chicagotribune--2020-06-24--Column: As Illinois moves to phase 4 of coronavirus reopening, don’t think for a minute we’ve got CO

Column: As Illinois moves to phase 4 of coronavirus reopening, don’t think for a minute we’ve got COVID-19 beat

But he wishes all cities and states were focused less on reopening and more on driving the virus into the @ @ @ @ @ own experience , you really should be squashing this thing , because it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ do that .
Vietnam , Taiwan — there are so many places that have shown @ @ @ @ @ .
And then , once you really show you ’ ve got it , you @ @ @ @ @ can keep it down , and then people actually can relax and you can reopen @ @

Shoppers wear masks and walk in a directional row past Lyon's Fruit Farm and Greenhouse on the first day of the farmers market held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago on June 23, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Call me a worrier, but I’ve never understood the aggressive push to “reopen” America in the absence of a COVID-19 vaccine, a reliable treatment and a universal commitment to mask-wearing and social distancing.
Whether here in Illinois, where political leaders have at least tried to follow the science behind the disease, or in states where “science” is a four-letter word, talk of reopening has always prevailed over talk of actually knocking out the coronavirus.
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It seemed a recipe for failure, a plan likely to put us in an open-close-open-close cycle that exacerbates both loss of life and economic pain.
But here we are. Illinois is on the brink of entering phase four of its reopening. That means, among other things: gatherings of up to 50 people will be allowed; restaurants can resume indoor seating, with limited capacity; and movie theaters, gyms and shops can open, again with limited capacity.
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It’s as open as the state will get, at least according to its five-phase plan, until there’s a coronavirus vaccine or treatment. But are we really ready?
On Tuesday, state officials announced 601 new cases of COVID-19 and 38 more deaths. We’ve already lost more than 6,700 people to the virus.
Like Illinois, California has taken the coronavirus seriously. But since loosening many of its restrictions, the state is seeing cases rise sharply, with a record 5,000 new infections reported Monday.
In the last two weeks, Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma and Oregon have seen major spikes in new cases, attributable either to relaxed guidelines or guidelines that weren’t tight in the first place.
On Tuesday, The New York Times reported that Americans might not be allowed to travel to countries in the European Union due to the surge of COVID-19 cases in the United States.
Dr. Erik Toner, of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told NBC News “we will see a rise in coronavirus cases” as restrictions are eased.
“The question is how high will they rise,” he said.
To address my worries, I called my favorite epidemiologist (everyone should have one!), Gary Slutkin. He was an infectious disease control specialist formerly with the World Health Organization and now heads the global anti-violence group Cure Violence, based in Chicago.
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Slutkin worked on a tuberculosis outbreak in San Francisco and the AIDS crisis in Africa before turning his attention to the diseaselike spread of violence in Chicago and around the world. His words carry considerably more authority than, say, “something about the coronavirus I read on Facebook” or “something I heard on Fox News about masks turning you into a liberal.”
Slutkin praised the work of Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot: “I think the governor and the mayor are doing a very, very good job under a lot of pressure.”
But he wishes all cities and states were focused less on reopening and more on driving the virus into the dirt: “From my own experience, you really should be squashing this thing, because it’s been shown that you can do that. Vietnam, Taiwan — there are so many places that have shown that it can be done. And then, once you really show you’ve got it, you need to show that you can keep it down, and then people actually can relax and you can reopen.”
The way we’ve done things in America leaves people “in denial or still afraid.”
The key, he said, is behavior change. That means everyone wearing masks religiously and sticking to social distancing guidelines:
“Behavior change is all we’ve had for many epidemics, whether it was AIDS or Ebola or cholera or SARS. We didn’t have drugs or vaccines, so it was all about behavior change. We weren’t trying to just have a certain number of cases every day and then everything would be fine. We wanted to get rid of it. And it’s doable. We know because we’ve done it, it’s just human behavior.”
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The “human” part of that phrase is tricky, particularly in this country. American humans don’t care much for being told how to behave. And so we get a highly contagious virus that demands collective behavior change and wind up with more than 120,000 deaths, a disjointed mess of a response and the utterly bonkers idea that masks are a political statement.
“If there was really strong mask-wearing across the whole country for a month, along with distancing, we would drop this so far,” Slutkin said. “Not wearing a mask right now in this situation is basically walking around with a statement that says, ‘I don’t care about you or anyone, all I care about is myself, period.’ That’s what the no-mask face says.
“It’s really sad. Other countries, the people don’t think that way. You can’t walk around making a statement like that. In Greece, they said, ‘We all need to wear masks for each other,’ and they did it. The Czech Republic did it as well. These are places where people care about each other and they decided to do it.”
There’s no stopping the reopening underway here in Illinois or any other state. Americans swiftly made clear they have neither the patience nor the sense to make the pandemic a priority over their preferred ways of life.
So the behavior changes Slutkin describes are the only hope moving forward. This country is opening. If you don’t want it closing right back up, wear masks. Maintain safe distances. Don’t think you’ll stop the virus by force of will.
As Slutkin told me: “If you’re not afraid of this virus, you’re not paying attention.”
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rhuppke@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-06-24--CPD seeks to fire 3 cops for uses of force caught on video, alleged false statements

Surveillance video showed Gause leading Gartley into a room and shoving him into a wall and then punching him in @ @ @ @ @ , the ruling states .
Gause said he shoved Gartley into the wall to stun @ @ @ @ @ be removed and medical staff could sedate him , but disciplinary investigators concluded that the @ @ @ @ @ reasonable in the face of limited resistance from the handcuffed man , according to the @ @

The Chicago Police Department is seeking to fire a cop accused of lying about the videotaped beating of a patient at a South Side hospital in 2014, records show.
Disciplinary investigators alleged that Officer Clauzell Gause needlessly punched the handcuffed man and then gave inaccurate information in official reports and statements. Gause had been charged with official misconduct, but Cook County prosecutors dropped those charges, saying the alleged victim would not cooperate.
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In addition to the Gause case, city lawyers are trying to fire officers Laura Kuhlmann and Carol Weingart over investigators’ conclusion that video footage shows they lied about the reason Kuhlmann shot at a car in the Lakeview neighborhood in 2015. Investigators accused Kuhlmann of firing unnecessarily — without hitting anyone — and both officers of giving false accounts indicating that Weingart was in danger of being hit by the car.
City lawyers filed charges seeking to fire Gause in May and the other two officers this month, but the moves attracted little public notice. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability announced the efforts to fire the officers in a news release late Tuesday.
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The announcements came as Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration is under pressure to make changes to policing amid protests over police brutality sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.
Chicago police Officer Clauzell Gause was charged with official misconduct May 17, 2016. Video released by the Independent Police Review Authority shows Gause shoving and striking a detainee at a South Side hospital on June 3, 2014. Warning: Video contains graphic content (Handout)
The city’s effort to fire Gause stems from a June 2014 altercation with Rayshon Gartley, a handcuffed patient who was having a “mental health episode” at Jackson Park Hospital, according to COPA’s ruling. Police reported Gartley had punched and tried to kick and head-butt officers.
Surveillance video showed Gause leading Gartley into a room and shoving him into a wall and then punching him in the face and the body, the ruling states. Gause said he shoved Gartley into the wall to stun him so his handcuffs could be removed and medical staff could sedate him, but disciplinary investigators concluded that the use of force was not reasonable in the face of limited resistance from the handcuffed man, according to the ruling.
The video does not capture the precise moment Gause’s fist allegedly hit Gartley’s face, and the officer denied he made contact, the ruling states. Disciplinary investigators, however, wrote that Gartley’s head snapped to the side, indicating that the punch connected.
The ruling accuses Gause of lying to disciplinary investigators about the punch and exaggerating Gartley’s resistance. City attorneys are seeking to fire Gause both over the use of force and the alleged false statements.
COPA also found an unidentified officer with Gause had failed to intervene and recommended he be suspended for 45 days. The agency did not indicate whether that discipline has been carried out.
Gartley sued the city and settled the case for $175,000 in 2018. Gause, an officer since 2004, declined to comment, and an attorney who has represented him could not be reached for comment.
The other case unfolded in December 2015 as officers responded to reports of a man pointing a gun and approached a car in the 3000 block of North Clybourn Avenue, records show. The officers reported that the driver didn’t heed commands and drove off as Kuhlmann fired two shots.
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Both Kuhlmann and Weingart made statements indicating Weingart was in danger of being hit by the car, but surveillance video showed she was near her own squad car when Kuhlmann fired, COPA’s ruling found. Both cops said they believed their accounts were accurate when they made them, the ruling states.
The city’s lawyers are seeking Kuhlmann’s firing for violating the department use of force rules and for her statements. The city is seeking to fire Weingart for her statements.
Neither officer could be reached for comment.


