Here are key takeaways from the night. Its reporting an average of 115 per day. All rights reserved, This Map Shows Exactly How the City of Chicago Voted for Mayor in the 2023 Election, Report: Jalen Carter Arrest Warrant Issued for Racing Car, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its masking guidance Friday, Election Results: See How All 50 Wards Voted in Chicago's Aldermanic Elections, Who Did Your Ward Vote For? The requirement forced restaurants and bars already struggling with a shortage of staff to reassign some workers to check vaccination cards and IDs or ask beleaguered wait staff to do it. The state reported 2,893 cases since Monday. At Charbella Salon in Lakeview, customers wore masks while getting their hair done, as did their stylist. The public memorial, set for Saturday, will be a night-long celebration of Roberts and the music he loved with sets that pay homage to the legendary DJ. If the federal measure ends, the legal battle over New York's state mandate will determine if the shots are required of health . The trattoria has everything to do with Chicago history, Chu writes, weaving the co-owners legacies into vivid descriptions of impeccable linguine vongole, so loaded with briny sweet clams, its as if [co-owner Tony Fiasche] turned up the volume on the family stereo just a touch. Other praiseworthy submissions included a 24-ounce grilled bistecca that rivals not only the citys best steakhouses, but would turn the head of famous Italian butcher Dario Cecchini, and the fagioli, gigante white beans in garlic-tomato pork broth that Chu declares a main character merely masquerading as a side dish.. Thats my personal choice, Lightfoot said. City of Chicago employees must, as a condition of employment, be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 effective October 15, 2021. A "Mask Required" sign at the entrance to a Kroger Co. grocery store in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Block Club Chicagos coronavirus coverage is free for all readers. CHICAGO (AP) Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will meet in a runoff to be the next mayor of Chicago after voters on Tuesday denied incumbent Lori Lightfoot a second term, issuing a rebuke to a leader who made history as head of the nation's third-largest city. City Council Office of Financial Analysis, Community Commission for Public Safety & Accountability, General Inquiries: healthychicago@cityofchicago.org, Media Inquiries: media.cdph@cityofchicago.org, FOIA Requests: CDPHFOIA@cityofchicago.org, Feb 8, 2023 - City to Host Final COVID-19/Flu Family Vaccination Clinic of Season at Truman College on Saturday, Feb 3, 2023 - CDPH COVID-19 Update: Cook County and Chicago Remain in Low COVID-19 Community Level, Jan 30, 2023 - City of Chicago Announces Expansion of Alternative 911 Response Program, Jan 27, 2023 - CDPH COVID-19 Update: Cook County and Chicago Drop to Low COVID-19 Community Level, Jan 20, 2023 - CDPH COVID-19 Update: Cook County and Chicago Remain at Medium COVID-19 Community Level, City to Remove Mask and Vaccine Requirements for Certain Public Settings on February 28 in Response to Continued Improvement in COVID-19 Metrics. The health care vaccination mandate is scheduled to run until November 2024. This is a meaningful step that will increase consumer confidence and keep our restaurants on a steady path to recovery.. At the moment, the latest COVID-19 surge seems to have peaked in Chicago. That would mean Chicago could shortly have three out of four goals ticked off and would just need to wait two weeks to lift its mandates, under its own rules. Something went wrong. Hospitalizations are down 75% from their high. We will have a safe Chicago. The seven-day average for new cases was 8,093 last Friday, down from an all-time high of 13,701 on January 7 but its still more than ten times the average at the end of October, when Gov. School districts, too, may decide to implement their own mask mandates. Email: Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, Road reconstruction closes part of Ohio 25, Kobe Bryant family settles photo lawsuit for $28.5 million, Greek transport minister resigns over train crash; 36 dead, TikTok sets new default time limits for minors. Oct. 8, 2021, 4:30 p.m. CT . ", READ MORE: Pritzker to lift Illinois mask mandate for some. But she also has made a point of emphasizing her desire to keep the city as open as possible. But in a 2020 radio interview, Johnson said defunding is not just a slogan but an actual real political goal, and he sponsored a nonbinding resolution on the county board to redirect money from policing and jails to social services. Its important for us to recognize this moment for what it is: a huge step forward in our effort to overcome COVID-19, Lightfoot said. More Chicagoans were hospitalized with COVID-19 during the Omicron surge than at any prior point in the pandemic and the great majority of these hospitalizations were in unvaccinated Chicagoans. "Really? Were going back to a sense of normalcy. CDPH recommends Chicagoans who may be immunocompromised or have a family member who is immunocompromised still wear a mask, as well residents under the age of 5 who are still not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. "If it is not the 28th it won't be long after would be my expectation," she explained. JB Pritzker said last week he anticipates the state's indoor mask mandate for venues that are not schools, hospitals and public transit will lift on Feb. 28 as COVID hospitalizations continue to drop. Two days after a devastating fire destroyed Twisted Hippo Brewery in Albany Park, supporters and fellow craft beer makers have raised nearly $138,000 on GoFundMe to help displaced staff and help cover repair costs. For