a year you have a wonderful chance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earn your money and how you want to spend it .
Today is that day .
Are you happy with how you handle your money ?
What changes would you like to make ?
If Your Birthday Is Today Academic , environmental activist David Suzuki ( 1936 ) shares your birthday .
People admire you because you are generous and brave .
You are also a natural leader who is not afraid to be genuine and authentic with others .
Good news about the coming year because finally your hard work will pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of construction both in terms of personal organization and concrete accomplishments .
Get more physical exercise because this will benefit you .

Moon Alert
We have the all clear to shop and do business. The new moon is in Aries.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
The new moon is in your sign, which happens only once a year. This is an excellent opportunity to take a realistic look in the mirror and ask yourself what you can do to improve the image you create on your world. New hat? New glasses?
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Today’s new moon might prompt you to think about your inner, spiritual values. What is the basis for how you make important decisions in your life? This is an excellent day to take some time and give thought to the subtle aspect.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
You are one of the friendliest signs of the zodiac and you love an adoring peanut gallery! Today’s new moon is the best day of the year to ponder the relations you have with your friends as well as clubs and associations. How can you improve these relationships?
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Today’s new moon is the perfect time (actually the best day of the year) to think about your life direction. Are you headed where you want to go? Are your goals your own goals or the goals of someone else? You might also examine your relations with authority figures.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
What further education or training can you get to improve your job and what you do? Likewise, what travel might you pursue to enhance your life? Today’s new moon is the best day of the year to think about these things. Ideas?
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
The new moon today is the perfect day to think about how to reduce your debt and better handle details related to inheritances, insurance disputes and shared property. How can you make your life easier by taking a better approach to these things?
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Today the only new moon opposite your sign all year is taking place, which means this is your opportunity to give serious thought about how to improve your closest relationships. This includes close friendships, spouses and partners (both intimate and professional). Ideas?
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Today offers you the best chance this year to think about what you can do to improve your health, and also, what you can do to improve your job or how you do your job. This is because the new moon is always an opportunity to make resolutions and set intentions.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today’s new moon is the best day of the year to think about how you value and use your creative potential. It’s important to express your creativity, even if you’re not a professional. Sing, dance, sculpt, sew, draw and paint because this enriches your life! Creative play time is important for you.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
What can you do to improve your home scene and your relations with family members, especially parents? This is the question to ponder today during this particular new moon. Obviously, as with everything in life, there is always room for improvement.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
We are gregarious creatures, and how we communicate with each other is vital. Today’s new moon is the best day of the year for you to think about your style of communicating, especially to siblings, relatives and neighbors. Are you a clear communicator?
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Once a year you have a wonderful chance to set resolutions about how you want to earn your money and how you want to spend it. Today is that day. Are you happy with how you handle your money? What changes would you like to make?
If Your Birthday Is Today
Academic, environmental activist David Suzuki (1936) shares your birthday. People admire you because you are generous and brave. You are also a natural leader who is not afraid to be genuine and authentic with others. Good news about the coming year because finally your hard work will pay off! It’s a time of construction both in terms of personal organization and concrete accomplishments. Get more physical exercise because this will benefit you.


chicagosun-times--2020-03-23--Northwestern Memorial Hospital nurse’s  lawsuit alleges she was fired for warning about ‘ineffective

Northwestern Memorial Hospital nurse’s  lawsuit alleges she was fired for warning about ‘ineffective’ masks used while treating COVID-19 patients

A former nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital filed a lawsuit alleging she was fired after warning coworkers that masks the hospital provided did not adequately protect staff against COVID-19 .
Lauri Mazurkiewicz filed the suit Monday in Cook County Circuity Court , naming the hospital and several employees as defendants , the lawsuit states .
According to the suit , the hospital began accepting and treating patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in March , allegedly exposing Mazurkiewicz and others to the virus .
Instead of distributing N95 masks , which are effective at preventing the wearer from contracting the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less-effective ” masks , the lawsuit claims .
The hospital allegedly also prevented its employees from wearing N95 masks .
Mazurkiewicz sent an email March 18 warning employees and supervisors that N95 masks were more effective than the masks distributed by the hospital , the suit states .
She was fired the next day after showing up to work while wearing an N95 mask .
The lawsuit claims she was laid off in retaliation for warning staff that the masks the hospital provided were unsafe .
A spokesman for Northwestern Memorial said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reviewing the complaint.
” The suit seeks a jury trial and more than $ 50,000 in damages .

A former nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital filed a lawsuit alleging she was fired after warning coworkers that masks the hospital provided did not adequately protect staff against COVID-19.
Lauri Mazurkiewicz filed the suit Monday in Cook County Circuit Court, naming the hospital and several employees as defendants, the lawsuit states.
According to the suit, the hospital began accepting and treating patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in March, allegedly exposing Mazurkiewicz and others to the virus.
Instead of distributing N95 masks, which are effective at preventing the wearer from contracting the virus, the hospital allegedly provided staff with “less-effective” masks, the lawsuit claims. The hospital allegedly also prevented its employees from wearing N95 masks.
Mazurkiewicz sent an email March 18 warning employees and supervisors that N95 masks were more effective than the masks distributed by the hospital, the suit states. She was fired the next day after showing up to work while wearing an N95 mask.
The lawsuit claims she was laid off in retaliation for warning staff that the masks the hospital provided were unsafe.
A spokesman for Northwestern Memorial said in an email that the hospital is “reviewing the complaint.”
The suit seeks a jury trial and more than $50,000 in damages.


chicagosun-times--2020-03-24--‘It hurts’ — Food pantries shut down, shelters try to cope amid coronavirus crisis (LIVE UPDATES)