chicagotribune--2020-06-24--Should you travel this summer? Here’s a guide to flying, road trips and other vacation concerns amid

Should you travel this summer? Here’s a guide to flying, road trips and other vacation concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“ I strongly recommend bringing one of these plastic face shields that covers your mask .
It will help protect your face , your eyes and mask from becoming contaminated .
They are really comfortable .
The first time you put one on , you ’ re like , ‘ This is ridiculous , ’ but you can see your whole face through it .
You can wear your mask underneath it .
In fact , we ’ re recommending them for little kids at school , when schools go back , that they might be a better form of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep their masks on .
They are available on Amazon .
You could even make one yourself .
I would bring one with me .
I wouldn ’ t , necessarily , wear it the whole time .
I would definitely have it with me so I could add a layer of safety .
If I feel like I can ’ t keep my distance from people and other people aren ’ t wearing masks , then that would be the time I would want to put on a face shield .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re around people who aren ’ t wearing masks .
I think you need to have something that will help you add a layer of protection if someone else isn ’ t doing their part .
That , for me , would be a face shield .
”

To some, the idea of taking a summer vacation amid the COVID-19 pandemic is out of the question. With COVID-19 cases reported in all 50 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people stay home to protect themselves and others from getting sick.
“COVID-19 remains an ongoing pandemic with sustained community transition — even if you are traveling to a place with fewer cases,” said Dr. Benjamin Singer, assistant professor of medicine (pulmonary and critical care) and biochemistry and molecular genetics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
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To others, a carefully distanced excursion to the woods or a secluded beach is in the works after months of staying close to home.
“There will be lots of people who take trips, come home and everything is fine. But there are going to be other people who take trips and end up sick who wouldn’t have otherwise gotten sick if they’d stayed home,” said Dr. Emily Landon, associate professor of medicine, infectious diseases expert and epidemiologist at University of Chicago Medicine. “It’s really up to you, about what you want to spend your personal risk on.”
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For those planning a trip away from home this summer, the Tribune asked medical experts what precautions and items to take on every step of a journey by airplane, car or train. What follows are their answers, along with guidance from the CDC, Transportation Security Administration, and other state and federal agencies.
Whatever your plans, don’t lose sight of this opportunity to enjoy quality time with those you’ve been hunkering down with since March. “2020 may not be the summer we thought we would have, but find time to read, explore and find the joy around you — and savor what you can,” said Dr. Amy Bohnert, associate professor of clinical and developmental psychology at Loyola University Chicago, “That is a gift we can give our kids that will last a lifetime.”
Before you go
First off, is travel safe?
CDC: Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. We don’t know if one type of travel is safer than others; however, airports, bus stations, train stations and rest stops are all places travelers can be exposed to the virus in the air and on surfaces.
What factors should go into picking a destination?
CDC: The following should be considered when thinking about planning a trip away from home:
• Is COVID-19 spreading in your community? Even if you don’t have symptoms, you can spread COVID-19 to others while traveling.
• Is COVID-19 spreading at your destination? You can get infected while traveling. You can also spread the coronavirus — without symptoms — to loved ones when you return.
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• Would you have to quarantine for 14 days after arriving at your destination? Check the state and local requirements. Gov. Pritzker said he is not considering asking visitors to Illinois from states with spiking coronavirus infection rates to quarantine upon arrival.
How can my family discuss the destination?
Bohnert: “I think it is always good to start by brainstorming a list of places that people in the family would be excited to visit regardless of whether it is realistic or not. Some of these may be off the table due to travel restrictions, time involved to travel or cost. Some family members may be reluctant to travel to certain places because it would involve a long car trip, and others may be hesitant to fly. Some locations are asking out-of-state visitors to quarantine upon arrival, which may be tough to pull off with limited vacation time. Having an honest discussion with family members about what might be possible (or not possible) to do when you are visiting and who feels comfortable with what is important.”
Are there any groups of people for whom you would not recommend travel for this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic?
Singer: “Higher-risk groups, including older adults and people with chronic health conditions.”
Is one form of travel safer or limits exposure to COVID-19 better than others?
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Singer: “Staying at home is the safest option, but travel options that allow you to stay socially distant would be considered the safest.”
Dr. Erica Hartmann, assistant professor of environmental engineering at Northwestern University: “I personally would opt for modes of transportation that are less densely crowded and allow for lots of ventilation.”
(Jemal R. Brinson)
Taking a road trip
What is the general guidance?
CDC: Making stops along the way for gas, food or bathroom breaks can put you and your traveling companions in close contact with other people and surfaces. You may have to stop less often, but RV travel typically means staying at RV parks overnight and getting gas and supplies at other public places. These stops may put you and those with you in the RV in close contact with others. One approach for eating is to pick up food at drive-thrus or curbside restaurant service.
Tom and Mona Mesereau sit in the sun outside their Winnebago in Evergreen, Colorado, on May 30, 2020. Recreational vehicles were gaining in popularity before the coronavirus pandemic, but now, with travel restrictions loosening, a surge of travelers is drawn to the relative solitude that RVs offer. (Benjamin Rasmussen/The New York Times)
I’m planning to hit the road this summer with my family. Should I pack my own cleaning supplies for the trip? If so, what items should be in my kit?
Hartmann: “I would focus more on having things like masks and hand sanitizer than cleaning supplies.”
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My beloved disinfecting wipes have been sold out for months. What’s a good substitute?
Hartmann: “Alcohol or bleach (for surfaces where it’s safe to use bleach) and a clean cloth work just fine. Make sure to use them according to instructions. Alcohol is probably easiest when traveling.”
What are your thoughts about wearing disposable gloves when I’m away from home? Are they necessary?
Hartmann: “The research that I have seen on this topic indicates that it’s not such a good idea to wear gloves. Focus more on hand hygiene: Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available.”
A man wearing disposal gloves folds his hands as he rests in central London, on May 26, 2020, during hot weather following the gradual easing of the COVID-19 lockdown, allowing more outdoor recreation and letting some shops and businesses reopen. (Frank Augstein/AP)
I’m renting a vehicle for the trip. What precautions should I take to keep it disinfected from pickup to drop-off?
Hartmann: “I wouldn’t worry about keeping it disinfected unless you’re sharing with someone outside of your trusted circle. If you’re really concerned when you first pick it up, consider disinfecting high-touch surfaces like the keys or steering wheel.”
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How do I keep the inside of my vehicle sanitized during my drive?
Hartmann: “You don’t have to keep the inside of the vehicle sanitized unless you’re sharing the vehicle with someone who is COVID-19-positive (and really that person shouldn’t be traveling except to receive medical care).”
It’s inevitable — I’ll need to stop and use the restroom during my trip. Is there any way to prevent germs from following me back to my car?
Hartmann: “Wash your hands. Which really, you should be doing regardless of COVID-19.
“Perhaps not directly related to your question, but remember to practice social distancing in the restroom if there are multiple people in the restroom. And maybe you shouldn’t talk while you’re in there.”
Any other tips for dealing with things that could potentially make me sick over the course of a driving vacation?
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Hartmann: “Remember to get plenty of rest and stay hydrated! Drive safe.”
What about rest areas and Illinois Tollway oases?
All of the rest areas are open, said Guy Tridgell, director of communications for the Illinois Department of Transportation: “That’s consistently been the case. From time to time, rest areas do need to close for maintenance or construction issues, but the parking lots and outdoor facilities remain open and accessible.
Tridgell said the public is urged to follow the social distancing and other safety guidelines that are emphasized by public health officials.
The Illinois Tollway oases are open as well, according to Dan Rozek, communications manager, and following the same guidelines as all Illinois businesses.
(Jemal R. Brinson)
Going by air?
What is the general guidance?
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CDC: Air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes. Social distancing, however, is difficult on crowded flights, and you may have to sit near others (within 6 feet), sometimes for hours. This may increase your risk for exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. Wear a nonmedical, fabric face covering during the flight.
Passengers walk through the United terminal June 18, 2020, at O'Hare International Airport. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
At the airport
A trip to the airport is in my future and I’m worried about potential COVID-19 exposure. How can I protect myself in the terminal?
Landon: “My mom’s 75 years old. She’s been stuck in Florida much longer than usual because of the pandemic, but it’s time to come home. She’s traveling in a week and a half. We’ve had a lot of discussions about what to do. Here’s what I would do if I was going to fly right now, and this is what I advised my mom to do, as well.
“When you get in the security line, then try to keep distance from the people around you. Make sure you are wearing your mask, if you can, then manipulate the situation so you’re in line with other people wearing their masks. If the person in line in front of you doesn’t have a mask on, then let other people go ahead. Security will touch your stuff. Don’t freak out about it. Hopefully, they will be wearing masks, too, because that’s required and recommended. When you get your stuff back from security — what you should do every single time — is wash your hands. If you don’t have time to stop and wash your hands in the bathroom, then use your hand sanitizer.
