chicagotribune--2020-05-29--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Pritzker says stay-at-home order has ended as state moves to next p

Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Pritzker says stay-at-home order has ended as state moves to next phase of reopening plan; 86 more COVID-19 deaths reported

Friday in Illinois marked the end of a statewide stay-at-home order that took effect March 21 , as Gov .
J.B. Pritzker signed a new executive order to move the state into the next phase of a reopening plan that removes gathering caps on worship services and loosened restrictions on a range of businesses .
As all four regions of the state moved into phase three of Pritzker ’ s plan , health officials reported 1,622 new known cases of COVID-19 , pushing the total number of known cases in Illinois to 117,455 since the pandemic began .
Officials also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statewide death toll to 5,270 .
Earlier on Friday , Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced six streets in different neighborhoods throughout the city that will be shut down to allow restaurants to set up tables for expanded outdoor dining .
It was unclear when the program would start .
6:10 p.m. : Suburban YMCAs become latest financial victims of pandemic The Kroehler Family YMCA in downtown Naperville , which opened in 1911 , will close its doors permanently come Monday .
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago announced Friday it is be shutting down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as the Lattof YMCA in Des Plaines and the Leaning Tower YMCA in Niles .
YMCA officials said the closures are necessary to safeguard the nonprofit organization ’ s overall financial stability so it can continue to serve families and youth across the Chicago area .
“ The overwhelming stress that the coronavirus pandemic has put on the global economy has also put an enormous strain on our organization , '' Richard Malone , president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago , said in a statement .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are no longer able to sustain these centers during and after the pandemic.
” Read more here .
—Suzanne Baker An additional 345 residents and workers at Illinois ’ long-term care facilities have died of the coronavirus , bringing the total to 2,747 , according to state data released Friday .
The latest figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health continue to show — even as the state begins to reopen — how devastating the pandemic has been for facilities housing elderly and frail residents .
At least 129 facilities are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths , the data shows .
Over the past month , long-term care facilities have grown to account for more than half of the virus ’ s total death toll in Illinois .
The hardest hit facilities continue to be in the Chicago area , led by Meadowbrook Manor of Bolingbrook with 40 deaths , Villa at Windsor Park ( 37 ) , Niles Nursing and Rehab Center ( 33 ) , Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion ( 33 ) , Peterson Park Health Care ( 31 ) and Norridge Gardens ( 30 ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ % from a week earlier , to now tally 17,133 confirmed COVID-19 infections at 535 facilities across 41 counties .
Elisabeth Ludeman Developmental Center in Forest Park has the most , with 316 cases , followed by City View Multi-Care Center ( 243 ) , Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion ( 218 ) , Symphony at Midway ( 211 ) and Peterson Park Health Care ( 202 ) .
Industry representatives have told the Tribune they ’ ve done the best they can to weather an unprecedented pandemic to which their facilities were particularly vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 p.m. : Giddy book shopping , disposable cutlery and worries about malls as Chicago suburbs hit phase 3 Anderson 's Bookshop in Naperville reopened Friday morning with a sense of relief and purpose , a rare suburban business that can boast of surviving both the 1918 flu pandemic and the coronavirus lockdown .
Owner Becky Anderson grew up listening to her grandmother recount how the family business — then a drug store that sold books , gifts and medicine — helped local families cope during the Spanish Flu quarantine .
Those stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store afloat during the stay-at-home order , a feat she accomplished through online sales , curbside pickup and a GoFundMe page .
“ Knowing that our family has gone through a lot and still stayed in business helped a lot , ” she said .
“ I knew we would get to the other side of this , and we did .
Now I know that we ’ re going to make it.
” With reminders about social distancing and masks posted throughout the store , customers walked slowly among the stacks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ruth Reynolds drove from Shorewood with a sense of giddiness over her newfound freedom .
She said she told her husband to stay home because she did n't want anyone to rush her .
For the first time since early March , she wanted to look at book jackets , read the employees ' recommendations taped to the shelves and make a book selection without involving Amazon .
“ This is the biggest thing that has happened to me in two months , ” said Reynolds , who was carrying an arm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to keep reminding myself not touch the books until I ’ m sure I ’ m going to buy them .
But , other than that , I am just so happy.
” The Naperville bookstore was among several businesses throughout the Chicago suburbs that reopened with restrictions on Friday .
Here ’ s a look at how the first day of phase 3 unfolded across the area .
—Stacy St. Clair and Chicago Tribune staff 3:55 p.m. : Cook County employees to begin returning to offices next month ; buildings expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County employees will start reporting to the office again next month and offices will officially reopen to the public in early July , sparking a discussion with the union representing workers on how to safely socially distance while at work .
On June 15 , department heads and bureau chiefs with the office of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and other elected offices are required to show up to headquarters and direct employees on returning to work , according to a Friday executive order from Preckwinkle .
County clerk ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 1 , although facilities won ’ t be open to the public until later , spokesman James Scalzitti said .
Cook County buildings are “ anticipated ” to allow patrons inside starting July 6 , the order states .
Customers will have to adhere to social distancing mandates , and the facilities may reopen using a “ phased-in approach.
” Read more here .
—Alice Yin 2:56 p.m. : Pritzker says stay-at-home order has ended as Illinois moves to next phase of reopening plan Friday in Illinois marked the end of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 , as Gov .
J.B. Pritzker signed a new executive order to move the state into the next phase of a reopening plan that removes gathering caps on worship services and loosened restrictions on a range of businesses .
All four regions of the state moved into Phase III of Pritzker ’ s reopening plan on Friday , as state officials reported 1,622 people in the state newly-diagnosed with COVID-19 , pushing the statewide total to 117,455 since the pandemic began earlier this year .
Officials also reported another 86 deaths on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 5,270 .
After giving daily press briefings on COVID-19 since early March , Pritzker on Friday announced he would move from daily news conferences to as-needed briefings , starting next week .
The state Department of Public Health will continue sending out daily news releases on coronavirus and regional metrics for reopening will continue to be updated on the department ’ s website .
State Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike urged Illinois residents to talk to contact tracers if they reach out to inform them that they may have been exposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be scammers who pretend to be contact tracers .
Ezike said contact tracers wouldn ’ t ask for bank account or credit card information , money or social security numbers .
—Jamie Munks 2:35 p.m. : Officials report 1,622 new known cases of COVID-19 and 86 more deaths Illinois officials on Friday announced 1,622 new known cases of COVID-19 and 86 additional fatalities , bringing the total of known cases to 117,455 and the death toll to 5,270 statewide since the start of the pandemic .
Officials also reported 21,796 new tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that date visitors will be allowed to walk a specified 2.3-mile loop of the Glencoe grounds that includes views of the North Lake and various other garden areas including vistas of the Malott Japanese Garden and spring blooms in Dixon Prairie and the McDonald Woods , according to a news release .
However , don ’ t expect to simply drive up and walk .
Pre-registration will be required and visitors will be given a timed entry .
Parking will be free during the limited reopening phase .
Garden officials announced they plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 , but that date is subject to change .
Read more here .
—Dan Lambert 1:30 p.m. : 6 Chicago streets will be shut down to allow restaurants to set up tables for expanded outdoor dining , Lightfoot says Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced six streets that will be shut down to allow restaurants to set up tables for expanded outdoor dining .
The six streets included in the pilot program are : 75th Street , from Calumet Avenue to Indiana Avenue ; Broadway , from Belmont Avenue to Diversey Parkway ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Avenue ; Rush Street from Oak Street to Cedar Street ; Taylor Street from Loomis Street to Ashland Avenue and Randolph Street from the expressway no further than Elizabeth Street .
It was unclear when the program would start .
Restaurants in groups of three or more , chambers of commerce and business associations can begin applying for Expanded Outdoor Dining on Monday , the mayor ’ s office said .
Read more here .
—John Byrne 1:27 p.m. : VA secretary says hospitals have ‘ ratcheted it down ’ on hydroxychloroquine use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that VA hospitals have largely stopped giving hydroxychloroquine to patients with COVID-19 , according to the Associated Press .
Last week , VA officials said the hospitals had given the drug to some 1,300 people infected by the novel coronavirus despite questions about its effectiveness and potentially dangerous side effects .
Wilkie said at a House hearing Thursday that the hospitals had “ ratcheted it down ” to three prescriptions last week and that he expected the downward trend would go on , the AP reported .
The Tribune reported this week that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Democrat , had criticized the hospitals ’ use of the drug , a political hot-button during the pandemic .
President Donald Trump has touted it as a “ game changer ” and said he took the medication himself , but studies have cast doubt on its effectiveness and doctors have warned of serious side effects .
Locally , Charity Hardison , a spokeswoman for four VA hospitals in the Chicago area and downstate Danville , declined to say whether those facilities had used the drug to treat COVID-19 cases so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Museum in Lincoln Park , closed since late March by COVID-19 , will be furloughing more than a third of its staff effective June 16 .
The furloughs , needed to cut costs during the pandemic shutdown , will affect 25 of 65 full-time and part time employees both at the museum and the Chicago Academy of Sciences , said vice president of external affairs Marc Miller in an interview Friday with the Tribune .
Read more here .
—Doug George 12:25 p.m. : All on-duty CFD firefighters and paramedics ordered to undergo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on-duty Chicago Fire Department firefighters and paramedics have been ordered to undergo testing for COVID-19 , officials said Friday .
The directive came down about a week ago , and it ’ s meant to give Chicago Fire Department officials a more accurate scope of the coronavirus ’ impact on their first responders , said Larry Langford , a CFD spokesman .
“ Instead of having this spotty voluntary testing , ” he said , “ it ’ s just better to do your whole company at one time.
” Langford said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paramedics will all be getting tested gradually .
As of Friday , about 220 sworn CFD members have tested positive for the disease and two have died .
Langford said firehouses have been cleaned as a deterrent against the virus .
But there ’ s still a potential for firefighters and paramedics to bring COVID-19 from the outside and infect one another , he said .
“ Let ’ s determine our baseline .
Everybody gets tested .
Let ’ s see where we are , ” said Langford .
Langford said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ require the mandatory testing , similar to how employers can require drug tests .
Jim Tracy , president of Local 2 of the Chicago Fire Fighters Union , is in favor of firefighters and paramedics getting tested as often as possible , but he said for that to be mandatory “ is ridiculous.
” He said the union is debating about whether it should get an injunction to stop the mandatory testing .
“ People have different things going on in their lives .
I ’ ve had surgery on my sinuses six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgery , you know , to remove my polyps from my sinuses recently , my doctor might not want them to stick a Q-tip up my nose , ” said Tracy , alluding to the method of testing for COVID-19 .
He also noted that CFD members could get disciplined by their bosses if they refuse testing .
But he ’ s gotten word about some unsanitary testing environments for the disease , making firefighters and paramedics uncomfortable , said Tracy .
“ Again , I ’ m all in favor of testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ net for us and for our families , ( and ) for our brother and sisters we work with .
But when you do it mandatory , ... you ’ re sticking something in my body and if I don ’ t want it in , where do we draw the line on this constitutionally or otherwise ?
” —Jeremy Gorner 10:20 a.m. : Six Flags Great America preparing to reopen soon with attendance caps , mandatory face coverings Six Flags Great America officials say they don ’ t yet know when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does welcome back guests this season things will look a lot different .
The park is implementing extensive new safety measures and hygiene protocols , including several new advanced technology systems to protect guests and employees against the spread of COVID-19 .
“ We have developed a comprehensive reopening safety plan that includes best practices from theme park and water park industry experts , along with top destination parks from around the world , which will allow guests to experience our parks in the safest possible way , ” said Mike Spanos , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This ’ new normal ’ will be very different , but we believe these additional measures are appropriate in the current environment , '' Spanos said .
The first difference guests will notice is the park ’ s new reservations system to manage attendance .
The park has established attendance caps that will be well below the park ’ s theoretical capacity in order to allow for proper physical distancing .
Six Flags spokeswoman Caitlin Kepple said at first , the park may operate at 25 percent capacity or lower , but that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit , filed May 20 in Cook County Circuit Court , is the first known major legal spat between commercial landlords and tenants in Chicago since companies began sending workers home in the wake of the health crisis .
Read the story here .
-- Ryan Ori 7 a.m. : The state tried to test for COVID-19 in every nursing home .
It ’ s now ordering homes to do it themselves Citing the devastating toll COVID-19 has taken in nursing homes , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker on Thursday ordered all long-term facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and staff for the virus .
The new emergency rule for the first time pushes the testing responsibility to the facilities themselves , and it signals the Pritzker administration ’ s most confrontational stance to date against an industry that increasingly had been pressuring the government to lead and expand testing efforts .
In announcing the rule , Pritzker told reporters that some privately run facilities had refused state help , forcing the state to impose rules “ to counteract any heel-dragging ” in efforts to stem the spread of a virus that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents and staffers , nearly half of Illinois ’ total fatalities from the virus .
Read more here .
-- Joe Mahr 6:55 a.m. : South and west suburbs see 8 % -15 % decrease in home values amid coronavirus pandemic , Cook County assessor says The Cook County assessor ’ s office has estimated double-digit home value declines for property owners in the south and west suburbs this year as the brutal economic impact from the coronavirus rages on .
The region , part of Cook County due for a reassessment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and condos fall between 8 % to 12.2 % , while the value of multifamily apartments ( two to six units ) plummeted between 10 % to 15.2 % , according to a report the assessor ’ s office released Thursday .
Read more here .
-- Alice Yin 6:45 a.m. : U. of I. study says Illinois can expect more than half-million full-time job losses , tens of billions of dollars in production and income due to pandemic Illinois will lose the equivalent of 550,000 yearlong full-time jobs due to the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in trade , transportation , leisure and hospitality services and the professional sector , according to a new study from the University of Illinois .
The study by the university system ’ s Institute of Government and Public Affairs also warned that more than $ 28.5 billion in income will be lost to Illinois citizens and businesses , along with $ 76 billion in economic output representing the value of goods and services produced due to stay-at-home and business closures .
Read more here .
-- Rick Pearson Here are five things that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Here are five things that happened Wednesday that you need to know : Here are five things that happened Tuesday that you need to know :

