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  • Justin Reyes administers a COVID-19 test to Maria Suarez outside...

    Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune

    Justin Reyes administers a COVID-19 test to Maria Suarez outside Heartland Health Centers in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood on July 10, 2020.

  • A worker holds a metal stake as another uses a...

    John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune

    A worker holds a metal stake as another uses a sledgehammer to sink ground anchors for vaccine center tents outside the United Center on Feb. 26, 2021. According to officials, a mass vaccination site there will be capable of inoculating up to 6,000 people per day.

  • Cars line up as Tamira Perkins, center, and Kiara Flowers...

    Youngrae Kim / Chicago Tribune

    Cars line up as Tamira Perkins, center, and Kiara Flowers administer a COVID-19 test at a walk-up and drive-thru test site in the Evanston Township High School parking lot on Jan. 3, 2021.

  • Kitty Horne, the school secretary, takes the temperature of students...

    Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune

    Kitty Horne, the school secretary, takes the temperature of students arriving for in-person student learning on Dec. 11, 2020, at The School of Saints Faith, Hope and Charity in Winnetka

  • Kay Haines and Amber Smith relax along the lakefront near...

    E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune

    Kay Haines and Amber Smith relax along the lakefront near Diversey on July 14, 2020.

  • People work out during a Studio Three outdoor "High Def"...

    Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune

    People work out during a Studio Three outdoor "High Def" class, held in a Fifth Third Bank parking lot and drive-thru Jan. 13, 2021, in Chicago. The studio typically specializes in indoor workouts so it built an outdoor workout area so it could continue holding classes under coronavirus restrictions.

  • Few people are seen at State and Lake streets as...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    Few people are seen at State and Lake streets as the stay-at-home advisory begins in Chicago on Nov. 16, 2020.

  • General manger Jaidah Wilson-Turnbow, 45, sets up chairs on the...

    Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune

    General manger Jaidah Wilson-Turnbow, 45, sets up chairs on the patio behind Frances Cocktail Lounge in the Chatham neighborhood on Oct. 22, 2020, in Chicago.

  • Reflected in her rearview mirror, Tonya McDaniel, waits in her...

    Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune

    Reflected in her rearview mirror, Tonya McDaniel, waits in her car to be COVID-19 tested outside of Arlington International Racecourse on March 31, 2021 in Arlington Heights.

  • Chicago City Wide Orchestra holds its outdoor recording session in...

    Youngrae Kim / Chicago Tribune

    Chicago City Wide Orchestra holds its outdoor recording session in concertmaster Martha Ash's backyard in Evanston on Oct. 11, 2020.

  • Andrew Marinelli cleans the bar as the staff prepares for...

    E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune

    Andrew Marinelli cleans the bar as the staff prepares for dinner service in the rooftop canopy area of Roots Handmade Pizza South Loop on Sept. 28, 2020.

  • Mourners add to a memorial on Sept. 9, 2020, during...

    Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune

    Mourners add to a memorial on Sept. 9, 2020, during a vigil in memory of Dajore Wilson, 8, near where she was killed at 47th Street and South Union Avenue in the Canaryville neighborhood.

  • Two determined customers brave cold temperatures and wind for outdoor...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    Two determined customers brave cold temperatures and wind for outdoor breakfast at Wildberry's on Randolph Street in Chicago on Jan. 19, 2021.

  • Wearing a protective mask hostess Kelsey Roden walks by patron...

    Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune

    Wearing a protective mask hostess Kelsey Roden walks by patron Mike Flaherty while he sits on the the Lakefront Restaurant patio at Theater on the Lake on Aug. 6, 2020 in Chicago. The restaurant was hosting a soft launch and is expected to open Friday.

  • Linda Veasley-Payne say final goodbye at the end of funeral...

    Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune

    Linda Veasley-Payne say final goodbye at the end of funeral service for her mother Johnnie D. Veasley, 76, and grandmother Lela Reed, 95, at Leak & Sons funeral home in Country Club Hills on April 24, 2020. Bridget Stewart and her sister Linda Veasley-Payne are mourning the loss of their mother and grandmother, both victims of COVID-19.

  • A news ticker in Chicago's Loop announces new COVID-19 cases...

    Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune

    A news ticker in Chicago's Loop announces new COVID-19 cases on Sept. 3, 2020.

  • Clinical research nurse Samantha Gatewood finishes administering the second shot...

    E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune

    Clinical research nurse Samantha Gatewood finishes administering the second shot in the COVID-19 trial to participant Gregory Bowman at Rush University Medical Center on Dec. 3, 2020.

  • Bartender Rory Toolan delivers a drink for Jessica Wolfe, right,...

    John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune

    Bartender Rory Toolan delivers a drink for Jessica Wolfe, right, in the outdoor patio at Ludlow Liquors on Oct. 22, 2020, in Chicago.

  • Stacey Michelon, left, and Elizabeth Posner raise their fists while...

    John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune

    Stacey Michelon, left, and Elizabeth Posner raise their fists while repeating a chant during a gathering to remember late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at Federal Plaza on Sept. 19, 2020, in Chicago.

  • Matt Krawczyk receives ashes sprinkled on the top of his...

    Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune

    Matt Krawczyk receives ashes sprinkled on the top of his head outside Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on Feb. 17, 2021. Ash Wednesday looked a little different because of COVID-19 with the sprinkles on the top of the head for safety.

  • A first grader stretches her legs during Nicole Almodovar's class...

    Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune

    A first grader stretches her legs during Nicole Almodovar's class March 4, 2021, at Kershaw Elementary School in Chicago.

  • A person walks by outdoor plastic dining bubbles on Oct....

    Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune

    A person walks by outdoor plastic dining bubbles on Oct. 15, 2020, in the Fulton Market district of Chicago.

  • Betty Hermanek winces as she receives her COVID-19 vaccine at...

    Win McNamee/Getty Images/Chicago Tribune/TNS

    Betty Hermanek winces as she receives her COVID-19 vaccine at the Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care in North Riverside on Jan. 12, 2021.

  • Tommy Beltazar, from left, dines with Angelisa Ocic, as Claudia...

    John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune

    Tommy Beltazar, from left, dines with Angelisa Ocic, as Claudia Carmona dines with Patricia Resendiz at Sushi Para M on March 2, 2021, in Chicago. The city is allowing 50% indoor dining capacity, or 50 people, starting today.

  • People wear masks on a very hot day in Chicago,...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune / Chicago Tribune

    People wear masks on a very hot day in Chicago, July 9, 2020.

  • Prekindergarten students wait for lunch at their desks on the...

    Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune

    Prekindergarten students wait for lunch at their desks on the first day of in-person learning at Dawes Elementary School in Chicago on Jan. 11, 2021.

  • Sink use is separated in a student bathroom at Our...

    Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune

    Sink use is separated in a student bathroom at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood on Sept. 2, 2020.

  • A sign asking patrons to wear a mask sits at...

    Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune

    A sign asking patrons to wear a mask sits at Empire Burgers & Brew on Oct. 20, 2020, in Naperville, Ill.

  • People are seen at the six-corner intersection of Damen, Milwaukee...

    Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune

    People are seen at the six-corner intersection of Damen, Milwaukee and North Avenues in Chicago as other people wait for a bus on May 26, 2020.

  • National Guard Spc. Sean Sumugat gives a COVID-19 vaccination to...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    National Guard Spc. Sean Sumugat gives a COVID-19 vaccination to pharmacist specialist Jay Trivedi at Cook County Health's North Riverside Health Center on Jan. 22, 2021, as the National Guard began its latest mission to help with vaccinations across the state.

  • Joggers and bicyclists use the reopened the Lakefront Trail in...

    Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune

    Joggers and bicyclists use the reopened the Lakefront Trail in Chicago on June 22, 2020, after Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot closed the trail and the lakefront for nearly three months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

  • Map Room bartender Chris Jourdan works behind the bar in...

    Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune

    Map Room bartender Chris Jourdan works behind the bar in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood on July 14, 2020.

  • Patrons get their temperatures checked before entering Moe's Cantina on...

    Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune

    Patrons get their temperatures checked before entering Moe's Cantina on Clark Street in Wrigleyville during the Cubs season opener.

  • Valerie, age 9, takes shelter from the rain while carrying...

    Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune

    Valerie, age 9, takes shelter from the rain while carrying her masked doll, Teresa, after visiting stores with her family along North Michigan Avenue, Aug. 2, 2020.

  • DuPage County security personnel direct traffic as dozens of people...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    DuPage County security personnel direct traffic as dozens of people wait to get COVID-19 tests in Wheaton on Nov. 12, 2020.

  • Crowds cool off along the lakefront near Diversey on July...

    E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune

    Crowds cool off along the lakefront near Diversey on July 14, 2020.

  • A woman has a nasal swab test at Prism Heath...

    José M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune

    A woman has a nasal swab test at Prism Heath Lab on Aug. 6, 2020.

  • Hostess Camille Webb, right, leads customer Michael Harris to the...

    Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune

    Hostess Camille Webb, right, leads customer Michael Harris to the outdoor sitting at Ja' Grill Hyde Park restaurant on Aug. 25, 2020. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced new statewide rules requiring patrons in restaurants and bars to wear masks while interacting with waitstaff and other employees.

  • Beth Bond tries to work from home while entertaining her...

    Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune

    Beth Bond tries to work from home while entertaining her daughter Mady, 6, and her husband Lee Madsen feeds daughter James, 9 months, on March 17, 2020 at their River North apartment during the coronavirus pandemic.

  • Mayor Lori Lightfoot puts on her mask at the conclusion...

    Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune

    Mayor Lori Lightfoot puts on her mask at the conclusion of a Chicago City Hall news conference where she threatened to reimpose stricter guidelines on businesses.

  • Chandra Matteson, nurse practitioner with the Night Ministry, pauses for...

    E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune

    Chandra Matteson, nurse practitioner with the Night Ministry, pauses for a break between stops as she delivers sandwiches and checks temperatures on CTA Blue Line trains early, April 22, 2020. Social service agencies have reported an uptick in the number of homeless people sheltering on CTA trains during the pandemic.

  • Monica Gomez, a staff nurse at Amita St. Alexius Medical...

    Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune

    Monica Gomez, a staff nurse at Amita St. Alexius Medical Center, puts on PPE on Sept. 10, 2020, in Hoffman Estates. Gomez is the nurse who treated the first diagnosed coronavirus patients in Illinois, the earliest known person-to-person transmission of the new virus in the U.S.

  • David Cedras, 25, wears a mask while riding a Brown...

    Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS

    David Cedras, 25, wears a mask while riding a Brown Line train in the Loop on June 9, 2020, in Chicago.

  • Members of the National Guard prepare to give vaccines at...

    Youngrae Kim / Chicago Tribune

    Members of the National Guard prepare to give vaccines at the Tinley Park Convention Center COVID-19 vaccination site in Tinley Park on Jan. 25, 2021.

  • Food Fetch delivery driver Vuk Simovic picks up a carryout...

    Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune

    Food Fetch delivery driver Vuk Simovic picks up a carryout order from Cozy Corner owner Georgia Dravlas on Oct. 26, 2020 in Oak Park.