example, after 5 days of isolation or quarantine, masks will continue to be required in days 6-10 in public spaces, as they are now. Anyone can call the citys coronavirus hotline at 312-746-4835 to get more information on how and where to get vaccinated in their community. Of course.. He also said he wasnt responsible for the liked tweets, which he called abhorrent, and suggested someone had improperly accessed his account. Its been two years since Illinois legalized recreational marijuana, and since then, cannabis-related calls to the Illinois Poison Center have nearly doubled, the Tribune reports, from 487 in 2019 to 855 in 2021. The moves bring Chicago in line with Gov. Columbia University will end its COVID-19 vaccine requirement as the national public health emergency expires this spring. Lightfoot said the city is "making tremendous progress" in bringing down COVID-19 cases, but added that 500 cases per day is "not where we want to be," saying "we're still seeing too many people dying every day from COVID. Chicago Tribunes Alice Yin, Tracy Swartz and Clare Spaulding contributed. Lightfoot touted her record of investing in neighborhoods and supporting workers, such as by increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Illinois statewide mask mandate is set to end Feb. 28. Mask mandates already have been removed in more than 150 school districts around the state after a judge blocked Gov. This guy actually has a plan. CHICAGO Chicago is not on track to end its mask mandate Feb. 28, when the statewide mandate is set to end but the city might lift the requirement then, anyway. Johnson has avoided the word defund during the race, and his campaign says he does not want to cut the number of police officers. The seven-day rolling averages for each category need to be at a "lower transmission" level, which is set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Tuesday that based on the way the city's COVID-19 numbers are trending, proof of vaccination requirements could be lifted . We're talking about a matter of a few days is going to make a difference?". Its a fact that Wieners Circle, the notorious late-night hot dog stand in Lincoln Park, counted on when it tweeted Friday that it would give away all-you-can-eat cheddar fries if the Packers lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional series. Chicagos mask and vaccination requirements will end on Monday, February 28, the same day the state mask mandate is lifted, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced yesterday. But Chicago Public Schools is a notable exception and will continue to require masking. See How All 50 Wards Voted in the 2023 Chicago Mayoral Election, All Eyes On a Strong' System That Could Hit Chicago Area Friday, But Much Uncertainty Remains, Who is Brandon Johnson? When you get a party of five or six that comes in, three or four might have the vaccine and a couple dont. Lightfoot, Johnson and five other candidates are Black, though Lightfoot argued she was the only Black candidate who could win. We really dont know.. The health commissioner expects the city to hit its goal for non-ICU hospital beds just a little behind that.. As of Monday, Chicagoans will no longer be required to show proof of. Vaccines protect you and the people around you, reducing the spread of COVID-19. Vallas, a former schools CEO backed by the police union, and Johnson, a Cook . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has four levels of community transmission. Johnson on Tuesday night noted the improbability that he would make the runoff, considering his low name recognition at the start of the race. Phone: 419-352-4611 The end of the. As a news piece, this article cites verifiable, third-party sources which have all been thoroughly fact-checked and deemed credible by the Newsroom. But there are less than two weeks to go before Feb. 28 and Chicagos only hit one of its goals so far. The Cook County Department of Public Health said it also anticipates that if key metrics continue to improve, the vaccination and masking orders for suburban Cook County, less Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park and Stickney Township, can be lifted in the same timeframe Pritzker laid out Wednesday. ICU beds: Chicago must have an average of 99 or fewer ICU beds occupied by COVID-19 patients per day. Dr. Arwady said they are using case numbers, test positivity, hospital bed availability and ICU bed availability to make determinations on COVID mitigations, with three of four metrics needing to be in blue or green level for low transmission. She also noted that the city had navigated unprecedented challenges such as the pandemic and its economic and public safety fallout to protests over policing. Still, the number of cannabis-related calls is a very small percentage of the more than 80,000 the center received last year; of those, the highest percentage were for household cleaners, prescription drugs, cosmetics, and alcohol. Indicates that a Newsmaker/Newsmakers was/were physically present to report the article from some/all of the location(s) it concerns. "It's been a tough environment, we've all had to learn on our feet," said Phillip Walters, B. Hospitality Co. "As we lift the mask mandates, we hope people will feel more safe and start to come out again," said Steven Hartenstein, Stefani Restaurant Group. In a gathering of 50 people, she said during the mayors announcement, there is a one-in-five chance someone has COVID-19, as opposed to one-in-two, as it was a week ago. All Rights Reserved. Chicago was supposed to hit three out of four COVID-19 milestones for two weeks before it'd drop the city's mandates. Chicago has had 270 confirmed cases reported since Monday. The city is seeing an average of more