Despite Lightfoot ’ s go-easy pledge , motorists still getting parking tickets for non-safety violations Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Chicago would stop ticketing , booting and towing illegally parked vehicles except for public safety reasons through April 30 to give some measure of relief to people whose jobs and paychecks have been impacted by the coronavirus .
Why , then , is the city to continuing to ticket cars parked nowhere near fire hydrants or building entrances with absolutely no impact on public safety ?
“ Ticketing is continuing , but the emphasis is supposed to be limited to public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a conference call with reporters .
“ It ’ s not free parking all over the city .
I want to be clear about that .
But what we said is , place the emphasis on cars or motorists who cause a public safety hazard.
” Lightfoot said there is an obvious need to “ continue to be in conversation ” with Chicago Parking Meters LLC about “ where the emphasis should be placed ” to comply with her March 18 edict .
That ’ s the investment group that famously paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years to lease the city ’ s 36,000 parking meters in exchange for the right to pocket meter revenues and be reimbursed by the city for meters taken out of service .
It ’ s the parking meter deal that Chicagoans love to hate .
Read the full report from reporter Fran Spielman here .
5:28 p.m. More funeral homes livestream services as they face guest limits and travel restrictions because of coronavirus Because of the coronavirus , a handful of people attended the funeral for Sam Melamed .
But a lot more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were there .
There ’ ve been more than 1700 views of a Facebook livestream of his graveside service Monday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie .
For mourners who couldn ’ t be present , it was a real-time , virtual front-row seat .
They could see the red roses atop his casket and hear the birds and traffic on Gross Point Road .
Mr. Melamed , a hotelier , died last Thursday in Rockford , where he ’ d moved to be closer to his son , Harvey .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rentschler , watched his funeral from California .
His siblings , Bessie Bernard , Diana Burn and Harry Melamed , were in virtual attendance from Florida .
Other relatives viewed it from his hometown of Montreal .
“ They all were able to watch the stream and feel included , ” said his son , Earl , who was present .
“ I thought it was really a wonderful thing .
.
.
we were thrilled.
” 4:32 p.m. Lightfoot : Not the time to lift stay-at-home order , despite what Trump says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said this is not the time to lift the stay-at-home order — no matter how strongly President Donald Trump feels about the need to get the economy moving — and the decision will be made at the local level .
Lightfoot noted the CDC gives state and local officials “ guidance ” about what to do .
They don ’ t issue mandates .
Neither has the federal government .
“ So when and how conditions on the ground in Chicago and across the state happen is gon na be dependent upon us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
In Chicago and “ in most areas ” across the nation , there remains an “ upward trajectory in the number of confirmed cases ” of the coronavirus that , Chicago Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said , is likely to continue for some time .
“ Pulling that [ stay at home order ] now , in my view for Chicago , does not make sense at all , ” Lightfoot said .
City Hall reporter Fran Spielman has more from Lightfoot ’ s press conference call .
Read her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control tower at Midway Airport reopened Tuesday , a week after it closed for cleaning due to a COVID-19 exposure that disrupted flights in and out of the airport .
Several employees in the tower tested positive for the virus March 17 , according to the Federal Aviation Administration .
When the tower closed , flights operated on a “ one-in-one-out ” basis , prompting Southwest Airlines to suspend all of its flights at the airport .
Flights were controlled from a remote facility .
“ Every air traffic control facility in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air traffic moving safely when events impede normal operations , ” FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said in an emailed statement .
“ In some cases , this means transferring duties to adjacent facilities.
” After the shelter-in-place order was instituted by Gov .
J.B. Pritzker last week due to the coronavirus pandemic , some liquor stores , delivery apps and distilleries continue to see an increase in sales , while of some of them have seen their sales head in the other direction .
Binny ’ s Beverage Depot , which continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making deliveries through food delivery app Instacart .
They have cut brick-and-mortar hours and are letting a controlled number of customers into their stores .
The Illinois Liquor Control Commission has issued temporary permits to craft breweries so they can conduct residential deliveries .
2:45 p.m. Illinois coronavirus deaths up to 16 , cases up to 1,535 Gov .
J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday outlined the state ’ s hospital capacity to deal with some of the most serious cases of coronavirus , while officials announced another four people have died from COVID-19 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t know how long the coronavirus will affect the lives of Illinois residents , and he warned that although the virus has mostly affected Cook County residents , “ it is coming to every county.
” An additional 250 cases have been added to the state ’ s total , Dr. Ngozi Ezike , the head of the Illinois Department of Public Health said , bringing the number of cases in the state to 1,535 cases in 32 counties in Illinois .
The ages have ranged from an infant to 99 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Memorial fired her over wanting better face masks A nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital who wore a more protective face mask than the one issued to her by the hospital — and warned coworkers to do the same — said Tuesday she suspects she was fired because such a warning could spur protests or even walkouts by nurses who didn ’ t have the same level of protection .
Lauri Mazurkiewicz — who filed suit against the hospital Monday — wore an N95 face mask she bought herself to work this month at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emailed about 50 coworkers suggesting they , too , wear the extra-protective mask in place of the standard hospital-issued surgical masks her and her colleagues had been instructed to wear .
The very next day , Mazurkiewicz learned she ’ d been fired when she received a call from the nursing staffing agency that placed her at the hospital .
“ I had a box of my own , ” she said of the N95 masks , noting her concern about airborne transmission of the virus and the additional protection the masks offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs protection from COVID-19 , consumer group says Amid the wrangling in Congress over what to do to halt the spread of the coronavirus and assist struggling businesses , a coalition of consumer groups wants to make sure ordinary people don ’ t see their credit destroyed by the financial upheaval .
The Consumer Federation of America , which includes more than 250 organizations , is calling for consumer-friendly measures including : • Suspension of debt collections , including legal proceedings , wage garnishments , repossessions and selling of debt .
• A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least four months , so out-of-work consumers who can ’ t pay their bills on time won ’ t see their credit destroyed .
• Forbearance of 180 days for homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages .
• A nationwide , 180-day halt to evictions of tenants suffering economic hardship and support for landlords who are losing income .
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart was an early adopter , announcing March 14 that he would halt court-ordered evictions during the crisis .
A COVID-19 case has been confirmed at Andrew Jackson Language Academy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fourth publicly known case at a Chicago public school .
Schools officials told families in a letter Monday night that someone at the school tested positive , but that they “ behaved cautiously and did not have direct contact with any member of the Jackson community when they became symptomatic.
” The letter did not say whether the person who tested positive was a student , staff member or parent .
A Chicago Public Schools spokesman did not respond to a question asking if the patient was a child or adult .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as another letter from CPS to all district families that school communities would continue to be notified through March 31 if someone in their school tested positive .
CPS said notifications won ’ t be necessary after that date , since it will be 14 days since schools closed and there will no longer be a risk that transmission occurred while classes were in session .
Jewel-Osco is adding plexiglass sneeze guards at its registers , service desks and pharmacy stands to protect employees and customers during the COVID-19 outbreak .
The grocery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help people keep a proper distance from other shoppers , particularly near fresh departments and checkout lanes .
“ We recognize that we provide an essential service to our communities and we are doing everything we can to provide a safe , secure and comfortable shopping space for our valued customers and our associates , ” Jewel-Osco President Mike Withers said in a news release .
Jewel-Osco is part of Albertsons Cos. , which operates stores in 34 states and Washington , D.C. Supermarket News reported Albertsons plans to install the sneeze @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next two weeks .
Illinois education officials have applied for a federal waiver to cancel all standardized testing in the state and suspend school ratings and assessments .
The request comes days after U.S. Sec .
of Education Betsy DeVos said the Dept .
of Education would approve any state applications for waivers as coronavirus-related closures upend school years across the country .
The Illinois State Board of Education said that , if its application is approved , any school that was identified last year as struggling and in need of extra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next year .
Chicago Public Schools has already canceled its own district-mandated standardized testing , including the Northwest Evaluation Association ( NWEA ) MAP test , which is used for entry to the district ’ s selective-enrollment high schools and elementary school academic centers .
10:38 a.m. Lightfoot , suburban mayors raise red flags about releasing jail detainees over COVID-19 Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and a coalition of suburban mayors penned a letter to Chief Criminal Court Judge Leroy Martin Monday in response to his decision to review of thousands of criminal cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of inmates in jail in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Martin ’ s order came the day after the Cook County Sheriff ’ s Department announced that a correctional officer who worked in the jail ’ s Cermak medical facility tested positive for COVID-19 .
In the letter dated Monday , Lightfoot asked the judge to “ consider implementing certain protocols to ensure that detainees residing in a facility where a known case has been detected are asymptomatic for a reasonable time prior to release in order to safeguard them and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayors from Hillside , Morton Grove , Riverside , Palos Hills and Robbins .
Click here to read the full story .
9:48 a.m. Coronavirus , colds , allergies , strep or flu ?
Here ’ s how to tell the difference It ’ s allergy season and we haven ’ t exactly cleared flu season yet , but that hasn ’ t stopped the new coronavirus from spreading throughout the nation and creating a new normal for Americans who are now stuck at home .
Symptoms of the coronavirus include a fever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but those symptoms closely resemble other illnesses , as well .
So , how do you know if you have coronavirus or something else ?
Dr. Maria Granzotti , chief medical officer at Ascension Texas , breaks down the differences between allergies , cold , strep , flu and COVID-19 to put your mind more at ease before going to the doctor .
Read the full story here .
Our essential COVID-19 content is free for all suntimes.com visitors .
8:48 a.m. How to apply for unemployment benefits if you are out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tens of thousands of workers across Illinois have been temporarily out of work since the outbreak began forcing businesses to close .
Last week , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ordered all bars and restaurants to stop serving dine-in customers , and on Saturday , he issued a stay-at-home order leaving just “ essential ” businesses in operation .
The result is countless people are now out of work and being forced into the state ’ s unemployment system .
Illinois alone saw more than 64,000 new claims for unemployment benefits from March 16-18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new applications , IDES announced it recently adopted emergency rules for who qualifies for unemployment insurance .
The amount residents can receive depends on their usual pay rate with benefits ranging from $ 51 to $ 580 per week .
Those approved can receive up to 26 weeks of benefits in a 12-month period .
Read our comprehensive guide to applying for and receiving unemployment insurance .
The Tokyo Olympics have been officially postponed until 2021 .
The International Olympic Committee along with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and local organizers have decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead as scheduled this year because of the coronavirus outbreak .
The IOC says the games will be held “ not later than summer 2021 ” but they will still be called the 2020 Tokyo Olympics .
7:55 a.m .
US , Europe account for 85 % of new COVID-19 infections , deaths Spain started storing bodies in an ice rink converted to a makeshift morgue Tuesday , as coronavirus deaths mounted there and around the world , with the World Health Organization warning the pandemic was still in a nascent stage with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some 85 % of new infections came from Europe and the United States , according to the WHO , with Spain registering a record daily increase of 6,584 new infections and a leap of 500 in the death toll to 2,696 .
More than 387,000 people worldwide have been infected by the new coronavirus and more than 16,700 have died , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Click here to read the full story .
5:10 a.m .
Rebates on CTA passes , subsidies for Pace and Divvy rides offered to help residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are taking steps to help commuters through the COVID-19 crisis .
Through at least April 7 , Ventra riders will receive prorated credit for unused passes .
There also will be free bus rides on Pace for some customers , and prices of Divvy bike passes will be reduced significantly , according to a statement from the mayor ’ s office .
• A civilian employee of the Elmhurst Police Department has tested positive for the coronavirus , the City of Elmhurst has announced .
The employee was last at work March 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been added to the state ’ s total , bringing the total number of cases in the state to 1,535 cases in 32 counties .
• Steve Lentz , the mayor of Mundelein , announced he ’ s tested positive for coronavirus .
He ’ s in quarantine with his wife , who was also diagnosed with COVID-19 .
Gov .
Pritzker said it was “ unquestionably ” not within his “ legal authority ” to postpone Illinois ’ primary election by changing the date or shifting the election to vote-by-mail .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be certain Pritzker ’ s administration could not have delayed the election in any way , experts told us the governor spoke correctly in describing the limits of his powers under state law .
We rate his claim Mostly True .
5:00 a.m. Distillery retools in coronavirus crisis to make desperately needed hand sanitizers To address the emergency need for hand sanitizers , on March 18 , the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau — the agency regulating distilled spirits makers — issued an emergency order allowing companies already holding permits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanitizers through June 30 .
“ These measures are generally authorized ... in disaster situations , ” the agency said .
The only condition was the manufacturers had to follow the recipe provided by the World Health Organization : Hand sanitizers had to be made of specific amounts of denatured or undenatured ethanol , glycerol and hydrogen peroxide .
So Eric Falberg , co-owner of the 28 Mile Distilling Co. in Highwood , and his partners , his brother Gregg and Matt Greif , the head distiller , decided to jump into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 Mile Hand Sanitizer was born , financed with about $ 50,000 from the partners .
Read the full story from the Sun-Times ’ Lynn Sweet .
9:32 p.m .
Feds vow to send Illinois ventilators , masks after Pritzker and Trump talk things through After a string of national TV appearances in which Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker criticized President Donald Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic — and a couple of Twitter tirades — the White House on Monday has vowed to send Illinois 300 ventilators and 250,000 masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office , that assurance came from a White House aide on Monday afternoon after Pritzker and Trump spoke directly on the phone at about noon .
It also came some 24 hours after Pritzker complained “ the only way to get the president of the United States to pay attention is to go on national television and make noise about it.
” Pritzker ’ s office said Illinois is expected to get 300 ventilators and 250,000 N95 masks .
7:01 p.m. Illinois should move state tax filing deadline to July 15 so it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steven Mnuchin said on Friday that the federal government will move the tax deadline to July 15 because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
That puts the ball in Illinois ’ court to find a way to do the same .
We urge the state to move quickly to resolve this .
It ’ s clearly doable .
We get that the sudden loss of the usual influx of cash in April can leave the state scratching its head about how to pay its bills , including the paychecks for state workers .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully taking into account that no matter what the state decides , the distinction between federal and state filing dates will be lost on many tax filers .
6:33 p.m .
Adding insult to isolation ?
No shame in being dubbed a ‘ non-essential ’ worker Most everyone would probably like to believe they are essential in at least some small way or another to the endeavors to which they devote themselves — and therefore essential to the larger society .
With that in mind , I asked my Facebook friends if their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and how they are feeling about that .
Many of them reminded me that even though they are “ non-essential , ” they are working at home and happy to be doing so .
And many of those with “ essential jobs ” are of a mixed mind about it , glad to be working and continuing to make a contribution but concerned about their personal safety .