  • From left, Ines Linares, Cristian Garain, Dominic Cervantes and Maricela...

    Youngrae Kim / Chicago Tribune

    From left, Ines Linares, Cristian Garain, Dominic Cervantes and Maricela Santigo dine in at Frontera Grill in Chicago on Oct. 27, 2020.

  • Mary Hensel, 9, hugs the family dog Pepper, while her...

    Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune

    Mary Hensel, 9, hugs the family dog Pepper, while her brother Joshua Hensel, 15, and sister Hannah Hensel, 9, pet him outside their home, April 7, 2020 in Chicago. Their mother Sarah passed away in 2018 at the age of 41, leaving their father David Hensel to look after their six children. Hensel, a food stamp recipient, is unable to order groceries online because customers using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are required to pay for purchases at the time and place of sale. He has cut back on the number of trips he makes to the grocery store each week, wearing gloves and a mask when he goes.

  • Members of the Illinois National Guard work at the COVID-19...

    Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune

    Members of the Illinois National Guard work at the COVID-19 test site at South Suburban College in South Holland on July 2, 2020.

  • The Rev. Manuel Padilla, left, and the Rev. Esequiel Sanchez...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    The Rev. Manuel Padilla, left, and the Rev. Esequiel Sanchez carry the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe after it was removed from the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 11, 2020. Religious leaders have urged devotees to avoid pilgrimages to the site.

  • With empty seats everywhere, Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks...

    Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune

    With empty seats everywhere, Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks delivers to the Milwaukee Brewers in the second inning of the Cubs season opener, July 24, 2020 in Chicago.

  • Jo Padilla speaks with a proxy outside a residential building...

    Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune

    Jo Padilla speaks with a proxy outside a residential building while attempting to enumerate residents for the U.S. census in the Ravenswood neighborhood on Sept. 24, 2020, in Chicago.

  • Vaccine supplies are shown at the Iroquois County Public Health...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    Vaccine supplies are shown at the Iroquois County Public Health Department Feb. 10, 2021, in Watseka. Iroquois County has one of the state's highest vaccination rates.

  • Abi Carbajal stands in the kindergarten line with her daughter...

    Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune

    Abi Carbajal stands in the kindergarten line with her daughter Liani Uribe, 7, who is entering the second grade and Abi's little brother, Jacob Rebollar, 5, who begins kindergarten on the sidewalk outside of Newton Bateman Elementary School in Chicago's Irving Park neighborhood on Sept. 2, 2020.

  • Erika Cardoza, 22, Gustavo Martinez, 22, and their son Eli,...

    Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune

    Erika Cardoza, 22, Gustavo Martinez, 22, and their son Eli, 3, get a free COVID-19 test provided by Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) at "I Grow Chicago" in West Englewood on Aug. 31, 2020.

  • A staff member with personal protective equipment looks out from...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    A staff member with personal protective equipment looks out from the front entry door of the Illinois Veterans'­ Home in LaSalle on Dec. 3, 2020. At least 33 veterans have been killed by the virus.

  • A COVID-19 tester retrieves mouth swab samples from people at...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    A COVID-19 tester retrieves mouth swab samples from people at a free testing event at Harrison Park in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, July 24, 2020.

  • Phlebotomist Tina Novick administers COVID-19 tests to occupants in their...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    Phlebotomist Tina Novick administers COVID-19 tests to occupants in their vehicle as hundreds of people drive up to be tested for the coronavirus in Aurora on Nov. 12, 2020. As numbers in Illinois surge, hundreds lined up for testing in Aurora and Wheaton.

  • Ksenia Belajeva takes glasses from the table while Mario Carrasco,...

    Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune

    Ksenia Belajeva takes glasses from the table while Mario Carrasco, 60, dines with his daughter Jalyssa Carrasco, 17, and wife Maddy Carrasco, 41, at Empire Burgers & Brew on Oct. 20, 2020, in Naperville.

  • Will Grimes, 4, greets Santa Claus with a high-five through...

    Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune

    Will Grimes, 4, greets Santa Claus with a high-five through plexiglass, Nov. 24, 2020, at Bass Pro Shops in Gurnee.

  • An apologetic sign at a restuarant in the 2500 block...

    John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune

    An apologetic sign at a restuarant in the 2500 block of North Clark Street in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on Oct. 14, 2020.

  • Clinical nurse Noemy Godina prepares COVID-19 vaccinations for patients at...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    Clinical nurse Noemy Godina prepares COVID-19 vaccinations for patients at Cook County Health's North Riverside Health Center in North Riverside on Jan. 22, 2021.

  • Coach cleaner Gerardo Garibay uses a sprayer to clean and...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    Coach cleaner Gerardo Garibay uses a sprayer to clean and disinfect seating inside a Metro train car at Metra's Western Avenue Coach Yard in Chicago on Sept. 15, 2020.

  • Dozens of people line up several blocks to enter the...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    Dozens of people line up several blocks to enter the United Center mass vaccination site on March 9, 2021. The site will be the biggest COVID-19 vaccination center in he state, with a goal of 6,000 vaccines per day.

  • Families, seated at the backs of their social-distanced vehicles, await...

    John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune

    Families, seated at the backs of their social-distanced vehicles, await the start of The Beatrix Potter Drive-In Theatre Experience on Oct. 9, 2020, in Chicago.

  • A man wears a mask as Italian Americans and supporters...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    A man wears a mask as Italian Americans and supporters celebrate at Chicago's Arrigo Park on Columbus Day on Oct. 12, 2020.