“After security, get some space and keep some space between yourself and other people before you have to board your flight. You don’t want to be stuck sitting close to other people. Maybe that means finding an empty gate or one that doesn’t have a flight going out right now where you can sit at instead. There’s no rule that says you have to sit at your crowded gate before your flight. When it’s time to line up to board the flight, try to keep some space. Just remember the CDC doesn’t count an exposure unless you’re within 6 feet of someone for 15 minutes or more. Just wait to get up and only get in line when it’s your turn. The person standing behind you is going to do what they want to do, and there’s not much you can do about it.”
Passengers line up and board by row for a flight to San Francisco on June 18, 2020, at O'Hare International Airport. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
On the plane
Is there a kit of items I should bring to keep myself and surroundings clean while aboard the plane?
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Landon: “I would pack disinfecting wipes in my carry-on. If I couldn’t find disinfecting wipes then I would probably take some paper towels, saturate them with whatever disinfectant I use to clean my house and put those in a plastic bag and bring them with me. That would be my plan to get through the flight. If I can’t get it, then I’ll just make my own.”
Hartmann: “Like hotels, I think airlines are taking cleaning very seriously. I suspect the biggest risk has more to do with ventilation and proximity to other passengers than, say, cleaning the tray table. But we need more research on the exact mechanisms of transmission to be sure.”
The disinfecting procedure of United planes is shown June 18, 2020, at O'Hare International Airport. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
I know I will need a face covering. What type would you suggest for the flight?
Landon: “You’ll want to bring a really high-quality fabric mask or a medical mask for traveling. You need to make sure your mask is super protective — not just preventive. Fabric masks are great for holding in your own respiratory droplets. But if other people aren’t wearing their masks, then they are not holding in their respiratory droplets. If everyone wears a preventive mask, then, together, everything is safer all around. But if you can’t count on other people to do that, then you need to have a really good fabric mask like the World Health Organization recommends. Probably two or three layers with a high thread-count cotton and/or silk inside of it or a filter pocket inside of it. One that fits you well. That’s what I would wear. I find fabric masks to be a lot more comfortable than medical masks.
“I would try not to take off my mask during the flight — you may need to in order to have a drink of water on a 4½-hour flight. But on a short flight, you could probably get away with drinking before you board and then drinking again when you get off the plane.”
What should I do when I arrive at my seat?
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Landon: “I would wipe down the armrest and the tray table. If I’m in the window seat, then I would wipe that down, too, because that’s what people often lean against and put their hands on. Then I would sit in my seat, wash my hands again with hand sanitizer and sit tight. Leave your mask on for the flight.
“You’re really only at risk from the people within a couple of seats of you in any direction. So, two seats behind you, two seats diagonally, two seats in front of you. That’s what you’re really worried about.
“If someone is coughing in the back of the plane, then don’t freak out. People passing you in the aisle, don’t freak out. Theoretically, the window seat is the safest.”
Alicia Smith cleans her surroundings on an American Airlines flight to Washington from Detroit on March 3, 2020.
I see people sitting near me who have taken off their mask during the flight. What should I do?
Landon: “When we think about how to protect people out in the world from COVID-19, I like to describe it as a layered or stacked approach. We stack up interventions. None is meant to be perfect on its own. You can rely on cleaning your hands, wiping down your seat, keeping your distance from other people — these are all ways to reduce your risk when traveling. But some of them aren’t as easy to do when traveling, like protecting your eyes. So, if other people are coughing or sneezing or have respiratory droplets that are contagious, then that can get in through your eyes. A mask doesn’t protect them. And your regular glasses aren’t great protection either.
If you find yourself stuck on an airplane with someone two rows behind you or one seat behind you coughing — or, say, the guy next to you doesn’t look all that well — you want to be able to add an extra layer of protection. — Dr. Emily Landon, University of Chicago Medicine
“I strongly recommend bringing one of these plastic face shields that covers your mask. It will help protect your face, your eyes and mask from becoming contaminated. They are really comfortable. The first time you put one on, you’re like, ‘This is ridiculous,’ but you can see your whole face through it. You can wear your mask underneath it. In fact, we’re recommending them for little kids at school, when schools go back, that they might be a better form of protection than trying to get them to keep their masks on. They are available on Amazon. You could even make one yourself. I would bring one with me. I wouldn’t, necessarily, wear it the whole time. I would definitely have it with me so I could add a layer of safety. If I feel like I can’t keep my distance from people and other people aren’t wearing masks, then that would be the time I would want to put on a face shield. The real time to need them is when you’re around people who aren’t wearing masks. I think you need to have something that will help you add a layer of protection if someone else isn’t doing their part. That, for me, would be a face shield.”
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Masked passengers fill a Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank, California, to Las Vegas on June 3, 2020, with middle seats left open. (Christopher Reynolds/Los Angeles Times)
I’m stuck sitting in a row next to someone I don’t know. Does this increase my exposure to the coronavirus? What can I do to try to keep a little bit of distance between us?
Hartmann: “It only increases your exposure if that person has COVID-19. That said, since we seem to be doing such a poor job of testing and tracing in general, it’s probably not a bad idea to try to maintain a little more distance (like moving seats so you’re not sitting next to anyone, if possible).”
Would you feel comfortable using the restroom on board the airplane in light of COVID-19?
Hartmann: “Personally, yes.”
Landon: “If you’re on a short flight and don’t have to use the bathroom, then don’t use the bathroom. There are a lot of pathogens in our GI tract, and modern bathrooms are designed to make transition of those pathogens less likely. They’re easily cleanable, they have hard surfaces, they’re usually pretty clean. A bathroom on an airplane is not the best bathroom in the world, right? So, don’t use it unless you have to. If you have to use it, then make sure to wash your hands, then follow with hand sanitizer when returning to your seat. Remember, this is a short exposure. Keep your mask on — I know it seems weird — but you don’t have to take your mask off to pee. Just leave your mask on and spend a short period of time in the bathroom.”
Should I take one long flight or several shorter ones to arrive at my destination? Does it make a difference in terms of possible exposure to coronavirus?
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Landon: “I don’t think anyone really knows what the risk is if flying into another airport then switching flights. If you’re flying into a city that has a lot of cases, then that might not be the best idea. But, then again, maybe people won’t be traveling there, so the flights could be less full. I really think you are going to be lowering your risk by traveling on a flight with fewer people on it — there’s less crowding at the gate, less crowding on the plane. That’s where you’re really going to be able to minimize your risk, if possible. I always feel better about flying a direct flight as opposed to multiple legs, but that’s not a science answer — that’s just a me answer.”
Upon arrival
When I arrive at my destination, do I need to clean my carry-on and checked bags? Is there anything else I should clean or pay attention to upon landing?
Hartmann: “If you’re going to be handling the bags extensively, sure. But if you’re going to unpack and put the bags away for a week, I would just suggest washing your hands after you’ve opened them and then leaving them be.”
Landon: “If you do have to check luggage, then I recommend something that can be wiped off and cleaned off easily. So a hard surface would be good, but if you don’t have it, then don’t go out and buy one. But if you have two to choose from, then pick the hard-sided bag.”
A lone piece of luggage circulates in the baggage carousel in the main terminal at Denver International Airport on April 23, 2020. (David Zalubowski/AP)
How can I clean my face mask to use it for my return flight?
Landon: “When it comes to fabric masks, you want to be cleaning them regularly. I would clean mine after being in close contact with other people. Some fabric masks can be cleaned in the laundry, others have to be cleaned by hand, but any of them can be washable with a detergent. I throw mine into a regular load of laundry with warmer water. If I couldn’t, then I would put it in a sink with any kind of soap that’s a detergent. Rub it in, rinse it out and lay it flat to dry. Some can be dried in the dryer along with the laundry. Bring a couple of fabric masks with you and wash them in the sink of your hotel room to keep them fresh. That would absolutely be fine.
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“One reason face shields are so great — they can help prevent the face mask from becoming contaminated. Face shields can be wiped down with disinfectant, the same way you’d wipe down the arms of your seat.”
(Jemal R. Brinson)
Taking a train
What is the general guidance?
CDC: Traveling on trains for any length of time can involve sitting or standing within 6 feet of others, which could make it difficult to follow social distancing guidelines.
An Amtrak officer wears a protective mask while checking passengers boarding a train April 9, 2020, in Santa Ana, California. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
There are so many surfaces I could be in contact with while aboard a train. What tools can I bring with me to keep the ones I come into contact with clean?
Hartmann: “As with cars or planes, the emphasis shouldn’t be on sterilizing the environment around you. Consider how likely someone is to have touched or coughed on a surface immediately before you. Make sure you wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after you touch those surfaces, particularly before touching your face.”
What has Amtrak changed in the pandemic?
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Change fees for reservations made before Aug. 31, 2020, are waived. Cafe service and other services may be suspended on select trains. Customers must call 800-USA-RAIL and speak with an agent to cancel their reservation. Some stations might not be staffed. If a station is closed, then customers should proceed directly to the platform to board their train.
A man wears a mask as he sits in a Metra train at the Glenview Amtrak/Metra station in Glenview on May 13, 2020. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
(Jemal R. Brinson)
Taking a cruise
What is the general guidance?
CDC: Effective since March 14, the CDC has issued a No Sail Order for cruise ships.
Cruise ships are docked March 31, 2020, in Miami. (Wilfredo Lee/AP)