The latest
Hilton Chicago closing doors amid coronavirus pandemic
The Hilton Chicago is the latest downtown hotel to temporarily suspend its operations amid the coronavirus pandemic. Google Maps
The Hilton Chicago is the latest downtown hotel to temporarily suspend its operations amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The hotel updated its website on Tuesday stating it was no longer accepting guests in the “near term” and would be suspending its operations.
The Hilton is one of many hotels that have had to shut their doors as coronavirus-related cancellations have caused occupancy rates to plummet.
Last week, the Park Hyatt Chicago and the Peninsula in the Loop were the first two hotels to stop taking customers, citing public health concerns relating to the pandemic.
Read the full report here.
News
9:25 p.m. NFL tells team offices to close for 2 weeks
Due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote a memo Tuesday telling teams their facilities must close for at least two weeks as of 6 p.m. Wednesday. Teams can conduct normal business during that period, NFL Network reported.
Read the full report by Bears reporter Patrick Finley here.
9:00 p.m. Illinois congressional delegation asks Defense Department to help with National Guard costs
The Illinois congressional delegation asked the Defense Department on Tuesday to pick up more of the costs of calling out the Illinois National Guard as the coronavirus pandemic explodes.
The Trump administration “recently authorized” the additional help with costs “for California, New York, and Washington, but more states need help,” the Illinois delegation said in a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
The letter was led by Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., in a rare bipartisan effort. The five GOP House members joined the 13 Democrats Illinois sends to the House plus the two senators, Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.
Read the full story by reporter Lynn Sweet here.
8:28 p.m. Frustration mounts as state scrambles to keep up with jobless benefits claims
Another day meant dollars lost for thousands of Illinoisans left jobless as the state economy grinds to a halt in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.
And with a flood of residents racing to file claims for unemployment insurance, state employees were still scrambling to accommodate the surge.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has urged the “unprecedented” number of people submitting claims to do so on the Illinois Department of Employment Security website, but many were still hitting a wall Tuesday as the site appeared to crash for several hours and many users complained of glitches throughout the day.
Read the full report by reporter Mitch Armentrout here.
7:27 p.m. Nearly a dozen Chicago first responders infected with coronavirus, but all recovering and ‘in great spirits’
The total number of Chicago first responders who have tested positive for COVID-19 rose to 11 on Tuesday, as a mix of Chicago Police detectives, patrol officers, firefighters and paramedics became sickened by the coronavirus.
Six of the cases are in the Chicago Police Department, and five in the Chicago Fire Department, leaders of the two departments said.
Two of the Chicago Police employees are recovering from the coronavirus in hospitals, Interim Police Supt. Charlie Beck said. In addition to detectives and patrol officers, the department’s cases include a community relations employee.
“I talked to every one of them personally, and they’re all in great spirits,” Beck said. “They’re tremendous, brave people who want to get through this and get back to work.”
6:32 p.m. With isolation, abuse activists fear an ‘explosive cocktail’
As the world’s families hunker down, there’s another danger, less obvious but just as insidious, that worries advocates and officials: a potential spike in domestic violence as victims spend day and night trapped at home with their abusers, with tensions rising, nowhere to escape, limited or no access to friends or relatives — and no idea when it will end.
Before many city and statewide lockdowns, organizations like the nonprofit Peace Over Violence in Los Angeles have started to prepare online counseling sessions, and reaching out to clients to suggest ways to keep in contact — perhaps phone calls to counselors from a bathroom or during a walk, if an abuser is in the home.
Because of virus measures, advocates “can’t show up at the police station now. We can’t show up at the hospital,” Patti Giggans, executive director of Peace Over Violence, said. She also said the shelters are working on plans to limit the proximity of people, in order to maintain social distancing, she said.
Such conditions are also an issue in Illinois, where shelters, already at capacity, were moving beds further apart to follow CDC guidelines.
”One of the key challenges of this health pandemic is that home isn’t a safe place for everyone,” said Amanda Pyron, executive director of The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, based in Chicago. “Victims and the abusers have to stay at the scene of the crime.”
Read the full story here.
6:02 p.m. Despite Lightfoot’s go-easy pledge, motorists still getting parking tickets for non-safety violations
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Chicago would stop ticketing, booting and towing illegally parked vehicles except for public safety reasons through April 30 to give some measure of relief to people whose jobs and paychecks have been impacted by the coronavirus.
Why, then, is the city to continuing to ticket cars parked nowhere near fire hydrants or building entrances with absolutely no impact on public safety?
“Ticketing is continuing, but the emphasis is supposed to be limited to public safety reasons,” Lightfoot said Tuesday in a conference call with reporters.
“It’s not free parking all over the city. I want to be clear about that. But what we said is, place the emphasis on cars or motorists who cause a public safety hazard.”
Lightfoot said there is an obvious need to “continue to be in conversation” with Chicago Parking Meters LLC about “where the emphasis should be placed” to comply with her March 18 edict.
That’s the investment group that famously paid the city $1.15 billion over 75 years to lease the city’s 36,000 parking meters in exchange for the right to pocket meter revenues and be reimbursed by the city for meters taken out of service. It’s the parking meter deal that Chicagoans love to hate.
Read the full report from reporter Fran Spielman here.
5:28 p.m. More funeral homes livestream services as they face guest limits and travel restrictions because of coronavirus
Because of the coronavirus, a handful of people attended the funeral for Sam Melamed. But a lot more people had the comfort of feeling like they were there.
There’ve been more than 1700 views of a Facebook livestream of his graveside service Monday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie.
For mourners who couldn’t be present, it was a real-time, virtual front-row seat. They could see the red roses atop his casket and hear the birds and traffic on Gross Point Road.
Mr. Melamed, a hotelier, died last Thursday in Rockford, where he’d moved to be closer to his son, Harvey. He was 94.
His daughter, Susan Rentschler, watched his funeral from California. His siblings, Bessie Bernard, Diana Burn and Harry Melamed, were in virtual attendance from Florida. Other relatives viewed it from his hometown of Montreal.
“They all were able to watch the stream and feel included,” said his son, Earl, who was present. “I thought it was really a wonderful thing. . . we were thrilled.”
Read the full story from obituary reporter Maureen O’Donnell.
4:32 p.m. Lightfoot: Not the time to lift stay-at-home order, despite what Trump says about getting economy moving
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said this is not the time to lift the stay-at-home order — no matter how strongly President Donald Trump feels about the need to get the economy moving — and the decision will be made at the local level.
Lightfoot noted the CDC gives state and local officials “guidance” about what to do. They don’t issue mandates. Neither has the federal government.
“So when and how conditions on the ground in Chicago and across the state happen is gonna be dependent upon us — not him,” the mayor said.
In Chicago and “in most areas” across the nation, there remains an “upward trajectory in the number of confirmed cases” of the coronavirus that, Chicago Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said, is likely to continue for some time.
“Pulling that [stay at home order] now, in my view for Chicago, does not make sense at all,” Lightfoot said.
City Hall reporter Fran Spielman has more from Lightfoot’s press conference call. Read her full report here.
3:48 p.m. Midway control tower reopens after COVID-19 exposure
The air traffic control tower at Midway Airport reopened Tuesday, a week after it closed for cleaning due to a COVID-19 exposure that disrupted flights in and out of the airport.
Several employees in the tower tested positive for the virus March 17, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
When the tower closed, flights operated on a “one-in-one-out” basis, prompting Southwest Airlines to suspend all of its flights at the airport. Flights were controlled from a remote facility.
“Every air traffic control facility in the country has a contingency plan to keep air traffic moving safely when events impede normal operations,” FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said in an emailed statement. “In some cases, this means transferring duties to adjacent facilities.”