  • More than 4,000 hospital workers at University of Illinois Hospital...

    E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune

    More than 4,000 hospital workers at University of Illinois Hospital went on strike on Sept. 14, 2020, after failing to agree on a contract with the hospital.

  • A medical worker prepare doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine,...

    Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune

    A medical worker prepare doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, Dec. 17, 2020, at Roseland Community Hospital on Chicago's South Side.

  • Jacob Rooth turns on the heat for outdoor seating on...

    Youngrae Kim / Chicago Tribune

    Jacob Rooth turns on the heat for outdoor seating on Clark Street in downtown Chicago on Oct. 27, 2020.

  • Dozens of people wait in line to get tested outside...

    Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/TNS

    Dozens of people wait in line to get tested outside a mobile COVID-19 testing site Nov. 9, 2020, at Resurrection Project in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood.

  • A child runs past a vote mural along Clark Street...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    A child runs past a vote mural along Clark Street near Addison Street on March 30, 2021.

  • While the inside sits empty, Bob Hook and Holly King...

    Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune

    While the inside sits empty, Bob Hook and Holly King drink and dine outside the Jarvis Square Tavern in the Rogers Park neighborhood on Sept. 28, 2020, in Chicago.

  • Pedestrians mostly wearing masks In the Wicker Park neighborhood Oct....

    E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune

    Pedestrians mostly wearing masks In the Wicker Park neighborhood Oct. 22, 2020.

  • Robin Kiamco, cousin of ICU nurse Neuman Kiamco, helps to...

    Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune

    Robin Kiamco, cousin of ICU nurse Neuman Kiamco, helps to light candles for health care workers from MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn as the group remembers Neuman Kiamco, 48, who died on Aug. 30, 2020, after a two-month battle with COVID-19. The candlelight vigil took place outside MacNeal on Sept. 12.

  • Ian Van Cleaf, assistant principal, takes the temperature of a...

    Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune

    Ian Van Cleaf, assistant principal, takes the temperature of a student arriving on the first day of school at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood before Anna can enter the school on Sept. 2, 2020.

  • Owner Erik Archambeault, right, and Wally Andersen sit under a...

    Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune

    Owner Erik Archambeault, right, and Wally Andersen sit under a tent with a heat lamp outside Rogers Park Social as they discuss new indoor bar restrictions Oct. 27, 2020, in Chicago.

  • Suzanne Heuberger, 55, visits with her 89-year-old mother Vera Heuberger...

    Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune

    Suzanne Heuberger, 55, visits with her 89-year-old mother Vera Heuberger through glass in the entryway at the Selfhelp Home, April 13, 2020, in Chicago. Suzanne, who's been visiting her mother Vera through glass since early March, uses a cell phone to talk with her mother when the two meet.

  • People wait in line before being sworn as U.S. citizens...

    Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune

    People wait in line before being sworn as U.S. citizens in the courtyard of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Oct., 16, 2020. Because of the coronavirus, the naturalization process was held outside.

  • Server Chloe Climenhaga disinfects an outdoor pod after diners departed...

    Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune

    Server Chloe Climenhaga disinfects an outdoor pod after diners departed Dec. 2, 2020, at Bien Trucha restaurant in Geneva.

  • Maurice Gordon receives a mask as Leo High School faculty...

    Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune

    Maurice Gordon receives a mask as Leo High School faculty and staff members distribute meals and 1,000 masks to families and the elderly in Chicago on April 29, 2020. The meals and masks were donated by a relief fund created by Leo alumni and Big Shoulders Fund.

  • Guests eat inside an enclosed, outdoor dining room outside Boqueria...

    John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune

    Guests eat inside an enclosed, outdoor dining room outside Boqueria restaurant at 807 W. Fulton Market, Dec. 31, 2020, in Chicago.

  • A masked scooter rider maneuvers through downtown Evanston as Illinois...

    E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune

    A masked scooter rider maneuvers through downtown Evanston as Illinois reports four days of record numbers of COVID-19 cases, Nov. 13, 2020.

  • Students from School District 25 complete their e-learning in the...

    Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune

    Students from School District 25 complete their e-learning in the multipurpose room in South Middle School on Sept. 11, 2020, in Arlington Heights.

  • A sign tells travelers about COVID-19 testing Feb. 14, 2021,...

    Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune

    A sign tells travelers about COVID-19 testing Feb. 14, 2021, at Terminal 5 of O'Hare International Airport.

  • From left, Brionna Walker, 27, drinks on the patio behind...

    Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune

    From left, Brionna Walker, 27, drinks on the patio behind Frances Cocktail Lounge with Connie Holloway, 35, in the Chatham neighborhood on Oct. 22, 2020, in Chicago.

  • People dance while musicians play on Aug. 9, 2020, during...

    Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune

    People dance while musicians play on Aug. 9, 2020, during a weekly event organized by El Corrillo de Humboldt Park. Bystanders picnic in the grass and enjoy the show each Saturday and Sunday during the free gathering.

  • Fitness instructor Martha Patricia Montes addresses her students before a...

    John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune

    Fitness instructor Martha Patricia Montes addresses her students before a virtual yoga class from her home studio in the North Mayfair neighborhood Jan. 15, 2021, in Chicago. Montes has been teaching fitness classes from her home since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • New social distancing circles are drawn on a lawn as...

    Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune

    New social distancing circles are drawn on a lawn as visitors relax June 15, 2020, at Millennium Park as the park reopens following COVID-19 pandemic closures.

  • Guests dine inside tents along the Chicago River outside RPM...

    John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune

    Guests dine inside tents along the Chicago River outside RPM Seafood, Dec. 31, 2020, in Chicago.