(Jemal R. Brinson)
What about staying at a hotel?
What is the general guidance?
CDC: If staying at a hotel, then check the hotel’s COVID-19 prevention practices before you go. When you are there, limit close contact with others in the lobby or other common areas, take the stairs instead of the elevator and choose contactless options for check-in when possible.
Hotel employee Daniel Mathre helps a guest from behind protective plastic May 28, 2020, at the Ocean Lodge in Cannon Beach, Oregon. (Gillian Flaccus/AP)
I’ve arrived at my destination. Are there any inside surfaces at my lodging I should wipe down as a precaution?
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Hartmann: “If you’re really set on taking matters into your own hands, focus on high-touch surfaces (keys, doorknobs, light switches, maybe remote controls).”
Landon: “If you’re going to a resort — where you will stay, eat, play as your vacation — I think you want to have more intel ahead of time. I probably would not be planning that kind of vacation right now, though, because I would want more flexibility than that. It may be a better time for Airbnb, things like that, because you have a lot more control over the environment. You can wipe off the door handles, all the light switches, all the countertops in the bathrooms and kitchen and feel like you’re in a pretty safe place.”
What should I look for when booking a hotel?
Landon: “The most important thing is to look on the hotel’s website ahead of time and make sure the hotel has a good written policy about COVID-19. You want to see that they require masks to be worn — by staff and guests — in the inside common areas all the time. You want to see that they say something about their disinfection plan in rooms. Not just cleaning them in between guests, but they are disinfecting them using an EPA-registered disinfectant and they’ve trained their staff in how to do so. You want to see that they have a social distancing plan in place and they have policies for use of their common-use areas — like gyms or pools. That means the hotel is taking steps to protect its workers and guests. If the hotel is taking a lot of steps to protect their workers and guests, then it’s less likely there will be sick people wandering around your hotel, which makes it safer.
“It’s important that the hotel has a clear policy, but you want to go a step further. You want to find information on travel websites or talk to someone who’s been there recently. I would want to know what is really happening on the ground.
A lot of places have policies. If you call the front desk ahead of time and they have no idea what the hotel’s policies are, then that’s a bad sign. — Dr. Emily Landon, University of Chicago Medicine
“If you show up, people are not wearing masks, staff is not following policies the website said the hotel would follow, then I would not feel safe. You have a couple of options — you could book a backup hotel or just decide to stay away from the common-use areas and forgo any room cleaning for the time you are there.”
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Emily Mesa Acosta cleans the door handle of a guest cottage June 1, 2020, at the Island Bay Resort in Tavernier, Florida. (Lynne Sladky/AP)
Is it safe for a housekeeper to enter and clean my room during my stay at a hotel? Or, could I be endangering them and myself?
Landon: “If housekeepers are wearing masks in the hallways, you can see disinfectants on their carts, then I would not have any issue with them coming into my room and cleaning my room. Or, you could forgo housekeeping altogether during your stay. Some hotels are offering minimal contact services. They have ways to avoid personal contact.”
Is it safe to use a hotel’s pool?
Landon: “Pools are not inherently bad. Chlorine in pools should kill COVID-19. That’s not a problem, but people don’t wear masks when they are in pools. In general, the recommendation in Illinois is that pools are not open for recreation right now, but could be opened for exercise.
“Look for sun loungers to be spaced apart, signs saying the pool is not allowed to be used for recreation, only for exercise, and a limited number of swimmers can be inside at one time. If you scope it out and it appears you can safely do that, then, sure, go ahead and swim some laps.”
A German tourist takes a sunbath at the Riu Concordia hotel swimming pool in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on June 15, 2020. (Joan Mateu/AP)
What about camping?
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CDC: Going camping at a time when much of the United States is experiencing community spread of COVID-19 can pose a risk to you if you come in close contact with others or share public facilities (like restrooms or picnic areas) at campsites or along the trails.
What if I’m staying with family?
Landon: “Take care of yourself. Be pretty socially distant from people in the week leading up to your trip. If your family is really, really anxious about your visit, then plan to leave a few days early and take a break in a hotel for five days before you stay with family. And get tested, maybe, if everyone is really concerned.”
(Jemal R. Brinson)
Packing
What are some precautions to take for any type of travel?
CDC: Consider the following when leaving your home:
• If taking prescription medicine, then bring enough to last you for the entire trip.
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• Pack hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Bring a cloth face covering to wear in public places.
• Prepare food and water for your trip. Pack nonperishable food in case restaurants and stores are closed.
• Follow state and local travel restrictions. Check state and local health department information at home, along your route and at your destination.
Returning home
What is the general guidance?
CDC: If you have a fever, cough or other symptoms, you might have COVID-19. Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home. If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, contact your health care provider.
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OK, I’ve made it back home after my trip. How can I prevent the entire trip’s germs from ending up inside my living space?
Hartmann: “Again, wash your hands when you return. Consider disinfecting high-touch objects that you may have had with you or objects that other people outside your trusted circle may have handled, if you intend on using them again very soon.”
Landon: “If you come home from a trip, then assume you’ve been exposed (to the new coronavirus). Get tested five to seven days after your last exposure, stay home for a little extra time. If I was going to travel like that this summer, then I would book another week off afterward so that I wasn’t spreading anything that I might have picked up.”
OK, this is hard
My partner wants to travel this summer, but I’m unsure about it. Can you suggest some ways we can have a conversation and try to understand each other?
Bohnert: “Partners should strive to appreciate what their partners would and would not feel comfortable doing. It is also important to understand where those concerns come from. Does a partner have a health condition that makes them more vulnerable? Is a partner worried about losing time away from work and reductions in salary if they are exposed? Is your partner worried about the potential of encountering racism? Are they concerned about whether there would be adequate medical care in the place where they are visiting? If one partner is particularly uneasy with one locale, perhaps another that is more familiar, closer to home or involves less time away could provide a more comfortable escape. The more you can understand what specific things make your partner uneasy about traveling, the easier it will be to come up with some options that may be more palatable if one of the partners feels strongly about the need to get away.”
After months of sheltering at home, I’m now afraid to head out into public and be around other people. What can I do to make a trip away from home seem less stressful?
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Bohnert: “To start, I would encourage people to normalize these stressful feelings. After all, we have been told to avoid people and shelter at home to prevent getting sick. So heading out in public runs counter to the advice we have been heeding over the past three months — how could we not feel nervous about it?
It would be hard not to feel unsettled by the prospect of being in public after all the precautions we have been asked to take. So don’t judge yourself for feeling uncertain. — Dr. Amy Bohnert, Loyola University Chicago
“Next, try and pinpoint exactly what makes you feel uncomfortable. Is it being in closer contact with others? Fears of dining out? If you can figure out what makes you feel uneasy, you may be able to control some aspects of that situation that will make it feel more manageable. As with most things, when we feel anxious or concerned about a situation, we may seek to avoid it so we don’t have to feel anxious. This, of course, reinforces that the situation is something to be feared because when we avoid it, we don’t feel worried. So figuring out what you can control — wearing a mask (properly), washing/sanitizing your hands and finding less crowded outdoor places where you can better manage how close you have to get to others — may make the decision to get out more palatable. All these behaviors will decrease (but not eliminate) the likelihood you get infected if you encounter someone who is contagious.”
Childrens' art in the window of a home in the Bernal Heights section of San Francisco on May 3, 2020. (Cayce Clifford/The New York Times)
How can we have a fun, productive summer as a family if we decide to not take a vacation and choose, instead, to stay home?
Bohnert: “For many people, traveling introduces a lovely element of novelty to our lives. We get to see different scenery, eat different foods and have new experiences. With all the novelty we are currently facing and the uncertainty that lies ahead, the risk incurred by traveling may be more than families are ready for during challenging time. But finding little ways to enjoy the spaces and people around you, even while distancing, is important.
“There are many lovely places to explore in the Chicago area during the summertime that provide a nice respite from our homes. Some are closed but may be reopening in the coming weeks. The botanic gardens and forest preserves are lovely, nature-filled spaces. Some of our renowned Chicago university campuses also have splendid grounds in which to stroll. Springfield is a bit farther away but a great place to explore for history buffs, as is Cantigny in the western suburbs.”
Consider setting some up some new family rituals — bike rides, walks to look for birds, berry picking and picnics can all be nice ways to escape. — Dr. Amy Bohnert, Loyola University Chicago
If I’m staycationing, what are some activities my kids and I can do together to alleviate some stress?
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Bohnert: “Parents should cut themselves some slack this summer. Many have overseen their children’s transition to virtual learning while trying to manage their own workloads. Now with summer and the cancellation of camps, many parents are still trying to work while at the same time balancing their children’s needs. ...
“My best advice is to get outside as much as possible. The sights and sounds of nature are incredibly therapeutic. Find blue (water) and green (grass, trees) near you — and connect with others in a socially distanced way. People watching at a local park can be a lovely way to pass some time on a nice day. You might also remember things that you did as a kid that you found joyful, and seek to re-create those experiences for your kids.”