Read the full story from reporter David Struett.
3 p.m. Liquor delivery apps doing brisk business amid the coronavirus pandemic
After the shelter-in-place order was instituted by Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week due to the coronavirus pandemic, some liquor stores, delivery apps and distilleries continue to see an increase in sales, while of some of them have seen their sales head in the other direction.
Binny’s Beverage Depot, which continues to take delivery orders online, is also making deliveries through food delivery app Instacart. They have cut brick-and-mortar hours and are letting a controlled number of customers into their stores.
The Illinois Liquor Control Commission has issued temporary permits to craft breweries so they can conduct residential deliveries.
Read the full story from reporter Evan F. Moore.
2:45 p.m. Illinois coronavirus deaths up to 16, cases up to 1,535
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday outlined the state’s hospital capacity to deal with some of the most serious cases of coronavirus, while officials announced another four people have died from COVID-19 in Illinois.
The Democratic governor said he doesn’t know how long the coronavirus will affect the lives of Illinois residents, and he warned that although the virus has mostly affected Cook County residents, “it is coming to every county.”
An additional 250 cases have been added to the state’s total, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the head of the Illinois Department of Public Health said, bringing the number of cases in the state to 1,535 cases in 32 counties in Illinois. The ages have ranged from an infant to 99 years.
Read the full story from reporter Tina Sfondeles.
2:19 p.m. Nurse says Northwestern Memorial fired her over wanting better face masks
A nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital who wore a more protective face mask than the one issued to her by the hospital — and warned coworkers to do the same — said Tuesday she suspects she was fired because such a warning could spur protests or even walkouts by nurses who didn’t have the same level of protection.
Lauri Mazurkiewicz — who filed suit against the hospital Monday — wore an N95 face mask she bought herself to work this month at the hospital. On March 18 she emailed about 50 coworkers suggesting they, too, wear the extra-protective mask in place of the standard hospital-issued surgical masks her and her colleagues had been instructed to wear.
The very next day, Mazurkiewicz learned she’d been fired when she received a call from the nursing staffing agency that placed her at the hospital.
“I had a box of my own,” she said of the N95 masks, noting her concern about airborne transmission of the virus and the additional protection the masks offer.
Read the full story from reporter Mitch Dudek.
1:36 p.m. Consumers’ credit also needs protection from COVID-19, consumer group says
Amid the wrangling in Congress over what to do to halt the spread of the coronavirus and assist struggling businesses, a coalition of consumer groups wants to make sure ordinary people don’t see their credit destroyed by the financial upheaval.
The Consumer Federation of America, which includes more than 250 organizations, is calling for consumer-friendly measures including:
Suspension of debt collections, including legal proceedings, wage garnishments, repossessions and selling of debt.
A moratorium on negative credit reporting for at least four months, so out-of-work consumers who can’t pay their bills on time won’t see their credit destroyed.
Forbearance of 180 days for homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages.
A nationwide, 180-day halt to evictions of tenants suffering economic hardship and support for landlords who are losing income. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart was an early adopter, announcing March 14 that he would halt court-ordered evictions during the crisis.
Read the full story from reporter Stephanie Zimmermann.
12:42 p.m. CPS school warns families of confirmed COVID-19 case
A COVID-19 case has been confirmed at Andrew Jackson Language Academy on the Near West Side, marking the fourth publicly known case at a Chicago public school.
Schools officials told families in a letter Monday night that someone at the school tested positive, but that they “behaved cautiously and did not have direct contact with any member of the Jackson community when they became symptomatic.”
The letter did not say whether the person who tested positive was a student, staff member or parent. A Chicago Public Schools spokesman did not respond to a question asking if the patient was a child or adult.
The new case came the same day as another letter from CPS to all district families that school communities would continue to be notified through March 31 if someone in their school tested positive. CPS said notifications won’t be necessary after that date, since it will be 14 days since schools closed and there will no longer be a risk that transmission occurred while classes were in session.
— Nader Issa
12 p.m. Jewel-Osco to install sneeze guards at registers, service desks
Jewel-Osco is adding plexiglass sneeze guards at its registers, service desks and pharmacy stands to protect employees and customers during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The grocery chain is also putting tape on floors to help people keep a proper distance from other shoppers, particularly near fresh departments and checkout lanes.
“We recognize that we provide an essential service to our communities and we are doing everything we can to provide a safe, secure and comfortable shopping space for our valued customers and our associates,” Jewel-Osco President Mike Withers said in a news release.
Jewel-Osco is part of Albertsons Cos., which operates stores in 34 states and Washington, D.C. Supermarket News reported Albertsons plans to install the sneeze guards at its over 2,200 stores in the next two weeks.
— Bill Ruminski
11:47 a.m. Illinois ed board moves to cancel standardized testing statewide
Illinois education officials have applied for a federal waiver to cancel all standardized testing in the state and suspend school ratings and assessments.
The request comes days after U.S. Sec. of Education Betsy DeVos said the Dept. of Education would approve any state applications for waivers as coronavirus-related closures upend school years across the country.
The Illinois State Board of Education said that, if its application is approved, any school that was identified last year as struggling and in need of extra support would continue to receive that support next year.
Chicago Public Schools has already canceled its own district-mandated standardized testing, including the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) MAP test, which is used for entry to the district’s selective-enrollment high schools and elementary school academic centers.
— Nader Issa
10:38 a.m. Lightfoot, suburban mayors raise red flags about releasing jail detainees over COVID-19
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and a coalition of suburban mayors penned a letter to Chief Criminal Court Judge Leroy Martin Monday in response to his decision to review of thousands of criminal cases with a goal of reducing the number of inmates in jail in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Martin’s order came the day after the Cook County Sheriff’s Department announced that a correctional officer who worked in the jail’s Cermak medical facility tested positive for COVID-19.
In the letter dated Monday, Lightfoot asked the judge to “consider implementing certain protocols to ensure that detainees residing in a facility where a known case has been detected are asymptomatic for a reasonable time prior to release in order to safeguard them and the public.“
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The letter was co-signed by mayors from Hillside, Morton Grove, Riverside, Palos Hills and Robbins.
Click here to read the full story.
9:48 a.m. Coronavirus, colds, allergies, strep or flu? Here’s how to tell the difference
It’s allergy season and we haven’t exactly cleared flu season yet, but that hasn’t stopped the new coronavirus from spreading throughout the nation and creating a new normal for Americans who are now stuck at home.
Symptoms of the coronavirus include a fever, dry cough and shortness of breath, but those symptoms closely resemble other illnesses, as well. So, how do you know if you have coronavirus or something else?
Dr. Maria Granzotti, chief medical officer at Ascension Texas, breaks down the differences between allergies, cold, strep, flu and COVID-19 to put your mind more at ease before going to the doctor.
Read the full story here. Our essential COVID-19 content is free for all suntimes.com visitors.
8:48 a.m. How to apply for unemployment benefits if you are out of work during Illinois’ COVID-19 shutdown
Tens of thousands of workers across Illinois have been temporarily out of work since the outbreak began forcing businesses to close. Last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered all bars and restaurants to stop serving dine-in customers, and on Saturday, he issued a stay-at-home order leaving just “essential” businesses in operation.
The result is countless people are now out of work and being forced into the state’s unemployment system. Illinois alone saw more than 64,000 new claims for unemployment benefits from March 16-18.