  • People in cars line up for drive-thru COVID-19 testing on...

    Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune

    People in cars line up for drive-thru COVID-19 testing on Jan. 7, 2021, at Charles A. Prosser Career Academy in Chicago. Illinois COVID-19 infection numbers surpassed 1 million on this day.

  • CTA riders with facemarks to protect them from coronavirus disembark...

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    CTA riders with facemarks to protect them from coronavirus disembark from a CTA train at Addison, in Chicago, March 30, 2021.

  • Mary Zalatoris, a registered nurse at Amita Health St. Alexius...

    Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune

    Mary Zalatoris, a registered nurse at Amita Health St. Alexius Medical Center, cares for COVID-19 patient Paul Kjeldbjerg, 90, of Chicago on Jan. 7, 2021, in Hoffman Estates. Kjeldbjerg, who lives in an assisted living home in Chicago, had been in the hospital for 12 days. He said he most looks forward to the days when he can visit the garden at the home where he lives and walk two miles a day.

  • A shopper in downtown Oak Park on Nov. 13, 2020....

    Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

    A shopper in downtown Oak Park on Nov. 13, 2020. A stay-at-home advisory has been issued for suburban Cook County.

  • Paca Kujtim of Arlington Heights self-administers a COVID-19 test in...

    Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune

    Paca Kujtim of Arlington Heights self-administers a COVID-19 test in his car at the Arlington International Racecourse on March 31, 2021 in Arlington Heights. Kujtim was getting testing as a precaution for upcoming travel.

  • Server Katherine Ceron delivers food to customers dining on the...

    Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune

    Server Katherine Ceron delivers food to customers dining on the outdoor patio at Tweet in Edgewater on June 3, 2020, for the first time since coronavirus restrictions closed restaurants.

  • Nurse clinician Vicki Johnson gives a second COVID-19 vaccine injection...

    Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune

    Nurse clinician Vicki Johnson gives a second COVID-19 vaccine injection to Tracy Everett, an emergency room nurse at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago on Jan. 7, 2021.

  • Cate Readling of the People's Lobby lights candles inside paper...

    Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune

    Cate Readling of the People's Lobby lights candles inside paper bags, formed into a heart shape to remember the lives lost in the COVID-19 pandemic, during a rally demanding changes from the incoming Biden-Harris administration at Federal Plaza on the eve of the Inauguration, Jan. 19, 2021, in Chicago. Readling said she was in attendance to support Cassandra Greer-Lee, whose husband passed away from COVID-19 in Cook County jail.

  • Tom Wilschke plays with his dog Jasper as his wife...

    Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune

    Tom Wilschke plays with his dog Jasper as his wife Jess Mean, from left, talks with James Moes and his wife Bridget McMullan at Loyola Beach on a sunny and warm Nov. 8, 2020, in Chicago.

  • Paul Hogan warms up as his coach Ryan Nightingale looks...

    Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune

    Paul Hogan warms up as his coach Ryan Nightingale looks on at CrossTown Fitness in Chicago on June 24, 2020.

  • CTA "L" riders wait for a train at the State/Lake...

    Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune

    CTA "L" riders wait for a train at the State/Lake station in downtown Chicago on July 14, 2020.

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Chicago Tribune
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:

The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 100,000 on Wednesday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. This news came as Illinois officials on Wednesday announced 1,111 new known cases of COVID-19 and 160 additional deaths, pushing the statewide known case count to 114,306 total cases since the pandemic began. The statewide death toll now stands at 5,083.

With desperate Chicago restaurants set to be allowed to host outdoor diners within weeks under the next phase of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s coronavirus reopening plan, city officials are still trying to come up with a process so many of them can legally do so. Lightfoot has also said the city likely will move to the next phase in early June, meaning many offices, day care centers, retailers and gyms also will open with new rules about cleanliness, face coverings and capacity. The administration has dubbed the third phase “Cautiously Reopen.”

The mayor on Tuesday released new rules for phase three of Chicago’s reopening plan.

The guidelines for Chicago come as many businesses across Illinois are preparing to reopen at the end of the week as all four regions of the state move into the next phase of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s five-phase reopening plan.

Here’s what’s happening Wednesday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:

7:54 p.m.: What’s the recovery rate for COVID-19 in Illinois? That number is now available. But it’s complicated.

As the state moves toward easing restrictions aimed at curbing the coronavirus pandemic, health officials have offered a new way to study how often people are recovering from the infection.

It’s called the recovery rate, and the Illinois Department of Public Health began publishing the figure on its website over Memorial Day weekend. The site states that, as of the last count, 92% of those who tested positive for the virus have recovered.

The figure may seem self-explanatory, but experts caution that the latest number must be interpreted carefully, with a heavy dose of context. For example, the 92% rate is based on a group of people whose cases were confirmed more than six weeks ago, at a time when testing was offered mainly to very sick patients. Read more here. — Joe Mahr

5:50 p.m.: Worker at Springfield convention center where Illinois House convened for special session last week tests positive for COVID-19

A worker at the Springfield convention center where the Illinois House convened for special session last week has tested positive for COVID-19.

Jessica Basham, chief of staff for House Speaker Michael Madigan, shared the news in an email to lawmakers and staff Wednesday, noting that “at this time it appears this individual had no interaction with any member or other staff person.”

The person who tested positive worked an eight-hour shift on Thursday, and was not in the space that was used for the makeshift House floor or a public viewing area, Basham wrote, adding that she is unaware of anyone else who was in Springfield for the session testing positive. Read more here. — Jamie Munks

4:59 p.m.: As non-COVID-19 patients return to Chicago-area emergency rooms, doctors see skyrocketing blood pressure and other side effects of delays in care. ‘It’s terrible, and it’s frightening.’