We have lifted the paywall on this story. To support essential reporting, please consider becoming a subscriber .
Paca Kujtim of Arlington Heights self-administers a COVID-19 test in his car at the Arlington International Racecourse on March 31, 2021 in Arlington Heights. Kujtim was getting testing as a precaution for upcoming travel. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Friday in Illinois marked the end of a statewide stay-at-home order that took effect March 21, as Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a new executive order to move the state into the next phase of a reopening plan that removes gathering caps on worship services and loosened restrictions on a range of businesses.
As all four regions of the state moved into phase three of Pritzker’s plan, health officials reported 1,622 new known cases of COVID-19, pushing the total number of known cases in Illinois to 117,455 since the pandemic began. Officials also reported another 86 deaths, bringing the statewide death toll to 5,270.
Advertisement
Earlier on Friday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced six streets in different neighborhoods throughout the city that will be shut down to allow restaurants to set up tables for expanded outdoor dining. It was unclear when the program would start.
[ When can Illinois reopen? Check our daily charts on where each region stands. ]
[ How will Illinois reopen? Three charts breaking down Pritzker’s plan ]
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
[ As the coronavirus spreads, the Tribune is tracking Illinois cases here ]
Here’s what’s happening Friday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
Advertisement
6:10 p.m.: Suburban YMCAs become latest financial victims of pandemic
The Kroehler Family YMCA in downtown Naperville, which opened in 1911, will close its doors permanently come Monday.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago announced Friday it is be shutting down the facility at 34 S. Washington St. as well as the Lattof YMCA in Des Plaines and the Leaning Tower YMCA in Niles.
YMCA officials said the closures are necessary to safeguard the nonprofit organization’s overall financial stability so it can continue to serve families and youth across the Chicago area.
“The overwhelming stress that the coronavirus pandemic has put on the global economy has also put an enormous strain on our organization," Richard Malone, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, said in a statement. "We’ve reached the point where we are no longer able to sustain these centers during and after the pandemic.” Read more here. —Suzanne Baker
5:50 p.m.: COVID-19 deaths at Illinois long-term care facilities now top 2,700
An additional 345 residents and workers at Illinois’ long-term care facilities have died of the coronavirus, bringing the total to 2,747, according to state data released Friday.
The latest figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health continue to show — even as the state begins to reopen — how devastating the pandemic has been for facilities housing elderly and frail residents.
At least 129 facilities are now tied to at least 10 or more deaths, the data shows. Over the past month, long-term care facilities have grown to account for more than half of the virus’s total death toll in Illinois.
The hardest hit facilities continue to be in the Chicago area, led by Meadowbrook Manor of Bolingbrook with 40 deaths, Villa at Windsor Park (37), Niles Nursing and Rehab Center (33), Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion (33), Peterson Park Health Care (31) and Norridge Gardens (30).
Advertisement
Case figures also jumped an additional 15% from a week earlier, to now tally 17,133 confirmed COVID-19 infections at 535 facilities across 41 counties. Elisabeth Ludeman Developmental Center in Forest Park has the most, with 316 cases, followed by City View Multi-Care Center (243), Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion (218), Symphony at Midway (211) and Peterson Park Health Care (202).
Industry representatives have told the Tribune they’ve done the best they can to weather an unprecedented pandemic to which their facilities were particularly vulnerable. Read more here. —Joe Mahr
5 p.m.: Giddy book shopping, disposable cutlery and worries about malls as Chicago suburbs hit phase 3
Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville reopened Friday morning with a sense of relief and purpose, a rare suburban business that can boast of surviving both the 1918 flu pandemic and the coronavirus lockdown.
Owner Becky Anderson grew up listening to her grandmother recount how the family business — then a drug store that sold books, gifts and medicine — helped local families cope during the Spanish Flu quarantine. Those stories only steeled her resolve to keep the store afloat during the stay-at-home order, a feat she accomplished through online sales, curbside pickup and a GoFundMe page.
“Knowing that our family has gone through a lot and still stayed in business helped a lot,” she said. “I knew we would get to the other side of this, and we did. Now I know that we’re going to make it.”
With reminders about social distancing and masks posted throughout the store, customers walked slowly among the stacks and enjoyed the no-longer-forbidden act of leisurely browsing. Ruth Reynolds drove from Shorewood with a sense of giddiness over her newfound freedom.
Advertisement
She said she told her husband to stay home because she didn't want anyone to rush her. For the first time since early March, she wanted to look at book jackets, read the employees' recommendations taped to the shelves and make a book selection without involving Amazon.
“This is the biggest thing that has happened to me in two months,” said Reynolds, who was carrying an arm full of literary fiction. “I have to keep reminding myself not touch the books until I’m sure I’m going to buy them. But, other than that, I am just so happy.”
The Naperville bookstore was among several businesses throughout the Chicago suburbs that reopened with restrictions on Friday. Here’s a look at how the first day of phase 3 unfolded across the area. —Stacy St. Clair and Chicago Tribune staff
3:55 p.m.: Cook County employees to begin returning to offices next month; buildings expected to open to public July 6
Cook County employees will start reporting to the office again next month and offices will officially reopen to the public in early July, sparking a discussion with the union representing workers on how to safely socially distance while at work.
On June 15, department heads and bureau chiefs with the office of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and other elected offices are required to show up to headquarters and direct employees on returning to work, according to a Friday executive order from Preckwinkle. County clerk’s office employees are coming back earlier, on June 1, although facilities won’t be open to the public until later, spokesman James Scalzitti said.
Cook County buildings are “anticipated” to allow patrons inside starting July 6, the order states. Customers will have to adhere to social distancing mandates, and the facilities may reopen using a “phased-in approach.” Read more here. —Alice Yin
Advertisement
2:56 p.m.: Pritzker says stay-at-home order has ended as Illinois moves to next phase of reopening plan
Friday in Illinois marked the end of a statewide stay-at-home order that took effect March 21, as Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a new executive order to move the state into the next phase of a reopening plan that removes gathering caps on worship services and loosened restrictions on a range of businesses.
All four regions of the state moved into Phase III of Pritzker’s reopening plan on Friday, as state officials reported 1,622 people in the state newly-diagnosed with COVID-19, pushing the statewide total to 117,455 since the pandemic began earlier this year. Officials also reported another 86 deaths on Friday, bringing the statewide death toll to 5,270.
After giving daily press briefings on COVID-19 since early March, Pritzker on Friday announced he would move from daily news conferences to as-needed briefings, starting next week. The state Department of Public Health will continue sending out daily news releases on coronavirus and regional metrics for reopening will continue to be updated on the department’s website.
State Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike urged Illinois residents to talk to contact tracers if they reach out to inform them that they may have been exposed to coronavirus, but she acknowledged there could be scammers who pretend to be contact tracers. Ezike said contact tracers wouldn’t ask for bank account or credit card information, money or social security numbers. —Jamie Munks
2:35 p.m.: Officials report 1,622 new known cases of COVID-19 and 86 more deaths
Illinois officials on Friday announced 1,622 new known cases of COVID-19 and 86 additional fatalities, bringing the total of known cases to 117,455 and the death toll to 5,270 statewide since the start of the pandemic. Officials also reported 21,796 new tests in the last 24 hours.
2:02 p.m.: Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe to begin limited reopening June 9
The Chicago Botanic Garden will reopen with limited access June 9, it was announced Friday.
Advertisement
On that date visitors will be allowed to walk a specified 2.3-mile loop of the Glencoe grounds that includes views of the North Lake and various other garden areas including vistas of the Malott Japanese Garden and spring blooms in Dixon Prairie and the McDonald Woods, according to a news release.
However, don’t expect to simply drive up and walk. Pre-registration will be required and visitors will be given a timed entry. Parking will be free during the limited reopening phase.
Garden officials announced they plan to open to a larger degree June 24, but that date is subject to change. Read more here. —Dan Lambert
1:30 p.m.: 6 Chicago streets will be shut down to allow restaurants to set up tables for expanded outdoor dining, Lightfoot says