chicagotribune--2020-06-24--Illinois offers guidelines for schools to reopen classrooms this fall, but questions remain

“ While Governor Pritzker and ISBE have so far been helpful and clear on policies and guidance regarding contending with @ @ @ @ @ and geographic diversity was bound to catch up with the state ’ s ability to @ @ @ @ @ CTU President Jesse Sharkey said in a statement Tuesday .
“ Today ’ s guidance @ @ @ @ @ general and too vague to serve as a useful road map for CPS .
In @ @ @ @ @ going to be required to figure out many of the most critical features of school @ @ @ @ @

Jamie Munks, Rick Pearson, Hannah Leone, Karen Ann Cullotta

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during a news briefing regarding the coronavirus pandemic on May 3, 2020, at the Thompson Center in Chicago. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday released guidance for students to return to the classroom, but his plan left many unanswered questions as parents continue to wonder what school will look like across Illinois this fall.
The state guidance for potentially bringing hundreds of thousands of students back into classrooms for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic abruptly ended the academic year last spring calls for the use of face coverings and suggests social distancing “as much as possible.” It also limits the number of people gathering in one place to under 50, requests increased schoolwide cleaning and disinfection as well as symptom screening and temperature checks for people entering schools.
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But it will up be up to each of the 852 school districts, as well as community colleges and universities, to develop their own reopening plans before in-person instruction resumes, a nod to the tradition of local control of education as well as an attempt to include regional differences involving the spread of the coronavirus.
That means some districts could opt to continue online learning. Chicago Public Schools was noncommittal Tuesday. And the two large groups representing teachers unions said the guidelines don’t address issues such as social distancing in classrooms and halls, daily health monitoring and the need for personal protective equipment.
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While the plans will be local, Illinois education Superintendent Carmen Ayala acknowledged the State Board of Education would not review the individual district rules to ensure they complied with safety guidelines. Instead, Ayala said it would be up to local school administrators and local health officials to work together.
“At this point in time, they will not be reviewed in the agency per se,” Ayala said. “And so, it is the collaboration between the district administrators, the school administrators and their respective county health departments to work together in developing the plan that meets the needs of their respective community.”
Some districts could resume classes in mid-August, and there’s a lot of work to do. Creating individual reopening plans that could mean staggered schedules, meal times, hallway restrictions and mask requirements will be the next challenge for schools, which also will need to stand ready to return to distance learning if there’s a coronavirus resurgence.
Pritzker ordered in-person classroom instruction suspended starting March 17, and teachers and students finished out the 2019-20 school year in a remote learning capacity. The move was among the first of the sweeping statewide restrictions put in place earlier this year, as the state was confronting rapidly spreading COVID-19 infections, forcing educators, parents and students to abruptly shift to remote learning from home.
On Tuesday, Pritzker sought to downplay any lack of state oversight of local district policies.
“Every superintendent, every teacher, every person that works in the school, paraprofessionals, not to mention the students and families, all have the same interest — which is to keep these children and the people who work there safe,” the governor said.
All of the four regions of the state, as defined by the governor’s “Restore Illinois” reopening plan, are poised to move Friday into the next phase, which allows for gatherings of up to 50 people. Indoor dining at restaurants, museums, movie theaters and zoos will also be able to reopen with limited capacity.
Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the head of the Illinois Department of Public Health, on Tuesday said the state has seen declining numbers of newly confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths “week after week for the past five consecutive weeks.” State officials reported 601 new known cases of COVID-19 and 38 additional deaths, raising the statewide totals to 137,825 confirmed cases and 6,707 deaths since the pandemic began.
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When in-person classes resume, Ezike said, a student, staff or teacher who tests positive for COVID-19 would be asked to isolate, and others they were in contact with, mainly those who had spent 15 to 30 minutes of close contact without face coverings, would also have to quarantine for 14 days.
“And then of course there would be extensive disinfecting of the area, of the classroom, of the spaces in which the affected individual would have come in contact with, to make sure that all surfaces and spaces are cleaned and appropriately disinfected,” Ezike said.
In order to limit the number of people in the same space, the state guidance suggests school districts could stagger schedules for arrivals and dismissals, passing periods between classes and meal times, or implement a plan with a blend of in-person and remote learning.
To cut down on the number of people cycling through hallways at the same time, school officials could consider rotating teachers through classrooms rather than students, and having “hall and bathroom monitors to ensure a limited number of persons enter bathrooms at one time.”
Hallways and staircases also could be designated as one-way, floor markings could show a 6-foot distance in spaces where students line up and prohibiting locker-sharing is recommended.
The state guidance calls for districts to prioritize in-person learning for special education students, students under the age of 13, English language learners and those who “have had greater difficulty learning remotely,” judging from attendance rates this spring. Districts can continue remote learning for “medically fragile students, students at a higher risk of severe illness, and students who live with individuals at higher risk of severe illness.”
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Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery said in an interview that the guidelines raised more questions than answers and appeared more “aspirational” than grounded in “reality” with no certification that safety rules would be implemented and practiced.
“The thing that gives me the greatest pause is that it’s very squishy on social distancing, so I have a real concern that there’ll be districts or schools where they’ll say, ‘Well, let’s just try to keep the kids separated’ as opposed to really working it through and figuring out how you’re going to keep kids actually apart,” Montgomery said.
“The PPE issue is huge. I would really appreciate it if the State Board or the governor’s office could actually make sure every school district has masks and soap and sanitizer, and I don’t have confidence that that’s where we’re going to be anytime soon,” he said.
Montgomery said given safety concerns and the number of students, teachers and staff in schools in the Chicago area, “it’s hard to see how we’re going to have widespread, uniform in-person instruction” and that blended learning, mixing in-person and home teaching, would be the more practical outcome.
If Pritzker was attempting to reassure parents that schools would be opening in the fall for their children in a safe environment, “then I guess I’d be pretty concerned.”
Illinois colleges and universities are also creating their own rules for cleaning public spaces, traffic flow, staggered schedules and small-group sessions.
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For Chicago Public Schools’ 355,000 students, how or even whether schools will reopen in the fall remains undetermined, despite the governor’s proclamation. CPS did announce Tuesday that summer school will remain remote.
As for the fall, CPS spokeswoman Emily Bolton said in a statement: “Chicago Public Schools is eager to open its doors to students as soon as it is safe to do so, and the district is gathering feedback from families and staff to inform draft reopening guidelines for our schools. We will continue to work closely with (city and public health officials) to ensure we are able to open safely.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our students, staff and families, and we remain committed to widespread engagement to ensure our plan for reopening supports the diverse needs of our entire school community,” she said.
CPS already was planning to require everyone wear masks when its schools do reopen and said it would provide a limited number to students and staff at the beginning of the school year. Students and staff also will be subject to daily temperature checks, and “stringent” cleaning protocols are planned.
CPS is still working on guidelines for the fall, and seeking input from students, families and employees using surveys and focus groups. But officials said draft reopening guidelines should be released in coming weeks for further community review and feedback.
The Chicago Teachers Union has criticized CPS for not being further along in planning for the fall but also has stressed the importance of adequate protections for students and staff.
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“While Governor Pritzker and ISBE have so far been helpful and clear on policies and guidance regarding contending with COVID-19, Illinois’ size and geographic diversity was bound to catch up with the state’s ability to issue useful guidance,” CTU President Jesse Sharkey said in a statement Tuesday. “Today’s guidance from ISBE is both too general and too vague to serve as a useful road map for CPS. In short, we’re going to be required to figure out many of the most critical features of school work for ourselves.”
To feel safe sending her children back to school, Carolyn Ou, the parent of an incoming seventh grader at Oscar Mayer Elementary and a 10th grader at Jones College Prep, said she still needs a clearer understanding of the risks and how the protocols will be enforced as well as assurances that people will stick to them. But even with limited capacity, enforced facial covering requirements and hand-washing, there still needs to be a solid system of contact tracing to make sure future COVID-19 cases are properly contained, Ou said.
"Taking temperatures, for me, that will catch someone when it's too late," she said.
Jeremy Babcock, who chairs the local school council at Chappell Elementary in Ravenswood and is a professor and coordinator at Northeastern Illinois University, said he isn’t sure how feasible the new guidelines will be to follow, especially for younger students.
“It all looks good on paper,” Babcock said. “In reality, I’m a bit concerned about kids leaving masks on. You see people with them lowered beneath their nose, you wonder are they going to be worn appropriately throughout the day?”
Arlington Heights School District 25 Superintendent Lori Bein said Tuesday that officials will “work together to use this guidance to plan for the potential opening of our doors in the fall.”
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“We have anticipated the release of these joint guidelines from IDPH and ISBE and are ready to put them into action here in District 25,” Bein said. “At first glance, there is much in this 60 page document that will help ensure District 25 can open its doors and classrooms in a safe and impactful way in the fall, pending Illinois’ anticipated move to phase 4.”
District 25 also will be “communicating details and asking for input from our families in the near future,” Bein said.
Many parents have expressed strong support for reopening schools in the fall, with safety precautions in place.
In Winnetka District 36, 86% of parents who completed a recent survey about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their children’s education said they want schools to reopen in the fall to in-person learning with necessary adjustments.
“Everyone misses each other, students and teachers, and learning is such a social activity, as it’s all about relationships,” Superintendent Trisha Kocanda said. “We all realize how important it is to connect with each other in person, but we need to balance that with doing it as safely as possible.”
jmunks@chicagotribune.com
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chicagotribune--2020-06-23--Illinois man, 18, drowned at Indiana Dunes, coroner says

