Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday afternoon that Illinois has passed New York in per capita daily administration of COVID-19 tests, which he called “significant measurable progress.”
“Among the most populous states, Illinois has now overtaken New York as the No. 1 state in the nation for per capita testing over the last seven days,” Pritzker said, calling it “very exciting news.”
Among all states, Illinois ranks No. 3 in per capita testing, behind Rhode Island and New Mexico, according to data cited by the governor’s office at covidtracking.com. New York ranks sixth behind Connecticut and North Dakota, according to the data.
Pritzker also said all four regions of the state remained on track to enter the next phase of reopening businesses on May 29.
State officials announced 1,545 new known cases of the coronavirus from among 18,443 tests over the previous 24 hours. There were also 146 additional deaths reported, bringing the death toll to 4,379 since the pandemic began. Statewide, there have been 98,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from a total of 621,684 tests.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that Illinois led the nation in per capita daily COVID-19 tests. Illinois ranks No. 3 nationally in per capita testing, and leads the nation’s most populous states after passing New York.
Here’s what’s happening Tuesday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
6:10 p.m.: 2nd lawsuit filed against Bria of Geneva nursing home
A second lawsuit against Bria of Geneva nursing home was filed Tuesday, claiming the facility failed to implement basic precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus after a number of its residents died from COVID-19 complications, attorneys said.
The family of Lucille “Lucy” James, a resident at the nursing home in Geneva who died of COVID-19 May 1, is suing the long-term care facility, claiming it failed to comply with preventative directions of the Illinois Department of Public Health and did not prevent the spread of the virus.
Bria of Geneva officials dispute the allegations brought against the facility.
James’ son-in-law Ed Borowiak said the family did not find out she had coronavirus until after her death. James, 80, lived at the nursing home for about three-and-a-half years.
The lawsuit accuses the facility of failing to provide personal protective equipment and sufficient testing kits for residents and staff. It also failed to implement continuous screening checks on residents and staff, such as temperature checks and using a checklist to identify symptomatic residents, the lawsuit states. Read more here. —Megan Jones
5:17 p.m.: Mariano’s parent Kroger will not seek repayment from workers it overpaid during COVID-19 outbreak
Mariano’s parent company, Kroger, will not seek repayment from employees the grocery chain overpaid for time they took off to self-quarantine.
When the coronavirus pandemic started spreading through the U.S., Kroger began offering paid time off to employees who needed to self-isolate, were experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who needed time off for another virus-related reason.
Dozens of employees at Chicago-area Mariano’s stores that had taken the paid time off recently received letters from Kroger notifying them that they had been overpaid and would need to pay the money back, said Zach Koutsky, spokesman for Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.
Local 881 represents more than 34,000 grocery store, drugstore and food production workers in Illinois and northwest Indiana.
Outrage erupted on Twitter after a user posted a screenshot Monday of a letter from Kroger telling an employee to return overpaid funds. Kroger spokeswoman Kristal Howard said Tuesday in a statement that the company would not seek repayment.
“We’ve instructed our payroll department to directly inform the small number of associates affected by the recent overpayments of Emergency Leave of Absence pay that we will not seek repayment,” she said. Read more here. —Ally Marotti
4:48 p.m.: As they adjust to a new normal, some colleges are approaching fall classes a different way: by starting early
While the impulse at some college campuses may be to push back the start of fall classes amid all the pandemic uncertainty, Notre Dame and Marquette universities are taking a different approach: They’re planning to open early.
The schools’ plan — subject to change if health guidelines necessitate it — are also to reduce the length of fall breaks so that students wrap up classes for the year before Thanksgiving.
The changes are in response to concerns about a possible resurgence of COVID-19 in the late fall or winter, and the hope that condensing the term could help limit the spread of the virus by curtailing student travel. Read more here. —Elyssa Cherney
4:28 p.m.: Niles home to most COVID-19 deaths among Cook County suburbs, majority reported in nursing homes, data shows
The village of Niles has experienced the highest number of COVID-19 related deaths among Cook County suburbs, the latest data available from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office shows.
As of May 19, the medical examiner had reported 74 COVID-19-related deaths in Niles since March 16, making it the suburb with the largest number of deaths caused by the virus, a review of the data shows.