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced six streets that will be shut down to allow restaurants to set up tables for expanded outdoor dining.
The six streets included in the pilot program are: 75th Street, from Calumet Avenue to Indiana Avenue; Broadway, from Belmont Avenue to Diversey Parkway; 26th Street from Central Park to Harding Avenue; Rush Street from Oak Street to Cedar Street; Taylor Street from Loomis Street to Ashland Avenue and Randolph Street from the expressway no further than Elizabeth Street.
It was unclear when the program would start. Restaurants in groups of three or more, chambers of commerce and business associations can begin applying for Expanded Outdoor Dining on Monday, the mayor’s office said. Read more here. —John Byrne
Advertisement
1:27 p.m.: VA secretary says hospitals have ‘ratcheted it down’ on hydroxychloroquine use
Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie informed lawmakers that VA hospitals have largely stopped giving hydroxychloroquine to patients with COVID-19, according to the Associated Press.
Last week, VA officials said the hospitals had given the drug to some 1,300 people infected by the novel coronavirus despite questions about its effectiveness and potentially dangerous side effects.
Wilkie said at a House hearing Thursday that the hospitals had “ratcheted it down” to three prescriptions last week and that he expected the downward trend would go on, the AP reported.
The Tribune reported this week that veterans groups and Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, had criticized the hospitals’ use of the drug, a political hot-button during the pandemic. President Donald Trump has touted it as a “game changer” and said he took the medication himself, but studies have cast doubt on its effectiveness and doctors have warned of serious side effects.
Locally, Charity Hardison, a spokeswoman for four VA hospitals in the Chicago area and downstate Danville, declined to say whether those facilities had used the drug to treat COVID-19 cases so far. —Dan Hinkel
1:15 p.m.: Notebaert Nature Museum will furlough staff amid shutdown
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park, closed since late March by COVID-19, will be furloughing more than a third of its staff effective June 16.
Advertisement
The furloughs, needed to cut costs during the pandemic shutdown, will affect 25 of 65 full-time and part time employees both at the museum and the Chicago Academy of Sciences, said vice president of external affairs Marc Miller in an interview Friday with the Tribune. Read more here. —Doug George
12:25 p.m.: All on-duty CFD firefighters and paramedics ordered to undergo testing for COVID-19, officials say
All on-duty Chicago Fire Department firefighters and paramedics have been ordered to undergo testing for COVID-19, officials said Friday.
The directive came down about a week ago, and it’s meant to give Chicago Fire Department officials a more accurate scope of the coronavirus’ impact on their first responders, said Larry Langford, a CFD spokesman.
“Instead of having this spotty voluntary testing,” he said, “it’s just better to do your whole company at one time.”
Langford said the department’s roughly 4,900 firefighters and paramedics will all be getting tested gradually. As of Friday, about 220 sworn CFD members have tested positive for the disease and two have died.
Langford said firehouses have been cleaned as a deterrent against the virus. But there’s still a potential for firefighters and paramedics to bring COVID-19 from the outside and infect one another, he said.
Advertisement
“Let’s determine our baseline. Everybody gets tested. Let’s see where we are,” said Langford.
Langford said the department is on good legal ground to require the mandatory testing, similar to how employers can require drug tests.
Jim Tracy, president of Local 2 of the Chicago Fire Fighters Union, is in favor of firefighters and paramedics getting tested as often as possible, but he said for that to be mandatory “is ridiculous.” He said the union is debating about whether it should get an injunction to stop the mandatory testing.
“People have different things going on in their lives. I’ve had surgery on my sinuses six times. So if I had polyp surgery, you know, to remove my polyps from my sinuses recently, my doctor might not want them to stick a Q-tip up my nose,” said Tracy, alluding to the method of testing for COVID-19.
He also noted that CFD members could get disciplined by their bosses if they refuse testing. But he’s gotten word about some unsanitary testing environments for the disease, making firefighters and paramedics uncomfortable, said Tracy.
“Again, I’m all in favor of testing. It’s a huge safety net for us and for our families, (and) for our brother and sisters we work with. But when you do it mandatory,...you’re sticking something in my body and if I don’t want it in, where do we draw the line on this constitutionally or otherwise?” —Jeremy Gorner
Advertisement
10:20 a.m.: Six Flags Great America preparing to reopen soon with attendance caps, mandatory face coverings
Six Flags Great America officials say they don’t yet know when the park will reopen, but when it does welcome back guests this season things will look a lot different.
The park is implementing extensive new safety measures and hygiene protocols, including several new advanced technology systems to protect guests and employees against the spread of COVID-19.
“We have developed a comprehensive reopening safety plan that includes best practices from theme park and water park industry experts, along with top destination parks from around the world, which will allow guests to experience our parks in the safest possible way,” said Mike Spanos, Six Flags president and CEO.
“This ’new normal’ will be very different, but we believe these additional measures are appropriate in the current environment," Spanos said.
The first difference guests will notice is the park’s new reservations system to manage attendance.
The park has established attendance caps that will be well below the park’s theoretical capacity in order to allow for proper physical distancing.
Advertisement
Six Flags spokeswoman Caitlin Kepple said at first, the park may operate at 25 percent capacity or lower, but that will be a fluid percentage.
Upon entering the theme park, guests can expect to walk underneath a canopy-like area where contactless Infrared thermal imaging technology will be used to screen temperatures of guests and employees. —Yadira Sanchez Olson
7:55 a.m.: Law firm Jenner & Block sued for $3.8 million in unpaid rent, in first big Chicago office space leasing lawsuit of COVID-19 pandemic
One of Chicago’s largest law firms is itself getting sued after skipping rent payments on its sprawling riverfront office during the coronavirus pandemic.
Jenner & Block failed to make April 1 and May 1 rent payments and is in default on its lease at 353 N. Clark St., alleges a lawsuit filed by its landlord, an affiliate of Chicago-based real estate investment manager Heitman. The suit seeks to collect more than $3.8 million.
The lawsuit, filed May 20 in Cook County Circuit Court, is the first known major legal spat between commercial landlords and tenants in Chicago since companies began sending workers home in the wake of the health crisis. Read the story here. --Ryan Ori
7 a.m.: The state tried to test for COVID-19 in every nursing home. It’s now ordering homes to do it themselves
Citing the devastating toll COVID-19 has taken in nursing homes, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday ordered all long-term facilities to figure out how to test residents and staff for the virus.
Advertisement
The new emergency rule for the first time pushes the testing responsibility to the facilities themselves, and it signals the Pritzker administration’s most confrontational stance to date against an industry that increasingly had been pressuring the government to lead and expand testing efforts.
In announcing the rule, Pritzker told reporters that some privately run facilities had refused state help, forcing the state to impose rules “to counteract any heel-dragging” in efforts to stem the spread of a virus that’s already killed more than 2,400 residents and staffers, nearly half of Illinois’ total fatalities from the virus. Read more here. -- Joe Mahr
6:55 a.m.: South and west suburbs see 8%-15% decrease in home values amid coronavirus pandemic, Cook County assessor says
The Cook County assessor’s office has estimated double-digit home value declines for property owners in the south and west suburbs this year as the brutal economic impact from the coronavirus rages on.
The region, part of Cook County due for a reassessment in 2020, saw values for single-family homes and condos fall between 8% to 12.2%, while the value of multifamily apartments ( two to six units) plummeted between 10% to 15.2%, according to a report the assessor’s office released Thursday. Read more here. -- Alice Yin
6:45 a.m.: U. of I. study says Illinois can expect more than half-million full-time job losses, tens of billions of dollars in production and income due to pandemic
Illinois will lose the equivalent of 550,000 yearlong full-time jobs due to the pandemic, with 40% of them concentrated in trade, transportation, leisure and hospitality services and the professional sector, according to a new study from the University of Illinois.
The study by the university system’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs also warned that more than $28.5 billion in income will be lost to Illinois citizens and businesses, along with $76 billion in economic output representing the value of goods and services produced due to stay-at-home and business closures. Read more here. -- Rick Pearson
Advertisement
Breaking coronavirus news Stay up to date with the latest information on coronavirus with our breaking news alerts.
May 28
Here are five things that happened Thursday that you need to know:
May 27
Here are five things that happened Wednesday that you need to know:
May 26
Here are five things that happened Tuesday that you need to know:


chicagotribune--2020-05-29--CNN reporter arrested during George Floyd protests is a Northwestern University grad, former Wildcat

CNN reporter arrested during George Floyd protests is a Northwestern University grad, former Wildcats basketball player

Attempts to reach Jimenez on Friday were not successful .
In an interview on CNN after his release , he @ @ @ @ @ he started to feel scared once his adrenaline stopped pumping and he could reflect on @ @ @ @ @ he never received an explanation for why the arrest occurred , he said the officers @ @ @ @ @ after they handcuffed him .

CNN reporter Omar Jimenez, a former Northwestern journalism student and basketball player, was arrested live on-air on May 29, 2020, while covering violent protests in Minneapolis. Jimenez was later released and the governor of Minnesota apologized to the news organization for the state police's actions. (CNN)
Northwestern University is rallying behind CNN reporter Omar Jimenez, a former basketball player at the Big Ten school whose arrest while reporting on the turmoil in Minneapolis provoked national condemnation and an apology from the state’s governor.
Jimenez, a walk-on for the Wildcats in the 2011-12 season, studied broadcast journalism at Northwestern. He and other members of a CNN crew were taken into custody early Friday morning while doing a live shot of protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who pleaded for help as a white police officer handcuffed him and pressed his knee on his neck.
Advertisement
Jimenez told state troopers who approached that he was with the media and offered to move to a different spot, farther away from the damaged buildings and flames seen in in the background. But seconds later, with the camera still rolling, the officers handcuffed Jimenez and escorted him away as he asked for an explanation about his arrest.
It didn’t take long for the Northwestern community to signal their support. A little before 8 a.m., the Northwestern Athletics account tweeted: “We are proud of @NUMensBball alum @OmarJimenez for several reasons. Here is another one. Poised and Professional. Stay safe, Omar. Thank you for your commitment keeping the public informed.”
Advertisement
We are proud of @NUMensBball alum @OmarJimenez for several reasons. Here is another one ⤵
Poised and Professional.
Stay safe, Omar. Thank you for your commitment keeping the public informed. https://t.co/tAurSxkQ9I — Northwestern Athletics (@NU_Sports) May 29, 2020
CNN said later Friday morning that Jimenez and his crew, which included a producer and a photojournalist, were released after being detained. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz apologized to CNN for the arrests, according to the network.
Minnesota police arrest CNN reporter and camera crew as they report from protests in Minneapolis https://t.co/IY0H1Lc77E pic.twitter.com/s9XmwVfabP — New Day (@NewDay) May 29, 2020
Charles Whitaker, dean of Northwestern’s Medill journalism school, said he’s known Jimenez since he was a freshman at the Evanston campus in 2011. They have kept in touch since he graduated and Jimenez often comes back to visit.
“He’s always been a star,” Whitaker said Friday. “He’s always been someone we knew was destined for great things, from the moment he arrived on campus.”
Whitaker said he watched the arrest in real time after a colleague texted him about it. He said he was shocked to see troopers infringing on the free press but heralded Jimenez’s reaction, saying it serves as a model for other reporters who might find themselves in tense situations.
“He was very composed and respectful, which was so impressive to see, but he wasn’t getting anything from the troopers. They were just stopping his live shot and placing him in handcuffs,” Whitaker said. “I was angry and appalled."
Jimenez attended Northwestern from 2011 to 2015, according to his LinkedIn page. He was born in Massachusetts but grew up in the Atlanta area before moving to Evanston for college, his personal website says, and walked on to the basketball team his freshman year as a guard.
The 6-foot-1 Jimenez played on the team for two seasons, according to NU. He scored his first basket in a game against Georgia Tech while his friends and family watched. His second and final season on the team was as a sophomore. When he wasn’t on the court, Jimenez wrote and performed raps under the pseudonym OJ Tropicana, which landed him a segment on NBC’s “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon."
In recent years, Jimenez has become a frequent presence in the Chicago media scene, covering stories around the Midwest. Hours before his arrest, Block Club Chicago reported, Jimenez was moderating an online panel featuring Chicago police Superintendent David Brown and Sen. Dick Durbin.
Advertisement
Other news organizations have also spoken out in defense of Jimenez. The National Association of Black Journalists tweeted: “We are relieved to see Omar has been released, but we are still disturbed by the apparent violation of First Amendment rights that are the bedrock of journalism.”
CNN, which identified Jimenez as black and Latino, has raised the question of whether race played a role in his treatment. CNN correspondent Josh Campbell, who was reporting on the protests in a nearby location, is white and said he never faced the threat of arrest when troopers approached him or asked him to move.
Whitaker, the first black dean at Northwestern’s journalism school, said race was front and center in his mind as he witnessed the events unfold.
“I could not help but wonder whether his brown skin marked him for this indignity, and I thought of my own adult sons and the threat they face in a society that still too often demonizes African-American men,” Whitaker said in a statement released by NU.
Attempts to reach Jimenez on Friday were not successful. In an interview on CNN after his release, he described his ordeal and said he started to feel scared once his adrenaline stopped pumping and he could reflect on what had transpired. While he never received an explanation for why the arrest occurred, he said the officers were generally “cordial” after they handcuffed him.
“The one thing that gave me a little bit of comfort was that it happened on live TV," he said. "When you talk within the community about ― let’s just say what’s happened with George Floyd ― there’s always a discussion that, what’s happening isn’t new, it’s being filmed. And that speaks to the power of having something happen on camera because you can have people speak up for you, without you saying anything.”
Advertisement
Protests have ravaged the Twin Cities since Floyd’s death, resulting in property damage, looting and the torching of a police precinct building. The Minnesota State Patrol said on Twitter that the journalists were among four people arrested as troopers were “clearing the streets and restoring order." The patrol said they “were released once they were confirmed to be members of the media."
In his own message to the Northwestern community, President Morton Schapiro said felt “sickened” as he watched Jimenez’s arrest and expressed disgust over Floyd’s death.
“Our Northwestern community grieves for the many ways in which our society tolerates and facilitates injustices, demonstrated so vividly in these and other recent events,” he said. “Many of the rest of us can barely begin to imagine the personal toll that racism takes on marginalized communities every single day.”
In the course of clearing the streets and restoring order at Lake Street and Snelling Avenue, four people were arrested by State Patrol troopers, including three members of a CNN crew. The three were released once they were confirmed to be members of the media. — MN State Patrol (@MnDPS_MSP) May 29, 2020
The Associated Press and Tribune reporter Nina Metz contributed.


chicagotribune--2020-05-29--COVID-19 deaths at Illinois long-term care facilities top 2,700

But the state has struggled in its effort to test residents and staff at all facilities — reaching only a @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , when Pritzker announced that the facilities would need to take responsibility for the @ @