It is believed he was at the Indiana Dunes State Park with friends at the beach , which was closed @ @ @ @ @ and did not have lifeguards , Craig said .
The area , near the beach @ @ @ @ @ , was closed while the search continued .

An 18-year-old Illinois man drowned Tuesday while swimming at the Indiana Dunes State Park, according to the Porter County Coroner’s Office.
Dominic Snovicky, of Plainfield, Illinois, was pronounced dead at 2:12 p.m. at the Porter Regional Hospital Emergency Room, spokeswoman Kristi Chervenak said in a release.
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Divers from the Portage Fire Department located and pulled the man onto a Portage Marine Unit rescue boat around 12:36 p.m. where they started “life saving procedures,” Porter Fire Chief Jay Craig said. The swimmer was reported missing at the Indiana Dunes State Park around 11 a.m., authorities said.
Snovicky was transported by ambulance to Porter Regional Hospital, Craig said. The Porter County Coroner was called at 2:25 p.m., according to a later statement from the office.
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Witnesses said he was struck by a wave and didn’t resurface, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
It is believed he was at the Indiana Dunes State Park with friends at the beach, which was closed to swimming at the time and did not have lifeguards, Craig said. The area, near the beach’s western parking lot, was closed while the search continued.
Multiple agencies assisted including fire departments from Porter, Chesterton, Burns Harbor, Portage, Crown Point and Michigan City, Craig said. Lake County Sheriff, the U.S. Coast Guard, conservation police, and other police from Porter, Chesterton, Burns Harbor also assisted, Craig said.
The investigation is ongoing.
The National Weather Service issued a beach hazards statement for Porter County that predicted waves between 3-6 feet Tuesday afternoon with strong rip currents.
“Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out on shoreline structures or jetties or piers,” it said. “Please check with your local authorities on potential beach closures.”


chicagotribune--2020-06-25--25-year-old man fatally shot in Ford Heights

The department said in a statement that officers from Matteson and the Illinois State Police also responded to the shooting @ @ @ @ @ a large crowd that had gathered there .

A 25-year-old man died Tuesday after being shot in Ford Heights the day before, officials said.
Anthony Cook, of Richton Park, was found in the area of Seeley Avenue and 11th Street at 12:18 a.m. Monday with a gunshot wound to the head, police said.
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He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died roughly 38 hours later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
A Cook County sheriff’s office spokeswoman said an investigation into the shooting was ongoing, but did not provide any additional information about the circumstances of Cook’s slaying.
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The department said in a statement that officers from Matteson and the Illinois State Police also responded to the shooting scene to assist in corralling a large crowd that had gathered there.
Several shell casings were found near Cook’s body, according to the statement.
zkoeske@tribpub.com
Twitter @ZakKoeske


chicagotribune--2020-06-24--‘There was intentional divestment’: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Commissioner Kevin

‘There was intentional divestment’: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Commissioner Kevin Morrison join LGBTQ leaders in town hall on health inequities amid coronavirus

“ My primary care doctor would shame me for asking to be tested , ” Morrison , D-15th , said @ @ @ @ @ following the guidelines I had been provided to get tested every six months .
And @ @ @ @ @ to be tested , he would shame me .
And so I had to find @ @ @ @ @ never made me feel like that .
”

During his late teens, Kevin Morrison’s doctor peppered him with questions each time he asked for an STI test: “Aren’t you in a committed relationship? Why — do you think you have an STD? Why would you need to be tested again?”
Morrison, now Cook County’s first openly gay commissioner, said the pushback was discriminatory to him and shared the incident during a virtual town hall with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and leaders of the LGBTQ community Wednesday because he wanted to highlight long-standing health inequities.
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“My primary care doctor would shame me for asking to be tested,” Morrison, D-15th, said. “I was just following the guidelines I had been provided to get tested every six months. And every time I would ask to be tested, he would shame me. And so I had to find another primary care doctor who never made me feel like that.”
Morrison, who noted the barriers that LGBTQ people of color face are far greater than his, said the LGBTQ community’s fight for health care access harks back to the HIV/AIDS outbreak beginning in the 1980s, when patients were stigmatized and critics panned President Ronald Reagan for his response to the epidemic. Now with the new coronavirus disproportionately hurting Cook County’s Black and Latino communities, he said the topic of health equity is as important as ever.
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Rectifying such injustices means looking at the institutional barriers that these groups face — not marking them as less healthy or inherently more susceptible to COVID-19, said Aisha Davis, director of policy for AIDS Foundation of Chicago.
“When we’re talking about the systemic oppression that these groups have been facing, we can’t use language that makes it seem like it just happened,” Davis said. “There was intentional divestment. There’s intentional resources that were being held away from these communities.”
Preckwinkle noted the stark divide in which parts of Cook County have the most access to jobs, education, food and health care. That contributes to why a recent study found a 30-year gap in life expectancy between the Streeterville and Englewood neighborhoods, she said.
“What’s happened in this pandemic is it’s laid bare, stripped bare, the inequities that we see across communities in the city and in the county,” Preckwinkle said.
One example of inequity that LaSaia Wade, founder and executive director for Brave Space Alliance, is grappling with is the bid for funding among health centers, she said. As leader of a Black and trans-led LGBTQ health center on the South Side, Wade believes there needs to be millions more in cash for Black-led health centers.
Centers such as Brave Space Alliance are especially crucial because trans and Black people don’t always feel comfortable within the LGBTQ community, Wade said.
“On different levels even within the LGBT population, trans people face a different type of rhetoric and pushback,” Wade said. “There’s a lot of trans people that do not want to go into an LGBT health center, especially Black trans people or Black LGBT people on the South and West sides, because they feel more comfortable or want to go to a Black-led health facility.”
During the town hall, speakers also knocked an earlier Cook County Board resolution to share positive COVID-19 addresses with first responders, a measure that spurred Preckwinkle’s first veto as board president. The day after the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, Morrison said, one of the commissioners who supported the resolution told him they would have opposed it had Floyd’s death occurred before the May vote.
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“They recognized some of the intrinsic and systemic racism that does attach on decisions like that,” Morrison said about the address-sharing policy.
ayin@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-06-24--CPS moves to fire Lincoln Park High School basketball coach Pat Gordon; another coach reinstated, sa

CPS moves to fire Lincoln Park High School basketball coach Pat Gordon; another coach reinstated, says misconduct claim ‘destroyed my life’