One patient ran out of medication during the COVID-19 pandemic and ended up in the Loyola University Medical Center emergency room with dangerously high blood pressure.

Others, unwilling or unable to get consistent treatment for chronic conditions during the pandemic, have come in with out-of-control asthma, mental health crises or inadequately treated chronic kidney failure.

And then there are the patients who have been putting off treatment for chest pain.

“The ones that worry me the most are the patients that say I’ve been meaning to go to the doctor, but I couldn’t get in. And now they show up, and instead of anginal chest pain, they’re having an acute heart attack and injuring the heart,” said Dr. Mark Cichon, director of emergency medical services at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. Read more here. — Nara Schoenberg

4:54 p.m.: U.S. death toll from the coronavirus has surpassed 100,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University

U.S. death toll from the coronavirus has surpassed 100,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

100,000 deaths, a once-unthinkable toll that now appears to be just the beginning of untold misery in the months ahead as Las Vegas casinos and Walt Disney World make plans to reopen, crowds of unmasked Americans swarm beaches and public health officials predict a resurgence by fall. Read more here. — The Associated Press

4:41 p.m. (Updated): Chicago’s courthouses not yet ready to join list of reopenings, will remain in coronavirus shutdown mode

Operations in Chicago’s federal and county courthouses have again delayed resuming normal operations, as crowded courtroom galleries and jury boxes continue to be risky propositions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jury trials at Chicago’s federal courthouse will not resume until at least Aug. 3, Chief Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer has ordered.

And Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans will order a continuation of county courts’ shutdown until July 6, though that system could start to reopen earlier if circumstances allow, his office announced Wednesday.

Both court systems have been operating on a bare-bones basis since March due to the coronavirus threat. While the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse remains open, as do most county courthouses, hearings are largely being held remotely via video or teleconference. Read more here. — Megan Crepeau

4:23 p.m.: Chicago to allow ‘shared streets’ program for residents to walk and bike in neighborhoods

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration is planning to create several blocks of shared streets on the North and Northwest sides to give people more room to walk and bike while social distancing, according to published reports.

Chicago Ald. Matt Martin, 47th, told residents in his newsletter Wednesday that the city’s shared streets pilot program will start Friday.

“You may have seen that most other major cities in the United States have implemented shared streets programs which allows pedestrians more space to socially distance while walking or running,” Martin’s newsletter said. “It’s important to know that a shared street does not close the street to local traffic, but does discourage through traffic.”

The stretches of roadway identified are Cortland Avenue from Ridgeway Avenue to Rockwell Avenue in the Logan Square neighborhood; Glenwood Avenue from Carmen Avenue to Devon Avenue, which runs through Edgewater and Uptown; Leland Avenue from Lincoln Avenue to Sheridan Road in Lincoln Square and Uptown; Palmer Street from Long Avenue to Kedzie Boulevard, in Hanson Park and Logan Square; Roscoe Street between Narragansett Avenue and Long Avenue, at the border of Portage Park and Belmont Cragin; and Wood Street from Cortland Street to North Avenue, in Bucktown.

The city’s plan was first reported by the transit Website Streetsblog Chicago. It was reported second by Block Club.

There also are plans in the works to create similar set-ups on the South Side, according to a city official.

All the streets listed are residential. As such, none of them has metered parking for cars, which would require the city to pay the company to which it leased its meters in a roundly derided 2008 deal for taking the spaces offline.

Other cities have set up streets with only limited access to vehicles, for people who live on them and those who need to make deliveries.

CDOT spokesman Michael Claffey said the city has been “engaging both the general public and key stakeholders to better understand transportation issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss potential solutions. As the City anticipates transitioning into a new phase of its re-opening plan sometime in June, CDOT is preparing plans to equitably re-allocate street space to residents, where feasible, for various uses beyond driving a car.” Read more here. — Chicago Tribune staff

3:47 p.m.: In ‘grim milestone,’ Cook County medical examiner’s office tops 2019 caseload with more than 6,600 cases this year — over half from the coronavirus

The toll of Cook County’s death investigations during the first five months of 2020 already has surpassed last year’s total medical examiner’s caseload as the region continues to fight the deadly coronavirus, officials announced on Wednesday.

From the start of the year until now, the Cook County medical examiner’s office has ruled on more than 6,600 deaths, over half of whom were COVID-19 patients, board president Toni Preckwinkle said in a Wednesday press conference.

That’s hundreds of more cases than the county saw in all of 2019, which logged 6,274 cases. Preckwinkle, noting 2020 has yet to reach its halfway mark, said this was a “grim milestone.” Read more here. — Alice Yin

2:48 p.m.: Entering the marijuana industry is hard. For those applying under social equity rules, the coronavirus adds a new challenge.

Opening a marijuana business has never been easy.

The industry is highly regulated. Weed is still illegal under federal law, which makes it harder for companies to land financing. And finding a site can be difficult and expensive because the rules on where a cannabis business can locate vary wildly from town to town.

To foster opportunities for entrepreneurs of color to break into an industry that has seen sales of about $147.5 million of recreational weed just in the first four months, the state’s recreational marijuana law laid out specific social equity rules. But now the COVID-19 pandemic could threaten some startups’ efforts to diversify the largely white-owned industry as they run out of time and money. Read more here. —Ally Marotti

2:40 p.m.: Officials report 1,111 new known COVID-19 cases and 160 more deaths

State officials on Wednesday announced 1,111 new known cases of COVID-19 and 160 additional deaths, pushing the statewide known case count to 114,306 total cases since the pandemic began. The statewide death toll now stands at 5,083.