To handle this massive influx of new applications, IDES announced it recently adopted emergency rules for who qualifies for unemployment insurance.
The amount residents can receive depends on their usual pay rate with benefits ranging from $51 to $580 per week. Those approved can receive up to 26 weeks of benefits in a 12-month period.
Read our comprehensive guide to applying for and receiving unemployment insurance.
8:08 a.m. Tokyo Olympics officially postponed to 2021
The Tokyo Olympics have been officially postponed until 2021.
The International Olympic Committee along with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and local organizers have decided that the Tokyo Games cannot go ahead as scheduled this year because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The IOC says the games will be held “not later than summer 2021” but they will still be called the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Read the full story here.
7:55 a.m. US, Europe account for 85% of new COVID-19 infections, deaths
Spain started storing bodies in an ice rink converted to a makeshift morgue Tuesday, as coronavirus deaths mounted there and around the world, with the World Health Organization warning the pandemic was still in a nascent stage with infections expected to increase “considerably.”
Some 85% of new infections came from Europe and the United States, according to the WHO, with Spain registering a record daily increase of 6,584 new infections and a leap of 500 in the death toll to 2,696.
More than 387,000 people worldwide have been infected by the new coronavirus and more than 16,700 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Click here to read the full story.
5:10 a.m. Rebates on CTA passes, subsidies for Pace and Divvy rides offered to help residents cope with coronavirus crisis
Chicago-area transit agencies are taking steps to help commuters through the COVID-19 crisis.
Through at least April 7, Ventra riders will receive prorated credit for unused passes.
There also will be free bus rides on Pace for some customers, and prices of Divvy bike passes will be reduced significantly, according to a statement from the mayor’s office.
Read the full story here.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
7:33 p.m. Saving the economy is secondary to saving lives during a pandemic
You have to wonder what on Earth the president is thinking when he says he wants the country’s economy “opened up and just raring to go” despite a raging pandemic.
Donald Trump said precisely that on the same day that the World Health Organization warned that the United States is on the brink of becoming the global epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak because of the “very large acceleration” of infections here.
Yet there was the president, hours later, demanding that the nation’s economy be opened up for business by Easter, less than three weeks away.
“I gave it two weeks,” Trump said at a town hall hosted by Fox News. “We can socially distance ourselves and go to work.”
Not only is that nonsense, it’s life threatening.
6:33 p.m. Saving the economy is secondary to saving lives during a pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed many issues state lawmakers are facing to the back burner. The price of electricity shouldn’t be one of them.
That’s why we’re sounding this alarm that power bills for northern Illinois ratepayers will shoot up soon if the Legislature doesn’t act.
Last week, a company named PJM, which coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia, filed a so-called compliance plan under a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order. The plan would have devastating consequences for Illinois consumers.
If nothing is done, power bills will soar for ratepayers, job opportunities will be lost and the environment will suffer enormous harm.
The Legislature can prevent that, though, by enacting legislation along the lines of the proposed Clean Energy Jobs Act. But it has to get the job done before the end of the current legislative session, and this is a complicated bill that has a lot of working parts.
5:58 p.m. ‘It hurts’ — Food pantries shut down, shelters try to cope amid coronavirus crisis
Organizations that provide food to the poorest Illinoisans are shutting down in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Other social service agencies, like homeless shelters, also must adjust.
In the past two weeks, 112 Chicago-area food pantries have closed; 82 in Cook County — almost a quarter of the 370 food pantries belonging to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
“The number is shocking,” said Greg Trotter, spokesman for depository. “It hurts and it has an impact.”
In the 13 collar counties, another 30 food pantries closed in the past week, according to the Northern Illinois Food Bank, mostly because those who run them don’t want to risk exposure to COVID-19.
“Our pantries largely rely upon the help from volunteers, and a lot of our volunteers tend to be older folks, seniors who have time to spare,” said Liz Gartman, communications manager for the food bank. ”Many of those same folks are taking health precautions very seriously, as they should, so they don’t feel comfortable coming in.”
The pantries that remain are scrambling to fill the gaps.
Neil Steinberg has more in his latest column. Read it here.
1:46 p.m. FACT CHECK: Postponing primary not in Pritzker’s power
Gov. Pritzker said it was “unquestionably” not within his “legal authority” to postpone Illinois’ primary election by changing the date or shifting the election to vote-by-mail.
While there are too many hypotheticals to be certain Pritzker’s administration could not have delayed the election in any way, experts told us the governor spoke correctly in describing the limits of his powers under state law.
We rate his claim Mostly True.
Read the complete fact-checking analysis here.
5:00 a.m. Distillery retools in coronavirus crisis to make desperately needed hand sanitizers
To address the emergency need for hand sanitizers, on March 18, the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau — the agency regulating distilled spirits makers — issued an emergency order allowing companies already holding permits to “immediately” start producing hand sanitizers through June 30. “These measures are generally authorized ... in disaster situations,” the agency said.
Eric Falberg stirring mash at 28 Mile Distillery., Monday, March 23, 2020, in Highwood Ill. This batch of mash is a combination of corn and barley and will be used to distill alcohol for hand sanitizer. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
The only condition was the manufacturers had to follow the recipe provided by the World Health Organization: Hand sanitizers had to be made of specific amounts of denatured or undenatured ethanol, glycerol and hydrogen peroxide.
So Eric Falberg, co-owner of the 28 Mile Distilling Co. in Highwood, and his partners, his brother Gregg and Matt Greif, the head distiller, decided to jump into the hand sanitizer business. And so the 28 Mile Hand Sanitizer was born, financed with about $50,000 from the partners.
Read the full story from the Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet.
9:32 p.m. Feds vow to send Illinois ventilators, masks after Pritzker and Trump talk things through
After a string of national TV appearances in which Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker criticized President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic — and a couple of Twitter tirades — the White House on Monday has vowed to send Illinois 300 ventilators and 250,000 masks.
According to the governor’s office, that assurance came from a White House aide on Monday afternoon after Pritzker and Trump spoke directly on the phone at about noon. It also came some 24 hours after Pritzker complained “the only way to get the president of the United States to pay attention is to go on national television and make noise about it.”
Pritzker’s office said Illinois is expected to get 300 ventilators and 250,000 N95 masks.
Read the full story from reporter Tina Sfondeles.
7:01 p.m. Illinois should move state tax filing deadline to July 15 so it matches the feds’
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Friday that the federal government will move the tax deadline to July 15 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That puts the ball in Illinois’ court to find a way to do the same.
We urge the state to move quickly to resolve this. It’s clearly doable.
We get that the sudden loss of the usual influx of cash in April can leave the state scratching its head about how to pay its bills, including the paychecks for state workers.
But we hope the Pritzker administration is also fully taking into account that no matter what the state decides, the distinction between federal and state filing dates will be lost on many tax filers.
Read the full editorial here.
6:33 p.m. Adding insult to isolation? No shame in being dubbed a ‘non-essential’ worker
Most everyone would probably like to believe they are essential in at least some small way or another to the endeavors to which they devote themselves — and therefore essential to the larger society.
With that in mind, I asked my Facebook friends if their jobs have been deemed essential or non-essential — and how they are feeling about that.
Many of them reminded me that even though they are “non-essential,” they are working at home and happy to be doing so.
And many of those with “essential jobs” are of a mixed mind about it, glad to be working and continuing to make a contribution but concerned about their personal safety.
Read Mark Brown’s full column here.