City View Multicare Center is shown March 12, 2021, in Cicero. Workers and residents haven't received COVID-19 vaccinations and the nursing home is dealing with an outbreak. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
An additional 345 residents and workers at Illinois’ long-term care facilities have died of the coronavirus, bringing the total to 2,747, according to state data released Friday.
The latest figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health continue to show — even as the state begins to reopen — how devastating the pandemic has been for facilities housing elderly and frail residents.
Advertisement
At least 129 facilities are now tied to at least 10 or more deaths, the data shows. Over the past month, long-term care facilities have grown to account for more than half of the virus’s total death toll in Illinois.
The hardest hit facilities continue to be in the Chicago area, led by Meadowbrook Manor of Bolingbrook with 40 deaths, Villa at Windsor Park (37), Niles Nursing and Rehab Center (33), Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion (33), Peterson Park Health Care (31) and Norridge Gardens (30).
Advertisement
Case figures also jumped an additional 15% from a week earlier, to now tally 17,133 confirmed COVID-19 infections at 535 facilities across 41 counties. Elisabeth Ludeman Developmental Center in Forest Park has the most, with 316 cases, followed by City View Multi-Care Center (243), Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion (218), Symphony at Midway (211) and Peterson Park Health Care (202).
Industry representatives have told the Tribune they’ve done the best they can to weather an unprecedented pandemic to which their facilities were particularly vulnerable.
The figures reinforce the deadly impact of the virus on long-term care facilities that have struggled at times to obtain enough caregivers and protective gear, helping fuel complaints the state should be doing more to protect residents and workers with a more coordinated effort.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker made testing a priority at nursing homes on April 20, a time when the number of deaths tied to long-term care facilities was reported to be 286 — roughly a tenth of the number reached six weeks later.
But the state has struggled in its effort to test residents and staff at all facilities — reaching only a fifth of the homes before Thursday, when Pritzker announced that the facilities would need to take responsibility for the testing.
Pritzker, who noted that some homes had already arranged for testing on their own, said the new rule was needed because other facilities were refusing state help.
It remains unclear how many facilities have tested all residents and staff at least once, when facilities must comply with the new state rule, and how often they should retest to ensure the virus doesn’t creep in.
A state public health spokeswoman said within two weeks, each facility must provide the state a plan for testing that should be shared with residents and their families. The plan could include details on follow-up testing, she said, and regardless, state or local health officials could order repeat testing.
Advertisement
Also Friday, the state released a new metric to show which homes were having recent outbreaks, and which ones appear to have weathered them. According to the data, 30 homes no longer have active outbreaks, which the state has defined as someone testing positive for the virus in the past 28 days.
Last week, the state initially released figures on places with current outbreaks but reversed course a day later after complaints the figures wouldn’t allow people to fully research the extent the virus had been in a facility.
jmahr@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-29--Lightfoot to Trump: 'What I really want to say ... begins with F and it ends with U’

“ I don ’ t take the bait every time , but this time , when we are suffering pain @ @ @ @ @ of a black man in the street , to try to , for political gain @ @ @ @ @ whistle to his base , I ’ m a black woman , and a leader @ @ @ @ @ obligation to speak out when something as offensive as that is said by anyone , @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ And I make no apologies whatsoever for my word choice @ @ @ @ @ which I ’ m calling him out for what he said .
”

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Friday ripped President Donald Trump, saying he’s fomenting violence and playing to racist urges for political gain in response to the killing of a black man by a Minneapolis police officer and subsequent rioting.
Lightfoot’s comments were an apparent response to Trump tweeting a message that included “When the looting starts, the shooting starts” in reply to rioting in Minneapolis and elsewhere following the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck while he was in custody. Lightfoot said the president cannot be allowed to divide and destabilize the country.
Advertisement
....These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
“He wants to show failures on the part of Democratic local leaders, to throw red meat to his base,” Lightfoot said in opening remarks at an afternoon news conference. “His goal is to polarize, to destabilize local government and inflame racist urges. We can absolutely not let him prevail. And I will code what I really want to say to Donald Trump. It’s two words. It begins with F and it ends with U.”
Asked later whether she should have used that language toward Trump, in light of former first lady Michelle Obama’s “when they go low, we go high” mantra, Lightfoot didn’t back down.
Advertisement
“I don’t take the bait every time, but this time, when we are suffering pain and trauma at the killing of a black man in the street, to try to, for political gain, and blow the dog whistle to his base, I’m a black woman, and a leader, and I feel an obligation to speak out when something as offensive as that is said by anyone, but particularly the president,” she said. “And I make no apologies whatsoever for my word choice, and the way in which I’m calling him out for what he said.”
The angry reaction to Trump from Illinois Democrats wasn’t contained to City Hall.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he’s “outraged by what (Trump) does in response to these situations.”
“From the very moment that I announced my decision to run for governor three-plus years ago, I said that this president was a racist, misogynist, homophobe, a xenophobe, and I was right then and I’m right now," Pritzker said. “His tweets, his reaction, his failure to address the racism that exists in America, his stoking of the flames in sometimes subtle, sometimes not so subtle, ways is completely unacceptable. It’s reprehensible, in fact.”
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said in a statement that she’s “disgusted by our president’s hateful and racist rhetoric in the wake of the uprisings in Minneapolis.”
And Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle released a statement saying there’s “a pervasive and tragic history of racism in our country, and a United States president who provokes it."
“As we grieve Mr. Floyd’s death, President Trump is inciting violence against the protesters,” Preckwinkle said. “We cannot stand idly by as he does this, and must affirm the right to peaceful, open protests of police brutality.”
Looting leads to shooting, and that’s why a man was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Wednesday night - or look at what just happened in Louisville with 7 people shot. I don’t want this to happen, and that’s what the expression put out last night means.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
Trump later tweeted again, saying in two tweets: "Looting leads to shooting, and that’s why a man was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Wednesday night - or look at what just happened in Louisville with 7 people shot. I don’t want this to happen, and that’s what the expression put out last night means....
Advertisement
“....It was spoken as a fact, not as a statement. It’s very simple, nobody should have any problem with this other than the haters, and those looking to cause trouble on social media. Honor the memory of George Floyd!”
Chicago Tribune’s Alice Yin contributed.
jebyrne@chicagotribune.com
jmunks@chicagotribune.com


Corrections and clarifications

Publishing information quickly and accurately is a central part of the Chicago Tribune ’ s news responsibility and a value @ @ @ @ @ .
Our editorial code of principles governs professional behavior and journalism standards .
Everyone in @ @ @ @ @ live up to this code of conduct .
Download the file .

· An item about where Dennis Hastert was a high school coach was incorrect in the today-in-history feature of the May 28 newspaper. He was a coach in Yorkville.
The Tribune regrets the error.
Advertisement
Publishing information quickly and accurately is a central part of the Chicago Tribune’s news responsibility and a value shared in all our publications. Our editorial code of principles governs professional behavior and journalism standards. Everyone in our newsroom must agree to live up to this code of conduct. Download the file.
To report an error, fill out this form.


chicagotribune--2020-05-29--Cook County employees to begin returning to offices next month; buildings expected to open to public

Cook County employees to begin returning to offices next month; buildings expected to open to public July 6: Preckwinkle executive order

“ I was quite concerned about going back because I don ’ t think nationally we are where we want @ @ @ @ @ , ” Palmer said .
“ Many of our members are very afraid .
… @ @ @ @ @ they have a plan of how they ’ re going to do it .
”

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle answers questions from media members who call in their questions at a news conference outside of the Cook County medical examiner's office in Chicago on May 27, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Cook County employees will start reporting to the office again next month and offices will officially reopen to the public in early July, sparking a discussion with the union representing workers on how to safely socially distance while at work.
On June 15, department heads and bureau chiefs with the office of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and other elected offices are required to show up to headquarters and direct employees on returning to work, according to a Friday executive order from Preckwinkle. County clerk’s office employees are coming back earlier, on June 1, although facilities won’t be open to the public until later, spokesman James Scalzitti said.
Advertisement
Cook County buildings are “anticipated” to allow patrons inside starting July 6, the order states. Customers will have to adhere to social distancing mandates, and the facilities may reopen using a “phased-in approach.”
SEIU Local 73, which represents Illinois public employees, spoke with offices that are reopening to ensure social distancing will be met, as some of its members have fretted over the announcement, President Dian Palmer said.
Advertisement
“I was quite concerned about going back because I don’t think nationally we are where we want to be with this virus,” Palmer said. “Many of our members are very afraid. … But I do recognize that they have a plan of how they’re going to do it.”
Scalzitti said the clerk’s office, which includes the vital records, taxes and elections departments, will be protected with social distancing. That includes staggered schedules, added barriers, personal protective equipment kits, distanced workstations and ramped-up sanitation.
“All discussions on reopening to date have been positive, focused on balancing service and safety, and all viewpoints are heard and respected,” Scalzitti said.
Most Cook County employees, who are deemed essential, have not been in the office since Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order took effect on March 21, although some have worked from home. Discussions were usually encouraging as offices and the SEIU hammered out a strategy to keep workers safe, Palmer said.
Nevertheless, the return to work has rattled union members who fear getting sick from the coronavirus, Palmer said, especially if they have underlying health issues.
“You know, the person you worked with yesterday is not at work today or tomorrow or a couple other days, and then you hear through the grapevine that that person is sick,” Palmer said while illustrating employees’ worries. “They’re so scared to go back to work.”
So far, Palmer said offices promised to shuffle desks around to follow the 6-foot distance requirement and install Plexiglas in front of places where patrons and employees would interact.
In addition, some offices, such as the clerk’s, will attempt a “rolling” schedule that entails employees being split into an “A” and “B” group, with only one section coming to the office at a time to reduce exposure, Palmer said.
Advertisement
The executive order on Friday is an amendment of Preckwinkle’s previous disaster proclamation amid the coronavirus pandemic. The updated work schedule comes as Illinois enters phase three of Pritzker’s five-phase reopening plan.
ayin@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-29--COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood

Search below by street address , ZIP code or city , then click on the map to see the number @ @ @ @ @ state is not providing data for any ZIP code with five cases or fewer .