Nearly three-fourths of the deaths reported in the village have occurred within Niles nursing homes, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
IDPH data shows that as of May 14, 49 COVID-19-related deaths had been reported within six long-term care facilities in Niles. These facilities reported a total of 236 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The highest number of deaths for a single facility — 21 — occurred at Niles Nursing and Rehab Center, which had 127 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of May 15, according to the IDPH. Read more here. —Jennifer Johnson
4:10 p.m.: Pritzker offers some optimistic news, but continues to preach caution
Even though the state’s rate of testing is at a new high and hospitalizations are at their lowest point this month, Gov. J.B. Pritzker continued to preach patience Tuesday before Illinois moves onto its new phase of reopening the state at the end of the month.
Pritzker’s comments come as some mayors and law enforcement officers continue to say they won’t follow Pritzker’s plans to gradually reopen the state and after the governor recently instituted a new rule to issue misdemeanor citations to those who refuse to follow public health guidelines.
“We’re all itching to move ahead. So why can’t we just do it now?” Pritzker said. “Well, there’s no doubt this is hard, but public health means that each of is working to protect all of us. It’s about our collective impact on each other.”
Illinois transitioned into phase two of Pritzker’s reopening plan on May 1, with non-essential businesses remaining closed and a handful of outdoor activities allowed as individuals are asked to wear face coverings when they can’t practice social distancing. The governor acknowledged that the lives of many Illinoisans “didn’t change much between phase one and phase two.”
Pritzker’s plan requires 28 days of monitoring public health data in four regions of the state before each can transition to phase three as soon as May 29. In that new phase, gatherings of 10 people or fewer would be allowed for any reason, fitness and health clubs could offer one-on-one training and outdoor classes, barbershops and salons could reopen with restrictions as could manufacturing businesses, offices and retailers.
“It’s critical that we observe the full 28 day measurement period before moving forward to phase three,” Pritzker said. “The good news is we’re just 10 days from that point, and as of now, all four regions of Illinois are on track to moving forward into phase three before the end of May.” —Bill Ruthhart
4:08 p.m.: Chicago McDonald’s workers file class-action lawsuit alleging COVID-19 failures put employees and customers at risk
Five Chicago McDonald’s workers filed a lawsuit seeking class-action status Tuesday alleging the restaurant chain’s “inadequate” COVID-19 protective measures endangered employees and customers.
The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges McDonald’s failed to provide adequate personal protective equipment, allow for proper social distancing or notify employees when co-workers tested positive for COVID-19 at four restaurants across Chicago during the pandemic.
“McDonald’s has failed to take adequate steps in response to the pandemic,” the complaint alleges. “The damage done by inadequate safety practices is not confined to the walls of a restaurant, but instead has broader public health consequences for the Chicago community.”
Chicago-based McDonald’s issued an emailed statement Tuesday calling the allegations “inaccurate characterizations … which do not represent the actual realities in our 14,000 restaurants around the country.”
Employees at the four Chicago McDonald’s restaurants, which include both franchise and corporate-owned locations, cited a number of examples in the lawsuit of “dangerous conditions” that allegedly risked spreading the disease to customers, co-workers and family members. Read more here. —Robert Channick
3:40 p.m.: South Elgin to cut residential and business water bills by $30 in June and July to help during pandemic
South Elgin residents will be getting a small bit of economic relief in the form of a $60 break on water bills to help those who have taken a financial hit during the coronavirus pandemic.
The South Elgin Village Board voted unanimously Monday to authorize $30 credits on bills paid in June and July by renters, homeowners and business owners.
“This is what we do as a village. … We are here to do the right thing for our people,” Village President Steve Ward said. “I think this is a good thing. Maybe they’ll remember it in a year from now.” Read more here. —Rafael Guerrero
3:05 p.m.: Orland Park threatens legal action if COVID-19 restrictions not loosened soon
Orland Park officials say they will consider legal action against the state unless the General Assembly takes more aggressive steps by June 1 to reopen Illinois’ economy.
A resolution adopted Monday by the Village Board asks lawmakers, who are scheduled to meet Wednesday, to provide guidelines for the resumption of “business and civic life with reasonable and specifically targeted public health guidelines.”