chicagosun-times--2020-03-24--Coronavirus — sudden loss of smell, taste are newest symptoms

A loss of a sense of smell or taste may be a symptom of COVID-19 , medical groups representing ear , nose and throat specialists have warned .
Citing a growing number of cases around the globe , the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and ENT UK each issued warnings about patients who tested positive for the new coronavirus with the only symptom being a lost or altered sense of smell or taste .
” Anecdotal evidence is rapidly accumulating from sites around the world that anosmia and dysgeusia are significant symptoms associated with the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery wrote in a statement .
Anosmia is the loss of smell while dysgeusia is an altered sense of taste .
South Korea , China and Italy have all reported “ significant numbers ” of known COVID-19 patients with lost or reduced sense of smell , according to joint statement by Claire Hopkins , president of the British Rhinological Society , and Nirmal Kumar , president of ENT UK .
“ In Germany it is reported that more than 2 in 3 confirmed cases have anosmia .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more widespread , 30 % of patients testing positive have had anosmia as their major presenting symptom in otherwise mild cases , ” they wrote .
The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery advised that these symptoms should be added to the list for screening patients for possible COVID-19 infection , and ENT UK said the symptoms should signal to health care professionals treating a patient to wear full personal protective equipment .
While another viral infection or seasonal allergies could cause the loss of smell or taste , experiencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ serious consideration for self-isolation and testing of these individuals , ” the American group said .
Some patients have experienced the symptom early on in COVID-19 illnesses , while others experience it further into the illness , according to Dr. James C. Denneny III , executive vice president and CEO of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery .
“ The symptoms are clearly not as common as cough , fever and shortness of breath , but in the absence of a known cause for the smell disorder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for infected patients , ” he told USA TODAY in a statement .
Noelle Ruiz , 27 , first experienced a 101-degree fever , which subsided after about a day .
Within six days , though , a headache and cough developed into more serious symptoms , with chest pain , extreme fatigue and the inability to catch her breath .
“ I couldn ’ t really take a deep breath , I didn ’ t feel like I had enough air in my lungs , ” she said .
But Ruiz had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost taste , food wasn ’ t appetizing , I couldn ’ t smell anything.
” With the seasonal flu , patients can experience a cluster of symptoms as the illness begins , including a cough , fever , congestion , fatigue and loss of smell or taste , according to Dr. Gregory Levitin , an otolaryngologist at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai .
” What is most unusual about this new finding is that the loss of smell or taste was the only presenting symptom in a group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who ultimately tested positive for the COVID-19 virus , ” Levitin wrote in an email to USA TODAY .
Rudy Gobert , the Utah Jazz center who tested positive for the coronavirus nearly two weeks ago , tweeted that he lost his sense of smell and taste , writing “ haven ’ t been able to smell anything for the last four days.
” According to Denneny and Levitin , damage to nerves in the naval cavity is believed to cause anosmia .
” It is unclear whether this is due to direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of anosmia from a viral illness is typically sudden and does not often respond to treatment with steroids or antiviral medications , ” Levitin added .
While losing smell or taste can affect a patient ’ s quality of life , it can also be serious given that it impedes their ability to discern possibly dangerous odors , like gas leaks , he said .
Denneny said patients could recover their sense of smell fully , permanently lose it or land anywhere in between .
” While it is too early to determine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , given what we know it would be reasonable to hope that they would do as well as patients affected by the seasonal flu in years past , ” Levitin added .