“ Now , after six months of quote-unquote investigating me , they meekly say there was no adult sexual misconduct @ @ @ @ @ say thank you ?
I don ’ t think so .
It ’ s insulting @ @ @ @ @ one there was no sexual misconduct .
Just the words make me cringe .
It @ @ @ @ @ Washington said .
“ It ’ s been a horror story .
By not specifying @ @ @ @ @ six adults of sexual misconduct , when none did anything of that nature .
So @ @ @ @ @ us all again by saying that some allegations were substantiated .
”

Chicago Public Schools is seeking to fire Lincoln Park High School boys head basketball coach Pat Gordon, whose removal from his post in January was the start of a messy leadership shake-up.
Half a year after claims of widespread misconduct rattled the school community and led to the ousting of two well-liked administrators — along with suspensions of several coaches, a dean and the boys basketball season — the news that Gordon will face a termination hearing came in a letter late Tuesday to Lincoln Park families from CPS Network Chief Laura LeMone.
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Numerous investigations “substantiated multiple allegations of serious misconduct at Lincoln Park High School,” said the letter, which also stated two other coaches have been reinstated.
CPS officials confirmed the letter but did not provide more information, so exactly what wrongdoing was attributed to each coach, and what was found substantiated, remains unclear.
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“I am writing today to update you on investigations involving coaches from the Lincoln Park athletics program who were removed from the school in January and February due to allegations of misconduct,” LeMone wrote. “The Office of Student Protections and Title IX and the Office of Inspector General substantiated multiple allegations of serious misconduct at Lincoln Park High School."
Based on their findings, the district “has decided to file dismissal charges and move forward with a termination hearing for Pat Gordon.”
The letter references not Gordon’s coaching job but his position as a school security officer.
The basketball coaches who were reinstated, boys coach Donovan Robinson, who is a community relations representative at another CPS school, and head girls coach Larry Washington, a citywide substitute teacher, will get more “training and support” from the district, according to the letter.
”We take all allegations extremely seriously, and these investigations were necessary to ensure that your child’s safety will continue to be appropriately safeguarded,” LeMone wrote. “With these investigations behind us, I am confident that Lincoln Park will be a stronger and safer school community.”
Lincoln Park parent and lawyer William Choslovsky said he’s representing the three coaches, along with a dean who was reinstated in March after he was initially reassigned.
Though Choslovsky isn’t involved in his clients’ CPS hearings, he said he strongly suspects Gordon will overturn his recommended firing. The attorney contends the coaches were treated guilty until proven innocent, and when proven innocent of certain allegations, that was not communicated, he said.
Saying he got documents late Tuesday and hadn’t looked them all over yet, Choslovsky did not elaborate on all of the substantiated misconduct claims against the coaches, but confirmed some claims involving Gordon stemmed from an unauthorized trip for a basketball tournament.
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Choslovsky recalled a community meeting in which CPS officials read a host of misconduct allegations and named the staff members who had been removed without specifying which claims related to each person.
School officials said at the time that the claimed misconduct involved both students and adults, and included athletic recruiting violations, retaliation against witnesses, sexual misconduct and financial misconduct involving athletic program accounts, failure to follow sexual misconduct reporting procedures, improper student discipline, dishonesty to families, allowing suspended employees to work, failure to create safety plans for students and interference with investigations.
“They defame all six with one fell swoop,” Choslovsky said.
The district investigation into Washington involved whether he “engaged inappropriately with a student,” according to CPS. But his attorney said the case involved Washington merely responding to a player’s text with details about a practice and the substantiated finding had nothing to do with the content of the message, only the method in which it was sent. The attorney did not provide documentation of this, and CPS did not respond to a request for confirmation.
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In a phone call with the Tribune, Washington spoke about how hard it has been to see his name next to serious claims of misconduct.
“I’m a husband, father, educator and coach who CPS accused of adult-on-student misconduct,” Washington said. “I’ve worked at the school 23 years with no disciplinary incidents. I’ve coached and taught thousands of students. ... And what was this allegation about that destroyed my life? It was based on the most innocuous, innocent communication. A text message to one of my players. Let me be clear there was nothing remotely improper about the substance of the communication. Nothing. I challenge CPS to release them all. Go ahead. Let the sunshine in. Ask CPS what parent made the allegation and what her motivation was.”
Even his daughter’s graduation this year was tarnished, he said.
“Now, after six months of quote-unquote investigating me, they meekly say there was no adult sexual misconduct. Am I supposed to say thank you? I don’t think so. It’s insulting. They knew on day one there was no sexual misconduct. Just the words make me cringe. It’s sickening,” Washington said. “It’s been a horror story. By not specifying anything, they basically accused six adults of sexual misconduct, when none did anything of that nature. So now ... they essentially defame us all again by saying that some allegations were substantiated.”
Since the letter went out Tuesday, Washington said he’s heard from parents asking him to come back and coach, but he’s not sure if he will.
“Though they reinstated me and gave me my job back, would you want to work for someone who destroyed your life?” he said.
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Choslovsky said that before deciding on any action that could be taken, he and his clients are giving CPS the opportunity “to do the right thing,” which to them would involve acknowledging mistakes, defamation and false allegations.
“How could the investigation be so flawed, and who is investigating the investigators?” he asked.
After CPS was criticized for mishandling sexual misconduct, as documented in the Tribune’s “Betrayed” series, the district swung too hard the other way, he said.
“The pendulum went from one extreme to the other overnight,” he said. “They probably thought they would be applauded as heroes in the community.”
But the school’s parent action group released a strongly worded statement Wednesday evening, saying they, along with Local School Council members, are “outraged” after LeMone’s letter.
“Why the iron curtain of secrecy? Why won’t CPS tell our community what really happened?” they asked. “Maybe because CPS wildly overreacted. Maybe because CPS made errors... CPS must be held accountable for sowing chaos at LPHS, ruining educators’ lives and reputations, and then, in the quiet of night, backtracking.”
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Parent and LSC member John Moser also expressed frustration with the district, saying they shared accusations without proof.
“These men were accused without evidence, punished, treated as guilty and dragged in the media,” Moser said. “CPS told the school community to back down and questioned our support. Now after (the district) finally investigates the case — and reinstates the accused, meaning they must be innocent of any serious accusations, CPS leadership disparages them further on their reinstatement? How hard was it to say we made a mistake?”
hleone@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-06-24--University of Chicago among hospitals eliminating COVID-19 units as number of patients drops

The University of Chicago began setting up those units in late March based on information from federal and state health @ @ @ @ @ ’ s memo .
The hospital also set up the units because it didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ rooms to care for COVID-19 patients and to help preserve personal protective equipment by reducing @ @ @ @ @ it on and take it off .
The units were meant to make it easier @ @ @ @ @ focus on COVID-19 patients and build expertise .