Note: With Chicago and Illinois moving into phase 5, the Tribune is no longer updating this data. If the state moves back into bridge phase, the Tribune we reassess. Daily metrics on COVID-19, like cases, deaths and hospitalizations, can be found here. And Daily metrics on the vaccination effort can be found here. More on where the coronavirus stands nationally and around the world can be found here.
Illinois releases the number of positive COVID-19 cases by ZIP code daily. The map below shows the cumulative cases for each area as well as other analysis of the data.
• Check out the Tribune’s coronavirus coverage.
• Tracking daily Illinois coronavirus deaths, cases and tests.
Search below by street address, ZIP code or city, then click on the map to see the number of confirmed and probable cases. The state is not providing data for any ZIP code with five cases or fewer.
Data as of June 10.
The map search tool above works best in Chrome or Firefox and may not perform consistently in Internet Explorer.
Note: Because of a coding error this map was displaying the incorrect rates for new cases in the last 7 days per 100,000 people — the issue should now be resolved.. The Tribune adjusted the data shown on the map below to focus on new cases, those the state tracked in the last 7 seven days. The totals for the entire pandemic are still available, but in the pop-up after tapping or clicking on a ZIP.


chicagotribune--2020-05-29--Tracking Illinois reopening metrics: Check our daily charts on where each region stands.

The metrics focus on a rolling average of positive coronavirus cases and hospitalizations to keep track of the direction of @ @ @ @ @ availability of hospital beds and ventilators that would be needed to handle a possible surge @ @ @ @ @ for testing and tracing positive tests .

Chad Yoder, Nausheen Husain, Jennifer Smith Richards, Jonathon Berlin

With each of the state’s four regions in Phase 3 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan, the clock starts on moving on to Phase 4, where more businesses and activities are allowed. The plan to reopen Illinois — from restaurants and salons to open space to non-COVID-19 procedures at the hospital to concerts and festivals — depends on a host of metrics laid out by Pritzker.
The metrics focus on a rolling average of positive coronavirus cases and hospitalizations to keep track of the direction of the outbreak as well as availability of hospital beds and ventilators that would be needed to handle a possible surge. There are also benchmarks for testing and tracing positive tests.
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
A key element of the plan is that a region can move both forward and backward, where more parts of society can open and shut depending on the seriousness of the outbreak.
Here is a breakdown of where each region stands.


chicagotribune--2020-05-29--Tracking Illinois coronavirus: 5,270 deaths, 117,455 confirmed cases, 851,762 tests,  14.1% positivi

Tracking Illinois coronavirus: 5,270 deaths, 117,455 confirmed cases, 851,762 tests,  14.1% positivity rate for Northeast region

As the coronavirus spreads and local , state and national governments work to contain and mitigate the outbreak , the @ @ @ @ @ .

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine tracked coronavirus cases, deaths and test totals from Jan. 22, 2020 through March 10, 2023, but is no longer providing this data. These charts will no longer be updated.
Check the Illinois Department of Public Health for the most up-to-date data for Illinois.
[ Remembering the lives of those in Illinois who died from coronavirus ]
Can’t see these charts? Go here.


chicagotribune--2020-05-29--Remembering the lives of those in Illinois who died from coronavirus

As the number of deaths attributable to COVID-19 ticks upward , the Tribune is working to chronicle those who have @ @ @ @ @ Chicago area or who have connections to our region .
These are some of those @ @

They were mothers and fathers, daughters and sons. Many were proud grandparents. Two were sisters from a tight-knit South Side family. All were loved, relatives say, and will be forever missed.
As the number of deaths attributable to COVID-19 ticks upward, the Tribune is working to chronicle those who have lost their lives in the Chicago area or who have connections to our region. These are some of those victims.
If you know of someone or would like to offer a remembrance of someone please share your information here. To file a death notice, go here.
Subscribe to the Chicago Tribune: Our mission is to deliver trusted and meaningful local news. Your support allows us to continue providing the award-winning, watchdog and in-depth journalism our community deserves. Subscribe here.


chicagotribune--2020-05-29--Watch live: Gov. J. B. Pritzker and health officials discuss Illinois coronavirus cases

Watch live as Illinois Gov .
J .
B. Pritzker and health officials discuss coronavirus cases in a briefing scheduled @ @ @ @ @ Get the latest on the coronavirus here .

This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, and analytics. By remaining on this website, you indicate your consent.


chicagotribune--2020-05-29--Mayor Lori Lightfoot says Chicago will experiment with shutting down some neighborhood streets for o

Mayor Lori Lightfoot says Chicago will experiment with shutting down some neighborhood streets for outdoor dining options

“ I don ’ t know if any restaurant has that much space , ” she said .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ one table for two people in the middle of the patio , and I don @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going to make financial sense for us.
” She was encouraged , though @ @ @ @ @ a more open direction .
In the meantime , like other restaurants creating alternatives to @ @ @ @ @ her business partner have created I-Chef Now , a service to deliver recipes and ingredient @ @

John Byrne, Madeline Buckley, Alison Bowen, Jennifer Day, Christen A. Johnson

Rush Street near Cedar Street in Chicago. One of the street sections in the pilot program is Rush Street from Oak Street to Cedar Street. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Friday that six streets in different neighborhoods throughout the city will be shut down to allow restaurants to set up tables for expanded outdoor dining.
The streets included in the upcoming pilot program aimed at helping restaurants that have been hurt during the coronavirus pandemic are: 75th Street from Calumet Avenue to Indiana Avenue; Broadway from Belmont Avenue to Diversey Parkway; 26th Street from Central Park to Harding Avenue; Rush Street from Oak Street to Cedar Street; Taylor Street from Loomis Street to Ashland Avenue; and Randolph Street west from I-90-94 to no farther than Elizabeth Street.
Advertisement
It was unclear when the program would start. Restaurants in groups of three or more, chambers of commerce and business associations can begin applying for expanded outdoor dining Monday, the mayor’s office said.
Outdoor dining streets in pilot program
But restaurants will need to continue to apply for sidewalk cafe licenses in order to serve people outside. Business Affairs Commissioner Rosa Escareno acknowledged those licenses could take a month or more to get approved, depending on the timing of the city receiving the request and how long it takes for aldermen to hold hearings on them.
Advertisement
The mayor said Friday that some aldermen have concerns about closing streets for dining, but said she hopes they can work out their differences.
And she emphasized that the dining streets will not be party areas.
“We cannot allow these streets to turn into street festivals, and we will not," she said.
If things get out of hand on the first six stretches she identified, the city won’t be able to expand it to other areas, Lightfoot said.
Peter Toader, one of the owners of The Crepe Shop on Broadway in Lakeview, was surprised to hear about the new program to expand outdoor dining. He wondered how it all will work and how quickly, but was tentatively excited. “If I’m just allowed to put tables in front of my store on the street? Heck yeah.”
Like all businesses, The Crepe Shop has been impacted by the shutdown despite staying open and feeling support from the neighborhood, he said.
But his large dining room has been empty. He hopes that the potential ability to have outdoor dining will get people back to sitting down to dine, and will be a steppingstone to opening even restricted indoor dining.
“That’s what’s hurting us, we can’t get people dining in,” he said. “It would get the ball rolling to just open it up, get people in.”
Advertisement
Toader said he’d need to get some outdoor items — the restaurant had not started planning for tables and chairs outside, with the pandemic making it impossible so far.
“On the other hand, I’m thinking where am I going to park,” he said, laughing. “But whatever. I’ll take the seats outside, if I need to park three blocks away.”
Leyla Khanahmad, co-owner of Black & Caspian restaurant, which opened in Lakeview just before the coronavirus crisis, said that being able to expand outdoor dining into the street was “better than nothing,” but she still harbored concerns.
For example, on a busy street with multiple businesses, how many tables could be set up at 6 feet apart?
“I don’t know if any restaurant has that much space,” she said. “We are going to put just one table for two people in the middle of the patio, and I don’t know if that’s going to make financial sense for us.” She was encouraged, though, by things moving in a more open direction. In the meantime, like other restaurants creating alternatives to make money, she and her business partner have created I-Chef Now, a service to deliver recipes and ingredient boxes.
Latasha Taylor, owner of Flammin Restaurant on 75th Street, said she would definitely expand into the street, but expects that would mean just four tables instead of the usual two outside. The restaurant’s team still worries about social distancing even with such few tables. “It would be great actually for us because right now, the sidewalk area alone, that’s not a lot of space," Taylor said.
Advertisement
Jimmy’s Burgers on 75th manager Moe Qrani said the restaurant does primarily takeout business and plans to stay that way. “I don’t know if a lot of people even want to sit outside if it’s near other people. I wouldn’t want to. Carryout still seems like the best option for the future, I think.”
Nia Asimis, the owner of Nia Restaurant on Randolph Street in the West Loop, hopes the extra outdoor dining space will help her and her employees make back money they’ve lost during the stay-at-home order. “Up until now, we’ve been subjected to these forced closures and definitely a little distraught about it,” she said. “It’d be nice to get into the swing of things. I’m really excited about it, actually.”
Asimis isn’t sure yet how she’s going to implement the new seating structure. “There will be some logistics involved,” she said. And she will revamp the menu. The restaurant's focus on tapas did not fit into a carryout scenario, so Nia has been closed.
“Our menu doesn’t necessarily translate to the style of food, or the style of service, we’re going to have to start doing at this point,” she said. “It’s not going to be tapas, but probably larger portions. It’s basically reformulating what you’re already doing."
Maureen Martino, executive director of the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce, said 44 food establishments are on the stretch of Broadway affected by the mayor’s plan. “It gives them maybe a little bit of a lifeline to keep going until the restaurants can open at a better capacity," she said.
Many, she said, didn’t apply for a sidewalk cafe permit before because it didn’t make sense financially for one or two tables. The chamber is looking at how it can help those restaurants, including with outdoor furniture and helping find space for those with impediments to easy dining, such as a bench or bus stop or fire hydrant.
Advertisement
Martino said closing the street was a short-term solution but hopefully one to help restaurants make more money as they work toward indoor dining. “It makes more financial sense, if you have more space, you can actually bring some money in.”
Other cities have tried similar things; she hopes it will be successful and not create congregating instead, which might doom the project. Closing down streets is not new in the neighborhood, which has an arts festival on the north side of Belmont each September. “We’ve never closed this side of Belmont, so this will be interesting to give these businesses something to look forward to.”
Lightfoot, meanwhile, also said the 9 p.m. liquor sale curfew she imposed during the coronavirus pandemic will stay in place after Wednesday for package liquor stores, but not for restaurants that will be reopening with liquor licenses.
Bars that don’t sell food won’t be allowed to reopen with new outdoor dining rules because people lose their inhibitions when they drink and will be less likely to follow social distancing rules, Lightfoot said.
A runner uses the middle of Leland Avenue between Clark Street and Ashland Avenue on May 29, 2020. The street has been designated a "shared street." (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Lightfoot also briefly outlined a “shared streets” program that will allow neighborhood streets to be closed to through traffic so residents can walk and bike on them to more easily socially distance.
Gia Biagi, commissioner of the city Department of Transportation, said the shared streets program will start to roll out “over the next couple of days.”
Advertisement
“Over the last month or so we’ve had an outpouring of inquiries about this from Chicagoans looking to make their local streets accessible for recreation while maintaining that safe distance from other people traveling or exercising on the streets and sidewalks,” Biagi said.
The city will “assess project ideas by a range of criteria,” Biagi said.
As they consider whether to temporarily close a street to much of its vehicular traffic, Biagi said officials will look at whether it will “contribute to community health and well-being,” feasibility in terms of vehicular traffic flow, and whether it connects with other walking areas and public transit hubs.
Some walkers and joggers and even a postal worker fanned out into the roadway Friday afternoon on Leland Avenue in Uptown as the street closed to nonlocal traffic as part of the city’s shared streets plan.
Orange traffic signs stood at some of the bigger intersections, alerting drivers that Leland was closed except for local traffic. Signs from the 47th Ward were stapled to posts between Clark Street and Lincoln Avenue, the east and west boundaries.
A sign with the letterhead of Ald. Matt Martin laid down guidelines for using the shared street, including wearing a mask and not congregating.
Advertisement
“It’s not a block party — It’s a public health benefit,” the sign read.
Joey and Ashley McCusty walked east on Leland in the street, and voiced support for the plan. Both choose not to drive, and often walk up and down Leland.
“There’s too much space devoted to cars in the city,” said Joey McCusty, adding that drivers still have Lawrence, Montrose and Wilson for getting across town.
Others, though, were skeptical of how the plan would be enforced.
“We’re just confused,” said Barb Dowling, who was out with her dogs Friday. “I’m not sure what the point of it is if there’s still cars.”
Dowling said she had wondered if she and her neighbors would be able to enjoy a socially distant cocktail in the street, but then she learned that isn’t allowed. The rules order people to keep moving.
Advertisement
“I think people are already conscious,” she said. “It’s just a lot of common sense.”
jebyrne@chicagotribune.com
mabuckley@chicagotribune.com
abowen@chicagotribune.com
jeday@chicagotribune.com
chrjohnson@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-29--Man, 72, shot in the face when gunman jumps out of car and fires a dozen shots at Northwest Side hom