A loss of a sense of smell or taste may be a symptom of COVID-19, medical groups representing ear, nose and throat specialists have warned.
Citing a growing number of cases around the globe, the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and ENT UK each issued warnings about patients who tested positive for the new coronavirus with the only symptom being a lost or altered sense of smell or taste.
”Anecdotal evidence is rapidly accumulating from sites around the world that anosmia and dysgeusia are significant symptoms associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,” the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery wrote in a statement.
Anosmia is the loss of smell while dysgeusia is an altered sense of taste.
South Korea, China and Italy have all reported “significant numbers” of known COVID-19 patients with lost or reduced sense of smell, according to joint statement by Claire Hopkins, president of the British Rhinological Society, and Nirmal Kumar, president of ENT UK.
“In Germany it is reported that more than 2 in 3 confirmed cases have anosmia. In South Korea, where testing has been more widespread, 30% of patients testing positive have had anosmia as their major presenting symptom in otherwise mild cases,” they wrote.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery advised that these symptoms should be added to the list for screening patients for possible COVID-19 infection, and ENT UK said the symptoms should signal to health care professionals treating a patient to wear full personal protective equipment.
While another viral infection or seasonal allergies could cause the loss of smell or taste, experiencing the symptoms without other respiratory illnesses warrants “serious consideration for self-isolation and testing of these individuals,” the American group said.
Some patients have experienced the symptom early on in COVID-19 illnesses, while others experience it further into the illness, according to Dr. James C. Denneny III, executive vice president and CEO of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
“The symptoms are clearly not as common as cough, fever and shortness of breath, but in the absence of a known cause for the smell disorder, this symptom may be an additional identifier for infected patients,” he told USA TODAY in a statement.
Noelle Ruiz, 27, first experienced a 101-degree fever, which subsided after about a day. Within six days, though, a headache and cough developed into more serious symptoms, with chest pain, extreme fatigue and the inability to catch her breath.
“I couldn’t really take a deep breath, I didn’t feel like I had enough air in my lungs,” she said.
But Ruiz had another set of symptoms: “I lost taste, food wasn’t appetizing, I couldn’t smell anything.”
With the seasonal flu, patients can experience a cluster of symptoms as the illness begins, including a cough, fever, congestion, fatigue and loss of smell or taste, according to Dr. Gregory Levitin, an otolaryngologist at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai.
”What is most unusual about this new finding is that the loss of smell or taste was the only presenting symptom in a group of patients under the age of 40 who ultimately tested positive for the COVID-19 virus,” Levitin wrote in an email to USA TODAY.
Rudy Gobert, the Utah Jazz center who tested positive for the coronavirus nearly two weeks ago, tweeted that he lost his sense of smell and taste, writing “haven’t been able to smell anything for the last four days.”
According to Denneny and Levitin, damage to nerves in the naval cavity is believed to cause anosmia.
”It is unclear whether this is due to direct injury or swelling, but the symptom of anosmia from a viral illness is typically sudden and does not often respond to treatment with steroids or antiviral medications,” Levitin added.
While losing smell or taste can affect a patient’s quality of life, it can also be serious given that it impedes their ability to discern possibly dangerous odors, like gas leaks, he said.
Denneny said patients could recover their sense of smell fully, permanently lose it or land anywhere in between.
”While it is too early to determine how patients affected by COVID-19 will recover, given what we know it would be reasonable to hope that they would do as well as patients affected by the seasonal flu in years past,” Levitin added.
Contributing: Elizabeth Weise
Read more at usatoday.com