Mayor Keith Pekau said that stay-at-home restrictions have “come at great cost to the economy” statewide and locally.
The village is projecting revenue from sources including sales taxes, motor fuel taxes and income taxes, to fall about $4.5 million during this budget year, which ends Dec. 31.
Orland Park is also furloughing about 140 part-time employees because of the anticipated revenue drop.
“The whole time we stay closed we continue to damage our economy,” he said. “It’s time for us to move to the next phase.” Read more here. —Mike Nolan
2:35 p.m.: Officials report 1,545 new known cases and 146 more deaths
State officials on Tuesday announced 1,545 new known cases of the coronavirus in Illinois from among 18,443 tests over the previous 24 hours. There were also 146 additional deaths reported, bringing the death toll to 4,379 since the pandemic began. Statewide, there have been 98,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from a total of 621,684 tests.
2:23 p.m.: Single Chicagoans are turning to video dating in a big way during the coronavirus pandemic. And geography is no longer a barrier.
Chicagoan Rachael Jimenez has gone on first dates without ever leaving her couch.
She has had the pivotal “Are we seeing each other exclusively?” conversation with a man she has never met face-to-face. She has seen a close friend fall hard for an acquaintance of just three weeks — a man who happens to live in Scotland.
“They are in love. It’s wild,” said Jimenez, 30. “Everything that can happen that’s bizarre is happening.”
Welcome to the the upside-down world of video dating, where geography is no obstacle but the smallest physical intimacies — holding hands, kissing — are completely off the table.
In the weeks since COVID-19 left Chicagoans largely homebound, dating via apps such as FaceTime and Skype has exploded, with OkCupid reporting a 470% increase from March to April in the number of users who answered yes to the question, “Have you been on a virtual date?”
“Video dating has had a surge,” said Stefanie Groner, co-founder of the new Chicago matchmaking service Quarantine Bae.
1:59 p.m.: University employees call for more federal money for student financial aid and retain faculty during pandemic
The union representing faculty at seven of Illinois’ public universities is asking Congress to set aside more money for higher education in the next stimulus bill, saying the funds are needed to increase financial aid for students and keep staff from being laid off.
In a letter sent to the Illinois delegation this month, University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 said financial progress made by colleges in Illinois following the 2008 recession and the three-year budget impasse is now being offset because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“In the global economy and community, higher education degrees are more important now than ever … ,” the letter says. “As the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate begin to discuss additional aid to address the harm from the Covid-19 pandemic, we are specifically asking for your strong advocacy to protect Illinois students and higher education institutions (community colleges, state universities, and non-profit private institutions).”
The letter said lawmakers should create a “state stabilization fund” to prevent state budget cuts to higher education, enhance federal financial aid for students, allow universities to keep paying faculty through the Paycheck Protection Program and increase technological support for students who don’t have access to computers or high-speed internet.
“At a time when there is massive unemployment, the federal government must invest in its citizens by helping them earn their education, their degrees and even their certifications,” UPI president John Miller said in a virtual news conference Tuesday. “This will help the U.S. economy recover faster and will also create a greater economic stability and security in the years to come.”
The first stimulus bill, known as the CARES act, set aside $14 billion for colleges, with each able to receive an allocation based on its enrollment and the number of low-income students it serves. Half of the money was required to be used as emergency financial aid grants for students.
Miller said students need more support and that federal financial aid should be made available to part-time students, not just those taking a full course load. A second relief package passed by the U.S. House is being negotiated in the Senate. —Elyssa Cherney
1:20 p.m.: Can Chicago’s food halls survive the pandemic? Owners and chefs consider the future of what had been a hot format.
When Hayden Hall opened in February, it was simply the latest food hall in a city increasingly saturated with them. Every few months, some impeccably designed project opened promising a collection of top-notch chefs, from Time Out Market Chicago in the West Loop to Wells Street Market in the Loop. Some were even getting national attention. On Feb. 26, Margaret Pak’s Thattu in Politan Row was selected as a semifinalist for best new restaurant in the country by the James Beard Foundation.
With a few exceptions, the public’s insatiable appetite for food halls looked like it would never end. For developers, the format was an easy way to attract crowds to downtown projects. And for restaurateurs, whether aspiring or established, it was an affordable way to test new ideas.