Man, 72, shot in the face when gunman jumps out of car and fires a dozen shots at Northwest Side home

One of the women was hit in the back and right hand , and was taken to the University of @ @ @ @ @ was pronounced dead .
The other woman was taken to the same hospital with a @ @ @ @ @ pronounced dead , police said .

A gunman dressed in black and wearing a red bandana jumped out of a car and fired about a dozen shots into a home on the Northwest Side Friday morning, hitting a 72-year-old man in the face, according to Chicago police.
The man was taken in serious condition to Illinois Masonic Hospital.
Advertisement
The shooting occurred around 10 a.m. in the 4300 block of West Schubert Avenue in the Hermosa neighborhood. The gunman fled through a gangway into an alley, where a car was waiting for him, police said.
Investigators believe the home was targeted because a relative of the victim was known by police as having gang ties in the area.
Advertisement
“The gangs are starting to basically create havoc around here," said Ald. Felix Cardona, whose 31st Ward encompasses the block. "We have certain gangs on the other side of Diversey are coming over here. So it’s all about territory.
“Unfortunately, this happened," he added. "This is something I would never want, especially on my block or in my neighborhood.”
About 10 hours earlier on the South Side, two 19-year-old women were shot to death as they sat in a parked car in the 8700 block of South Essex Avenue, police said.
One of the women was hit in the back and right hand, and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. The other woman was taken to the same hospital with a wound to her head and pronounced dead, police said.
They were identified as Tajanay A. Samuels of the 8700 block of South Essex Avenue and Antwainisha Bratcher of the 7200 block of South Troy Street, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
No one was reported in custody.
Earlier Thursday, a 16-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in the 3700 block of West Irving Park Road. Police say someone grabbed a knife out of a backpack and attacked the boy.
No arrests have been made, police said.


chicagotribune--2020-05-29--Many Illinois stores are reopening Friday as phase 3 begins. Here’s the latest on where you can shop

Many Illinois stores are reopening Friday as phase 3 begins. Here’s the latest on where you can shop and what to expect.

Certain stores may attract enough shoppers to hit their capacity limit and require a line outside the store , but @ @ @ @ @ stay home , said Gabriella Santaniello , president and founder of A Line Partners , @ @ @ @ @ research firm has seen in places like Texas and Florida .
Some shoppers are likely @ @ @ @ @ others may wait for more stores to reopen .