The University of Chicago Medical Center is eliminating its units dedicated to COVID-19 patients as the number of people suffering from the illness in Illinois has dropped.
Instead, patients with COVID-19 will be cared for in isolation rooms, the hospital’s incident commander said in a memo sent to faculty and staff Tuesday. As of Wednesday morning, the hospital had 18 patients with the illness, compared with more than 140 in mid- to late April.
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“Our patients and community will be better served by caring for our COVID-19 patients in appropriate isolation rooms and allowing our COVID-19 units to return to serving their regular patient populations,” the memo stated.
Two Amita Health hospitals — Amita Health Adventist Medical Center Hinsdale and Amita Health Adventist Medical Center La Grange — have also closed their dedicated COVID-19 units, Dr. Stuart Marcus, chief clinical officer at Amita Health, said in an email. At those facilities, COVID-19 patients will be isolated in negative pressure rooms, which keep contaminated air from circulating throughout the hospital.
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The number of new COVID-19 cases across the state was 715 Wednesday, down from the more than 2,000 new cases that were being reported daily in late April and early May. The state is also preparing to enter phase four of its coronavirus reopening plan Friday, during which gatherings of up to 50 people will be permitted, restaurants will be able to offer indoor dining and health clubs may reopen with capacity limits.
Hospitals across the state and country have generally kept COVID-19 patients in separate units since the illness began its rapid spread.
The University of Chicago began setting up those units in late March based on information from federal and state health authorities, according to Tuesday’s memo. The hospital also set up the units because it didn’t have enough negative pressure rooms to care for COVID-19 patients and to help preserve personal protective equipment by reducing the need to constantly put it on and take it off. The units were meant to make it easier for health care workers to focus on COVID-19 patients and build expertise.
The hospital has decided to eliminate the units now that it has a more stable supply of personal protective equipment as well as sufficient isolation rooms and negative pressure areas.
Not all COVID-19 patients at the University of Chicago will be placed in negative pressure rooms, said Dr. Allison Bartlett, associate hospital epidemiologist. Those rooms will be prioritized for patients undergoing procedures that can generate aerosols, which can spread the illness, she said.
Bartlett said she’s confident the hospital will remain safe for all patients when the COVID-19 units are dissolved. The units were primarily formed for logistical reasons, rather than for infection control, she said.
“Part of the regular day-to-day function of the hospital is dealing with patients on isolation and keeping all of the staff and other patients safe,” Bartlett said, noting that the hospital typically deals with illnesses such as the flu and whooping cough. “That’s the regular business that we do, with masks and gowns and hand washing and negative pressure rooms when indicated.”
The University of Chicago memo also said the units placed the burden of caring for COVID-19 patients on a smaller group of health care workers and created “inefficiencies in staffing and bed spaces” that could affect the hospital’s overall capacity, leading to problems such as long waits in the emergency department.
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If there’s a resurgence in cases of COVID-19, the hospital will consider putting the units back in place, according to the memo.
The Amita hospitals will also be able to quickly increase the number of patients who can be isolated, such as in negative pressure rooms, in case of future surges of COVID-19, Marcus said.
Many other Chicago-area hospitals are hanging onto COVID-19 units for now but reducing their numbers or the space and number of beds reserved for COVID-19 patients, including University of Illinois Hospital, Stroger Hospital, Loyola University Medical Center and Advocate Aurora Health hospitals.
NorthShore University HealthSystem converted its Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview into a COVID-19-focused facility in April and stopped admitting other patients. But earlier this month, Glenbrook started again admitting non-COVID-19 patients and is converting parts of the hospital back into COVID-19-free areas for patients, the hospital said in a statement.
The number of patients with COVID-19 at Glenbrook had dropped to 21 as of Wednesday, down from a peak of 155 in early May, Glenbrook President Jesse Peterson Hall said in an email.
Sinai Health, which runs Mount Sinai and Holy Cross hospitals, has also cut the number of beds and space dedicated to COVID-19 patients but doesn’t plan to entirely eliminate its COVID-19 units just yet.
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“We’re just maintaining a ready footing,” said Sinai Health spokesman Dan Regan. “COVID is going to be with us for a while.”
lschencker@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-06-24--Wisconsin governor activates National Guard after crowds tear down statues outside Capitol, includin

Wisconsin governor activates National Guard after crowds tear down statues outside Capitol, including one of anti-slavery activist, and attack state senator

The other statue taken down represents Wisconsin ’ s motto “ Forward.
” The statue was first installed 125 years @ @ @ @ @ bronze replica in 1998 .
It sat prominently outside the Capitol , facing the University @ @ @ @ @ Street , an avenue lined with bars , restaurants and small businesses .
That corridor @ @ @ @ @ much of the vandalism since the death of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis @ @ @ @ @ used his knee to pin the handcuffed Black man ’ s neck .

Wisconsin's Forward statue lies in the street on Capitol Square in Madison on June 23, 2020. (Emily Hamer / Wisconsin State Journal)
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s governor activated the National Guard on Wednesday to protect state properties after a night of violence that included the toppling of two statues outside the state Capitol, one of which commemorated an abolitionist Civil War hero.
Protesters also attacked a state senator, threw a Molotov cocktail into a government building and attempted to break into the Capitol Tuesday night, only to be repelled by pepper spray from police stationed inside. The violence broke out as a group of 200 to 300 people protested the arrest of a Black man who shouted at restaurant customers through a megaphone while carrying a baseball bat.
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Gov. Tony Evers, who toured the damage and said the violence was in “stark contrast” to earlier peaceful protests, said he was activating the National Guard “to make sure people can exercise their First Amendment rights while ensuring the safety of members of the public and state buildings and infrastructure.”
“If your goal was to advance social justice and policing reforms in the state of Wisconsin and making sure systemic racism is a thing of the past, you failed,” Evers said of the protesters on WTMJ-AM.
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Republican state lawmakers and others faulted Evers and Madison's Democratic mayor for not moving more quickly on Tuesday to quell the violence.
“The mob has become very bold,” said Madison Alderman Paul Skidmore. “They see they can get away with a little, and they inch forward more and more. (Downtown Madison) is a battle zone right now, and I fear for my city.”
The violence unfolded in a city long known as a liberal bastion with a long history of protest, dating back to student demonstrations on the University of Wisconsin campus in the 1960s. About 100,000 people protested in 2011 over then-Gov. Scott Walker's anti-union proposals.
It also exposed simmering anger over the 2015 shooting by police of a 19-year-old Black man by an officer who remains on the force. That shooting has been referenced by protesters in recent weeks.
Here’s some of the damage at the Wisconsin State Capitol pic.twitter.com/TqusYNLYU2 — Lawrence Andrea (@lawrencegandrea) June 24, 2020
The violence started Tuesday after Madison police arrested a protester who came to a restaurant across the street from the Capitol with a bat on his shoulder. Video released by Madison police shows the man, Devenore Johnson, talking through a megaphone while walking around the restaurant’s outdoor patio and inside, saying he’s “disturbing” the restaurant and talking about God and the police before walking out.
On another video released by police, as many as five officers can be seen taking Johnson to the sidewalk and carrying him to a police squad car after he resisted arrest.
Police said on Tuesday night a group of 200 to 300 people broke windows in multiple buildings, threw a Molotov cocktail into the city-county building, brought down the statues on the Capitol grounds, broke glass at a state office building and smashed windows and lights at the Capitol.
Democratic state Sen. Tim Carpenter was assaulted after taking a cellphone video of protesters.
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“Punched/kicked in the head, neck, ribs,” Carpenter tweeted around 4 a.m. “Innocent people are going to get killed.”
I took this pic- it got me assaulted & beat up. Punched/kicked in the head, neck, ribs. Maybe concussion, socked in left eye is little blurry, sore neck & ribs. 8-10 people attacked me. Innocent people are going to get killed. Capitol locked- stuck in office.Stop violence nowPlz! pic.twitter.com/Zw2hdfYG66 — Tim Carpenter (@TimCarpenterMKE) June 24, 2020
One of the statues toppled, decapitated and dragged into a lake about a half-mile away was of Civil War Col. Hans Christian Heg. He was an anti-slavery activist and leader of an anti-slave catcher militia in Wisconsin who fought for the Union and died from injuries suffered during the Battle of Chickamauga.
The base of the Heg statue was defaced with graffiti Wednesday morning that read “Fire Matt Kenny,” a reference to a white Madison police officer who shot and killed 19-year-old Tony Robinson, a Black man, in 2015. Kenny said Robinson had attacked him. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, who is Black, cleared Kenny of any criminal wrongdoing and he remains a Madison officer.
The other statue taken down represents Wisconsin’s motto “Forward.” The statue was first installed 125 years ago but replaced with a bronze replica in 1998. It sat prominently outside the Capitol, facing the University of Wisconsin campus and State Street, an avenue lined with bars, restaurants and small businesses. That corridor has been the target of much of the vandalism since the death of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis after a white police officer used his knee to pin the handcuffed Black man’s neck.
The destruction followed similar unrest nationwide following Floyd’s death, but in other cities statues of Confederate soldiers and other symbols of slavery were destroyed.
Protester Micah Le said the two statues paint a picture of Wisconsin as a racially progressive state even though slavery has continued in the form of a corrections system built around incarcerating Blacks.
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“The fall of the statues is a huge gain for the movement, though I think that liberal and conservative media outlets will try to represent last night as senseless violence rather than the strategic political move it really was,” Le wrote.
Republicans called on Evers and Madison’s Democratic mayor to do more to protect the Capitol. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos branded the protesters as “thugs.” Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who until last month had served in the state Legislature, called on Evers to resign. Evers called that a “ridiculous statement.”
“Why doesn’t he resign?” Evers said on WTMJ.
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said in a conference call for media later Wednesday that city leaders and law enforcement were working “on a number of fronts” to keep any additional protests calm.
“I am not in that room, I do not micromanage our law enforcement response,” she said. “There has been broad agreement among law enforcement that deescalation and protecting people is the top concern.”
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, the first Black person to hold that office, condemned the violence in a tweet but said “far right provocateurs” had “fanned the flames of hate.”
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Robert Bowhan owns August, a clothing store that was looted during the first night of protests following Floyd's death. Bowhan, who is white, has boarded up his windows like many other merchants. He said he didn't know what to expect in the coming days.
“Everyone is probably a little frustrated. (Merchants) feel they don’t have support from cops,” Bowhan said. “They feel threatened and feel like their livelihoods are in jeopardy and they don’t trust the government. This just scratches the surface of what our Black friends and colleagues go through on a daily basis.”