2:30 p.m.: Lightfoot’s administration outlines Chicago’s rules for outdoor dining, office capacity under next phase of city’s coronavirus reopening

With desperate Chicago restaurants set to be allowed to host outdoor diners within weeks under the next phase of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s coronavirus reopening plan, city officials are still trying to come up with a process so many of them can legally do so.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday about the Lightfoot administration’s phase three industry guidelines, Commissioner Rosa Escareno of the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection urged restaurateurs to apply for the city’s existing sidewalk cafe permits. The annual permits must be renewed each year and start at $600.

“Our office actually has continued to operate, and we have continually processed sidewalk cafe permits, and we encourage restaurants who are interested in that permit to certainly come to our website or call us, and we are definitely continuing that process,” Escareno said during a conference call with reporters.

Lightfoot has said the city likely will move to the next phase in early June, meaning many offices, day care centers, retailers and gyms also will open with new rules about cleanliness, face coverings and capacity. The administration has dubbed the third phase “Cautiously Reopen.” Read more here. —John Byrne

2:27 p.m.: Illinois movie theater owners push for 50% capacity rather than 50-person limit when they reopen during Phase 4 of the state COVID-19 plan

A trade group of Illinois movie theater owners is pushing the state to revise its guidelines to allow cinemas — when they re-open — to seat more than 50 people. That number is currently the maximum outlined under Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan, which has five phases.

Later this week, the state will be moving into Phase 3, which allows for gatherings of up to 10 people in businesses including retail stores, salons and offices. Movie theaters are part of the Phase 4 re-openings, which limits gatherings to no more than 50 people.

The Illinois chapter of the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) is hoping to see that number revised and is advocating for a proposal that would instead limit auditorium attendance to 50% of an auditorium’s seating capacity.

The trade group is also pushing to open earlier. Read more here.Nina Metz

1:40 p.m.: New details announced for Oprah-led graduation ceremony for Chicago’s high school seniors

Chicago’s first-ever citywide virtual graduation ceremony will features city-connected names including Oprah Winfrey, Miguel Cervantes of “Hamilton” and Katie Kadan of “The Voice” and more “surprised celebrities.”

New details – including the date of the virtual event and how it can be viewed – were released Wednesday by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

With traditional graduation ceremonies and other year-end milestones canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting shutdown of schools, city officials sought a unique alternative for celebrating the achievements of Chicago’s graduating seniors. Read more here. —Ariel Cheung

1:32 p.m.: More businesses are opening up in Illinois Friday: Tell us about your plans

With much of Illinois — the big exception is the city of Chicago — moving to phase three of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to reopen the state, more businesses will be open for consumers. Restaurants and bars, gyms, salons, nonessential retail.

What do you plan to do Friday and this weekend? We would love to hear your plans and what you’re thinking about as you make them.

Click here to fill out a survey to let us know. —Chicago Tribune staff

1:10 p.m.: Cook County courts will remain in shutdown mode until July 6

Cook County courts will remain in shutdown mode until July 6, though the system could start to reopen earlier instead if circumstances allow, Chief Judge Timothy Evans’ office announced Wednesday.

Only essential and emergency court operations have been conducted in Cook County courts since mid-March. Evans’ order extending the shutdown was set to expire May 31.

Evans considered slowly reopening more court proceedings on June 15. But more time and discussion are needed to plan a phase-in that would “ensure that more proceedings will be conducted in a way that protects everybody,” according to the statement. Instead, he plans to enter an order on Thursday extending the slowdown until July 6 or until further notice.

Reopening plans have not been finalized but would involve face coverings, physical distancing and room capacity limits among other measures, the statement read.

The court system is also trying to get more Zoom licenses to conduct more court proceedings over the videoconferencing app, which has been used extensively to broadcast hearings since mid-April. —Megan Crepeau

12:30 p.m.: Chicago restaurants test COVID-19 surcharges as costs mount, but customer backlash forces one to retreat

The painful arithmetic of making up lost revenue for Chicago-area restaurants will not abate in June — even if reopening plans move forward in the coming month — but some makeshift solutions are drawing ire from already shrunken customer bases.

Lettuce Entertain You, the city’s largest restaurant group with 85 restaurants across Chicagoland, recently added a 4% surcharge to delivery and carryout orders. Its dozens of eateries range from the high-end RPM Steak and French bistro Mon Ami Gabi to casual joints like Bub City.

“These fees are a necessary step during a time when unanticipated costs have jeopardized the survival of our business,” company president R.J. Melman said in an emailed statement. Melman said the surcharge helps cover the expenses like personal protective equipment for employees and “absorbing the greatest increase in food pricing since 1974.”

Meanwhile, backlash on social media forced the Lakeview-based Harold’s Chicken on Broadway to pull back on a surcharge the same day it was announced mid-May. Customers posted photos of their receipts, highlighting the 26% COVID-19 surcharge, and left one-star reviews on Yelp complaining of the practice. Read more here. —Ariel Cheung

10:41 a.m.: Large majority of CPS students participate in remote learning, but more than 2,200 have had no contact with teachers

More than two months since schools statewide closed their doors because of COVID-19, Chicago Public Schools has been unable to contact more than 2,250 students, according to newly released data.

And though the district is requiring schools to make contact with each student at least once a week, no school contact was recorded with 15% of students for the week of May 11, the only week broken down in data provided by CPS.

More than 93% of students in district-managed schools have digital access and have connected in some way, according to the district.