But with all Illinois restaurant dining rooms closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the idea of stuffing hundreds of people together in one room sounding unsafe, will food halls be able to survive?
“I’ve never felt so ill prepared to answer such a big question,” says Bruce Finkelman, managing partner of 16″ on Center, which runs Revival Food Hall in the Loop. Finkelman says he’s been focusing on the immediate issues. “It’s heartbreaking the amount of people we had to furlough,” says Finkelman. “I’ve been worried about how we pay rent. Do we have a workforce when this whole thing is over? It’s really hard to look at the bigger picture right now.”
It doesn’t appear that food halls in Chicago will be able to open any time soon. According to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s five-phase reopening plan, restaurants will be able to reopen their dining rooms with 50-person capacity limits in phase four. (Currently, we are in phase two.) But food halls, which depend on attracting large crowds, probably won’t be able to fully reopen until phase five. And as the governor’s plan details, phase five won’t happen until a vaccine or some other effective treatment is widely available. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, estimates it will take a year or more to develop a vaccine.
Will food halls be able to survive being closed that long? And will customers want to return to crowded spaces? Already, a few food halls in the works have pushed back their opening dates. Read more here. —Nick Kindelsperger and Ryan Ori
11 a.m.: Ditka’s restaurant in Chicago’s Gold Coast closing for good due to coronavirus shutdown
The coronavirus outbreak has contributed to the closing of Ditka’s restaurant on Chicago’s Gold Coast.
Ditka’s Restaurant Group announced Monday that it will permanently close the downtown location because of the ongoing economic impact of the outbreak and the impending end of its lease.
The memorabilia-filled eatery, which opened in 1997, was frequently visited by former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka and other celebrities. Read more here. —Associated Press
9:45 a.m.: Lawsuit claims negligence in coronavirus-related death of resident at Bria of Geneva nursing home
The family of a woman who died with the coronavirus at a nursing home in Geneva filed a lawsuit Monday, alleging that the facility left its residents vulnerable by failing to follow basic precautions against the spread of the disease.
Bria of Geneva officials disputed the allegations, reporting that most of those who had COVID-19 there never showed any symptoms from a “silent enemy.” Read more here. —Robert McCoppin
6:38 a.m.: 25th case of Cook County Court clerk employee with COVID-19
A 25th Cook County Court clerk’s office employee has been found to have COVID-19, the office announced late Monday.
The employee, who works in the clerk’s accounting department at the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Room 1005, last was at work May 14, according to a news release. The employee, whose age, sex and length of employment weren’t released, has been hospitalized, according to the release.
So far, 24 people who work for the clerk’s office have tested positive for the coronavirus and a 25th tested positive for coronavirus antibodies.
Other workers who came in close contact with the employee have been notified and told to isolate for two weeks, according to the release. The clerk’s office and MB Real Estate were deep-cleaning the area where the employee worked. — Chicago Tribune staff
6 a.m.: Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first year in office was filled with big moments and tough decisions. Then the coronavirus ‘changed everything.’
During her tumultuous first year in office, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot fired the police superintendent, presided over a 11-day teachers strike and fought to strip aldermen of powers in their wards.
But with more than 37,000 known COVID-19 cases in Chicago and about 1,700 deaths to date, Lightfoot’s first term will be defined by her response to a deadly challenge unlike any faced by her predecessors in a century.
In addition to the pandemic’s public health consequences, the ongoing crisis will have deep ramifications on city government potentially for years to come, exacerbating tremendous financial woes while diverting attention from other pressing issues.
Lightfoot has earned acclaim for taking tough actions to curb the disease, such as shutting down Chicago’s iconic lakefront, but she will soon make life-or-death decisions on how to reopen the city’s economy — a task she’s compared with rebuilding after the Great Chicago Fire.
During a wide-ranging interview in Lightfoot’s City Hall office to mark the anniversary of her becoming Chicago’s first black woman and openly gay mayor, she told the Tribune the pandemic “changed everything.”
“Our lives will be defined by the moments that we’re living right now,” Lightfoot said. Read more here. —Gregory Pratt and John Byrne
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