chicagosun-times--2020-03-24--Stay-at-home order threatens blood shortages nationwide, Red Cross says

The American Red Cross is warning against another national crisis as the number of blood drives shrink while people stay home to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 .
The shelter-at-home order in many states , including Illinois , has forced many businesses and schools to cancel blood drives that the Red Cross relies on to help surgery patients , car accident victims and those suffering from chronic illnesses and other medical conditions .
More than 6,000 Red Cross blood drives were canceled nationwide over the last three weeks resulting in about 200,000 fewer blood donations , Red Cross officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , weeks and months to come ” regardless of the COVID-19 outbreak that is already threatening to overwhelm hospitals , said Joy Squier , a spokeswoman for the Chicago-region Red Cross .
“ One of the most important things you can do to ensure we don ’ t have another health care crisis on top of the coronavirus is to give blood , ” Squier said .
“ The need for blood is constant , and will continue throughout this outbreak.
” Donors will see fewer opportunities to give blood as cancellations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chapter of the Red Cross has scheduled daily drives at it ’ s offices , 2200 W. Harrison St. , and it is working on adding additional locations , Squier said .
“ We ask that people please do not feel discouraged if there is not an immediate appointment available – patients still need you , ” Squier said .
Squier stresses it is important to have an appointment instead of doing a walk-in because “ appointments are scheduled in consideration of timing and social distancing.
” Volunteers are also practicing social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelter and medication .
Those who are healthy and feeling well can make an appointment to donate blood or sign up to volunteer by visiting Redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS .
Manny Ramos is a corps member in Report for America , a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster Sun-Times coverage of issues affecting Chicago ’ s South and West sides .

The American Red Cross is warning against another national crisis as the number of blood drives shrink while people stay home to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
The shelter-at-home orders in many states, including Illinois, have forced many businesses and schools to cancel blood drives that the Red Cross relies on to help surgery patients, car accident victims and those suffering from chronic illnesses and other medical conditions.
More than 6,000 Red Cross blood drives were canceled nationwide over the last three weeks resulting in about 200,000 fewer blood donations, Red Cross officials said.
Blood will be needed “for days, weeks and months to come” regardless of the COVID-19 outbreak that is already threatening to overwhelm hospitals, said Joy Squier, a spokeswoman for the Chicago-region Red Cross.
“One of the most important things you can do to ensure we don’t have another health care crisis on top of the coronavirus is to give blood,” Squier said. “The need for blood is constant, and will continue throughout this outbreak.”
Donors will see fewer opportunities to give blood as cancellations continue to rise, but the Chicago chapter of the Red Cross has scheduled daily drives at its offices, 2200 W. Harrison St., and it is working on adding additional locations, Squier said.
“We ask that people please do not feel discouraged if there is not an immediate appointment available — patients still need you,” Squier said.
Squier stresses it is important to have an appointment instead of doing a walk-in because “appointments are scheduled in consideration of timing and social distancing.”
Volunteers are also practicing social distancing by remotely helping residents find food, shelter and medication.
Those who are healthy and feeling well can make an appointment to donate blood or sign up to volunteer by visiting Redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
Manny Ramos is a corps member in Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster Sun-Times coverage of issues affecting Chicago’s South and West sides.


chicagosun-times--2020-03-24--McCormick Place could be used for homeless, agency says

City and state officials are considering whether to shelter homeless people in McCormick Place to help control the coronavirus pandemic , a spokeswoman for the convention complex said Tuesday .
“ We ’ ve been having lots of conversations with the governor ’ s office and the city in terms of how our campus might be used during this crisis .
Nothing has been confirmed , ” said Cynthia McCafferty , spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority , which runs McCormick Place .
The city ’ s home for major conventions has been idled by the coronavirus and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that most people in Illinois stay at home .
With 2.6 million square feet in four buildings , plus a 10,000-seat arena for college basketball , McCormick Place could be suited to host people not infected by the coronavirus but in danger of contracting and spreading it .
Its space also could be used for people sickened in the pandemic and needing care , but that would require expensive preparations and equipment that may be scarce .
New York is using its Javits Center convention facility in Manhattan as a field hospital .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be used if the area ’ s hospitals become overrun .
“ Obviously , we ’ re a large space .
It depends on what the need is across the board , ” she said .
During his regular daily coronavirus briefing Tuesday , the governor said that his administration was considering how assembly halls might be used .
Jordan Troy , press aide for Mayor Lori Lightfoot , said there are no plans to use McCormick Place “ at this time.
” Leaders of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCormick Place .
Monday , Lightfoot announced plans for the city to rent more than 2,000 hotel rooms by the end of this week for people sickened by the virus who need to be quarantined .
The plan includes taking over the entire 216-room Hotel One Sixty-Six at 166 E. Superior St .

City and state officials are considering whether to shelter homeless people in McCormick Place to help control the coronavirus pandemic, a spokeswoman for the convention complex said Tuesday.
“We’ve been having lots of conversations with the governor’s office and the city in terms of how our campus might be used during this crisis. Nothing has been confirmed,” said Cynthia McCafferty, spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which runs McCormick Place.
The city’s home for major conventions has been idled by the coronavirus and Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order that most people in Illinois stay at home. With 2.6 million square feet in four buildings, plus a 10,000-seat arena for college basketball, McCormick Place could be suited to host people not infected by the coronavirus but in danger of contracting and spreading it.
Its space also could be used for people sickened in the pandemic and needing care, but that would require expensive preparations and equipment that may be scarce. New York is using its Javits Center convention facility in Manhattan as a field hospital.
McCafferty would not say if McCormick Place would be used if the area’s hospitals become overrun. “Obviously, we’re a large space. It depends on what the need is across the board,” she said.
During his regular daily coronavirus briefing Tuesday, the governor said that his administration was considering how assembly halls might be used.
Jordan Troy, press aide for Mayor Lori Lightfoot, said there are no plans to use McCormick Place “at this time.” Leaders of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless said they were unaware of any discussions regarding McCormick Place.
Monday, Lightfoot announced plans for the city to rent more than 2,000 hotel rooms by the end of this week for people sickened by the virus who need to be quarantined. The plan includes taking over the entire 216-room Hotel One Sixty-Six at 166 E. Superior St.