But engagement rates were lower among black and Latino students. Read more here. —Hannah Leone

9:29 a.m.: Jury trials again put off at federal court in Chicago

Jury trials at Chicago’s federal courthouse will not resume until at least Aug. 3, Chief Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer has ordered.

The federal court system has been operating on a bare-bones basis since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse downtown remains open, most hearings are being held remotely via video or teleconference.

While bench trials, pleas and sentencing hearings can proceed remotely in some circumstances, criminal jury trials present a particular problem in a pandemic, and Pallmeyer’s order Tuesday urged caution.

“Social-distancing guidelines might render juror participation difficult or unsafe, including during juror check-in and jury selection,” she wrote.

Big groups of people need to gather for jury selection, and at least 12 jurors need to be in the same room to hear evidence and deliberate. Read more here. —Megan Crepeau

9:25 a.m.: AP poll: Only about half of Americans would get a COVID-19 vaccine

Only about half of Americans say they would get a COVID-19 vaccine if the scientists working furiously to create one succeed, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

That’s surprisingly low considering the effort going into the global race for a vaccine against the coronavirus that has sparked a pandemic since first emerging from China late last year. But more people might eventually roll up their sleeves: The poll, released Wednesday, found 31% simply weren’t sure if they’d get vaccinated. Another 1 in 5 said they’d refuse.

Health experts already worry about the whiplash if vaccine promises like President Donald Trump’s goal of a 300 million-dose stockpile by January fail. Only time and science will tell — and the new poll shows the public is indeed skeptical. Read more here. —Associated Press

9:24 a.m.: CBOE to reopen trading floor, but with far fewer traders and a lot more rules

The CBOE Options Exchange’s trading floor, closed since mid-March because of the coronavirus, will reopen June 8 in Chicago with a host of new rules and likely far fewer traders.

Temperatures checks and medical screenings will occur at entrances. Face coverings will be required at all times. Testing for COVID-19 may occur. Six feet of social distancing must be observed. Drinking water on the trading floor will be permitted, but food delivery won’t. And public transportation should be avoided.

The exchange’s trading floor has been enlarged and reconfigured and new capacity limits have been put in place.

As a result of the guidelines detailed by CBOE, the exchange expects half of traders to return. The exchange’s offices in Chicago, as well as its global locations, will remain closed, with employees working remotely.

CBOE said anyone violating the pandemic safety rules could be subject to informal or formal disciplinary action or barred from the facilities. Read more here. —Mary Ellen Podmolik

7:29 a.m.: Congress shifts focus to overhauling Paycheck Protection Program

Deadlocked over the next big coronavirus relief bill, Congress is shifting its attention to a more modest overhaul of small-business aid in hopes of helping employers reopen shops and survive the pandemic.

Bipartisan legislation that would give small employers more time to take advantage of federal subsidies for payroll and other costs is expected to pass the House this week, as lawmakers return to Washington for an abbreviated two-day session.

Yet absent from the agenda is formal talks between congressional leaders on the next phase of the federal coronavirus response. Democrats have already pushed a $3 trillion-plus measure through the House, but negotiations with the GOP-controlled Senate and White House have yet to begin.

“We can’t keep propping up the economy forever,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday in Lexington. It was one of his first public appearances in his home state of Kentucky since mid-March because of the pandemic.

“The ultimate solution is to begin to get back to normal,” he said. “There are three things that are essential to have full normalcy — testing, treatment and vaccine.” Read more here. —Associated Press

6:35 a.m.: Deaths of more than two dozen residents of Far North Side nursing home tied to COVID-19: ‘It seemed like there was nothing we could do’

For days, Mirella Bogdan tried reaching her father by phone after she found out he had been exposed to the novel coronavirus at his Far North Side nursing home.

She was never able to reach him. Then, she was told he was taken to an area hospital. A week later, after she’d been able to see him on a video chat but not talk to him, her father, Mitchel Bogdan, died from COVID-19, acute hypoxic respiratory failure and pneumonia along with other illnesses contributing. Read more here. —Elvia Malagon

6:30 a.m.: Preckwinkle vetoes ‘extraordinarily bad’ plan to share coronavirus-positive addresses with first responders

In the first veto of her administration, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on Tuesday moved to block a resolution to share addresses of COVID-19 individuals with 911 dispatchers, the latest blow to a controversial practice at the center of a debate on protecting first responders at the cost of individuals’ civil liberties.

Cook County Board members narrowly approved the resolution, which only applies to suburban Cook County, last week following a heated discussion about the effects of the measure on black and Latino communities. Read more here. —Alice Yin

6:25 a.m.: The General Assembly adjourned its special pandemic session in the wee hours of a holiday weekend. Here’s what you might have missed.

In a special legislative session called in response to the coronavirus pandemic, state lawmakers debated bills through masks and the Illinois House met on the floor of a downtown Springfield convention center to provide proper social distancing.

The three-day session stretched into four and then into the early morning hours of a fifth day, Sunday, before lawmakers adjourned until the fall. Here’s a look at what got done — and what didn’t. —Dan Petrella

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May 26

Here are five things that happened Tuesday that you need to know:

More space at restaurants, masks at daycares: Here’s a closer look at Lightfoot’s guidelines for phase 3 of Chicago’s reopening plan

Chicago releases rules for restaurants to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic — but no date yet

Lightfoot announces plans to train hundreds of people to track the spread of the coronavirus

Summer camps are canceling and parents are scrambling: The search for sitters who embrace social distancing

Home Run Inn suburban Chicago factory churns out nearly 80,000 frozen pizzas a day to meet soaring demand during pandemic