Fleet Feet's salesperson Kirk Cherep, left, pushes a pair of shoes to Tonya and Solomon Animashaun, of Homewood, inside the Schererville, Indiana, store on May 13, 2020. Customers are allowed inside the store by appointment only. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Illinois retailers outside of Chicago that have been closed since mid-March are preparing to let customers back in stores starting Friday.
That doesn’t include stores in Chicago, which will be able to reopen June 3. But the coronavirus pandemic means it won’t be business as usual. Here’s what to expect:
Advertisement
What will open right away?
Advertisement
Just because stores can reopen doesn’t mean all will be ready to open their doors Friday. It’s worth checking before making a trip, and even those that are open may start with limited hours.
Crate and Barrel store manager Nick Craynon places a bag in the trunk of a customer as curbside pickup takes place at the North Avenue location on May 5, 2020. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Kohl’s opens Illinois stores outside the city Friday. Goodwill opens its Chicago-area stores Friday and those in the city June 3. Several suburban locations of Dick’s Sporting Goods also open Friday.
Crate and Barrel will reopen all six Illinois stores outside the city on Saturday. The Chicago store, in the Ranch Triangle neighborhood, currently offers curbside pickup.
Some retailers are starting with limited hours, including Anderson’s Bookshop’s stores in Naperville, Downers Grove and La Grange, and Notice, which sells apparel and gifts in Evanston and Barrington.
On Notice’s first day, Saturday, the only employees in stores will be the owner and her daughter, Becky Jackson. “We figured we’d take the first day ourselves and see what it entails with the new rules,” she said. “It just felt right.”
Advertisement
Several major chains that have opened stores in other states have not announced plans for Illinois yet, including Barnes and Noble, Nordstrom, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, J.C. Penney, Macy’s, Apple, Ulta, American Eagle and Aerie.
What about malls?
Malls can reopen with the same capacity limits as retail stores. Seating at indoor food courts will be off limits, though restaurants can open for carryout or delivery. Some stores within malls may still be closed.
Oakbrook Center, Northbrook Court, Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee and Market Place Shopping Center in Champaign will open Friday. All four malls will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The reduced hours will allow for additional deep cleaning, said Brookfield Properties spokeswoman Lindsay Kahn.
Hand sanitizer and masks will be available to shoppers and mall security has been told to help enforce social distancing policies if needed. Curbside pickup will be available at Oakbrook Center, Northbrook Court and Market Place. Brookfield has not set an opening date for Water Tower Place in Chicago.
Advertisement
Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills and Fox Valley Mall in Aurora will reopen June 1. Jeff Rutzen, Hawthorn Mall’s general manager, encouraged customers to check with individual stores or visit the mall’s website, which will update stores’ status daily.
Both malls, which are managed by Centennial Real Estate Management Company, initially will limit hours to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday to allow more time for cleaning.
[ More businesses are opening up in Illinois Friday: Tell us about your plans ]
"Mall ambassadors” at entrances and other busy areas will provide face coverings and hand sanitizer if shoppers request them and answer any questions about new policies in place around sanitation and social distancing. Some stores and restaurants will continue offering curbside pickup.
Yorktown Center in Lombard reopens Saturday with reduced hours, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It has designated 11 a.m. to noon Mondays and Wednesdays as “golden hour,” the recommended shopping hour for seniors, pregnant women and other vulnerable shoppers.
The mall has installed more than 20 hand sanitizer stations, will provide free face coverings on request and continue offering curbside pickup once stores reopen to customers.
Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie will open June 3 with modified hours, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The mall will monitor the number of shoppers in certain areas and customers can text or webchat for updates on store openings or other questions.
Advertisement
Old Orchard is working with certain retailers to coordinate curbside pickup, setting up designated parking zones where customers can have purchases delivered to their cars.
Other local malls have not announced reopening plans.
What about car dealerships?
Car dealerships have remained open during the pandemic, but sales required an appointment. CarMax will open Illinois stores to walk-in customers Friday, said chief marketing officer Jim Lyski.
Like other stores, it will have capacity limits and customers can still make an appointment if they choose. CarMax will keep offering curbside pickup, which lets customers test drive and purchase a vehicle without having to enter a store.
Employees are trained to stay six feet away and customers will test drive vehicles on their own, he said. CarMax said it disinfects frequently touched parts of the vehicle like the door handles, steering wheel, gear shift, seat belts and instrument panel before and after each test.
Advertisement
Are masks required?
Illinois requires people to wear masks or face coverings in places where social distancing is challenging, like retail stores. Several retailers said they encourage masks even where local regulations say shoppers don’t need them.
Others, including Apple, American Eagle Outfitters and Fleet Feet, said they require customers to cover their faces and will provide free masks if shoppers don’t bring their own. Apple also checks customers’ temperatures at the door.
Will stores be crowded?
Illinois’ guidelines say retailers can operate at half their maximum capacity, or five customers per 1,000 square feet. In Chicago, stores considered nonessential will be limited to 25% of their capacity.
Certain stores may attract enough shoppers to hit their capacity limit and require a line outside the store, but many shoppers will choose to stay home, said Gabriella Santaniello, president and founder of A Line Partners, based on what the retail research firm has seen in places like Texas and Florida. Some shoppers are likely still being cautious, while others may wait for more stores to reopen.
Advertisement
“It’s strange to be in a mall where only 10% of the stores are open,” she said.
At an outdoor mall in Texas, only one store, Athleta, hit its capacity limit and had a line to enter, according to a report from consulting firm WSL Strategic Retail.
Dan Michael, vice president of retail for Goodwill in Southeast Wisconsin and Chicago, said lines have formed at stores that are already open in Wisconsin, particularly for people trying to drop off donations.
American Eagle Outfitters, parent company of American Eagle and Aerie stores, has an app where customers who don’t want to stand in line can sign up to get a notification when it’s their turn to go inside.
Jo Walsh, left, talks to Best Buy employee Esme Gutierrez about her options for a new phone on May 15, 2020. Customers can now schedule an appointment to shop inside the Best Buy store on North Elston Avenue in Chicago. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
Some stores are offering or require appointments for shopping, including running retailer Fleet Feet, which is reopening three suburban stores Friday. Neiman Marcus has required appointments at stores that have reopened in other states.
Advertisement
In Highland Park, Pam Hillman said her stores, including Beanstalk Toys, home goods store Harper and Ash and multiple apparel shops, will reserve every Monday for appointments. Stores will be open to walk-in shoppers the rest of the week.
“We feel there are going to be people who want to shop but have not embraced coming into the store yet,” she said.
Are fitting rooms open?
Advertisement
Illinois’ guidelines say retailers should disinfect surfaces like benches, door handles and hooks between each use or keep fitting rooms closed. The state also advised against letting customers try on bathing suits and undergarments.
In states where stores have reopened, policies vary by retailer. TJ Maxx, Gap, Kohl’s and J.C. Penney aren’t letting shoppers try items on. Gap is also keeping store restrooms closed too.
Others, including Macy’s, Express, Lululemon and Goodwill said some fitting rooms are available.
At Fleet Feet, fitting rooms and restrooms are closed and customers are being told not to touch merchandise on shelves and walls.
Advertisement
If shoppers can’t try items on, many retailers have extended return policies.
Will everything be on sale?
Many stores still have merchandise left on shelves from when they closed in March. Bazar will open with sales to clear out spring apparel and make room for summer merchandise, said Doug Zylstra, owner of Bazar, an apparel store in Chicago’s Roscoe Village neighborhood. He plans to reopen as soon as the city of Chicago allows.
Still, while stores in other states appear to be offering more discounts than at the same time last year, customers shouldn’t expect a “crazy fire sale,” said Santaniello. Chains may be waiting until more locations open so customers will see consistent prices, she said.
Will stores take cash?
It depends on the store. Anthropologie is not accepting payment by cash or check except where laws prohibit stores from going cashless. Lululemon and Fleet Feet said they will not take cash either. Dick’s Sporting Goods is encouraging shoppers to avoid cash but designates a specific register at each store for cash transactions.
Advertisement
What about other in-store services?
Macy’s and Lululemon have said reopened stores will not offer alterations. At Macy’s and Aerie, customers won’t be able to get one-on-one bra fittings.
Beauty services are being pared back too. Salons in J.C. Penney stores haven’t reopened even where local regulations would allow it. Ulta is offering hair services at some stores that have reopened in other states but not skincare or makeup, and customers aren’t allowed to touch cosmetics normally left open for testing. Ulta, which offers curbside pickup, is working to reopen Illinois stores but hasn’t set a date, the retailer said.
At Macy’s, the only way to test cosmetics before buying is to ask an employee to apply the product to a piece of paper with an illustration of a woman’s face.
Advertisement
What happened to curbside pickup?
Advertisement
Many retailers continue to offer curbside service as stores reopen.
lzumbach@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-29--More than 1,400 Chicago-area restaurants open for delivery, takeout or curbside pickup. View the map

More than 1,400 Chicago-area restaurants open for delivery, takeout or curbside pickup. View the map or search by name, city, ZIP code or kind of food.

Hundreds of Chicago restaurants have pivoted their operations to delivery , takeout or curbside pickup after Gov .
J.B. Pritzker @ @ @ @ @ restaurants in Illinois are closed for dining-in service through April 30 .
Here ’ s @ @ @ @ @ means someone will bring food to you .
Pickup means you have to go get @ @ @ @ @ two kinds of pickup : curbside means someone will meet you on the street with @ @ @ @ @ and takeout means you have to walk into the restaurant yourself to get the food @ @ @ @ @ running list of Chicago-area restaurants that are offering delivery , takeout or curbside pickup , @ @ @ @ @ are searchable and can also be viewed on a map .

At the restaurant Virtue in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, Danielle Swan brings a take away order to a customer waiting curbside on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. The restaurant started a takeout service after the city's sit-down restaurants were ordered closed due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Hundreds of Chicago restaurants have pivoted their operations to delivery, takeout or curbside pickup after Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that all bars and restaurants in Illinois are closed for dining-in service through April 30. Here’s what to expect: Delivery means someone will bring food to you. Pickup means you have to go get it yourself. There are two kinds of pickup: curbside means someone will meet you on the street with your order at the restaurant and takeout means you have to walk into the restaurant yourself to get the food. The following is a running list of Chicago-area restaurants that are offering delivery, takeout or curbside pickup, arranged alphabetically. The listings are searchable and can also be viewed on a map.
All information — including each restaurant’s hours and ordering options — is provided by the restaurants and is subject to change. We will continue to update it, but check with an establishment before ordering for the latest details.
Don’t see the list? Click here.
Is your restaurant open? Click here and tell us about it.
gwong@chicagotribune.com
adlukach@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-29--Alderman seeks assurances Home Depot won’t discriminate against immigrants after sign was posted at

Alderman seeks assurances Home Depot won’t discriminate against immigrants after sign was posted at a Chicago store asking for US ID cards for returns

In addition to a variety of domestic forms of identification , Home Depot accepts all foreign passports as ID , @ @ @ @ @ issued by the government of Mexico .
“ This has been our policy for several @ @ @ @ @ Cornell said .

A Northwest Side alderman is seeking assurances from Home Depot that the hardware giant isn’t discriminating against immigrants after a sign was posted in a store near his ward saying people returning products would need to show U.S. ID cards.
The sign in the Brickyard Home Depot store in the Montclare neighborhood read “When returning items, please have a valid United States ID ready only, foreign identification is no longer accepted. Thank you for your patronage!”
Advertisement
Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th, said by the time he learned about the sign Thursday, it had been taken down. But he wants to make sure this isn’t part of companywide guidelines.
Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons.
Advertisement
“It’s like they’re saying ‘We’re open for business, but only for some,’ ” Villegas said. “And it’s crazy, because there’s a huge immigrant population in the area around that store, as there is all over Chicago.”
Home Depot spokeswoman Christina Cornell said the sign does not reflect the company’s policy. “When we saw this, frankly, we were shocked,” Cornell said. “This is not our policy or our values.”
In addition to a variety of domestic forms of identification, Home Depot accepts all foreign passports as ID, as well as consular identification issued by the government of Mexico. “This has been our policy for several years at least,” Cornell said.
Home Depot officials are addressing the situation with the Chicago store, Cornell said.
A man who answered the phone at the Brickyard store Friday morning when a reporter asked to speak to the manager declined to comment about the situation, referring questions to the Home Depot corporate office.
Villegas said he’s sensitive about the situation.
“I just want to make sure nothing like this ever happens again,” Villegas said.
jebyrne@chicagotribune.com
Advertisement
Twitter @_johnbyrne