than eight people dying per day, down 40 percent from a week ago. The Chicago Transit Authority reminded travelers Saturday that masks are still required on public buses and trains, as well as within the station. The changes come after weeks of COVID-19 numbers coming down from the Omicron surge. By submitting your email, you agree to our, The freshest news from the local food world, Chicagos Mask and Vaccination Mandates for Bars and Restaurants Will End February 28, Sign up for the Gov. Regardless of tonights outcome, we fought the right fights and we put this city on a better path, Lightfoot said. Gov. Deaths were down 51 % over the last week from 9.7 last week to 4.7. [Illinois will end its indoor mask mandate for most public places on Feb. 28. When defining vaccination, the city and county are following the lead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: two weeks past a second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two. "It riles me. The word spring, of course, is a nebulous concept in Chicago, as cold temperatures and even snow have been known to linger as late as April. It makes me angry," he said. When the @packers lose to the @49ers tomorrow night, we will be giving away all you can eat fries topped with Wisconsins finest cheddar, to all bar patrons who would like to celebrate. "As the nation . Most of these cases have involved edibles, specifically edibles accidentally eaten by children or unwitting visitors like grandparents or babysitters. Listen to Its All Good: A Block Club Chicago Podcast here: Some races are still too close to call, while others saw incumbents get forced into runoffs. J.B. Pritzker's previously announced plans to end the Illinois mask mandate on the same date. The Illinois-Wisconsin sports rivalry is sufficiently acrimonious that a Packers loss is still reason for celebration, even if the Bears arent playing. Vallas opponents have criticized him as too conservative to lead the Democratic stronghold. Thanks for subscribing to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. We will make Chicago the safest city in America, Vallas said. Lightfoot resisted proof-of-vaccine mandates until Jan. 3, long after other cities such as New York had implemented similar policies. Currently, Chicago has a mask mandate in place for indoor settings, along with a requirement that patrons in specific indoor establishments show a proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to gain entry. Many school districts around the state have already gone mask-optional following recent court rulings school that temporarily suspended the mask rules for children whose families sued. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot pauses during her concession speech as her spouse Amy Eshleman applauds during an election night party for the mayoral election Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, in Chicago. What to Know About the Cook County Commissioner After Advancing to the Runoff Election. Mikerphone also led a fundraising campaign, ultimately raising more than $145,000. The citys positivity rate was 1.5%. Block Club Chicago has more on San Franciscos victory, the scene at Wieners Circle, and a pressing staff update: legendary late-night insult artist Roberta Poochie Jackson is making videos for fans on Cameo for $50 apiece. But some contend it's time to stop now, citing fewer severe COVID-19 cases, health care staffing shortages and the impending May 11 expiration of a national public health emergency that has been in place since January 2020. "If we are not able to move on the 28th, I think it would probably be not very long after that. Plus, local breweries raise thousands of dollars for Twisted Hippo after a devastating fire in Albany Park. Crime was an issue that resonated with voters. The Chicago Board of Education is poised to vote on a resolution at Wednesdays monthly board meeting that would ratify district COVID-19 safety measures including universal masking of students and staff; testing for unvaccinated employees; and directing those who test positive or have been exposed to the virus to temporarily stay home. Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that Chicago will drop its mask mandate for most settings, as well as its proof-of-vaccination mandate at restaurants, bars and other indoor establishments,. The vaccination requirement that went into effect at Chicago bars and restaurants on January 3 and has caused controversy in some communities since then will be lifted as soon as the citys COVID-19 spread decreases substantially, possibly by spring, Dr. Allison Arwady, the citys public health commissioner, said at a question-and-answer session last week. Hospitalizations were down 29% to a daily average of 27. While Chicago lifted its mask mandate Monday, is the proof of COVID-19 vaccination requirement removed now, as well? Arwady does expect a slight increase in cases after the mandates lift, but she thinks the city should be able to handle it. The fire began around 3:30 a.m. Monday in an apartment neighboring the brewery at 2925 W. Montrose Avenue, according to multiple news reports, before rapidly spreading to Twisted Hippo and a nearby gym, both of which were decimated. She joined LX News to talk about mask restrictions and what loosening them could mean for the nation. That brings the total number of confirmed cases in Illinois up to 3,004,664. At the United Center, all attendees includingChicago BullsandBlackhawksfans will be required to presentproof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to gain access to the venue. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and are an important tool for ending the global pandemic. Every dime we make fundsreportingfrom Chicagos neighborhoods. 6:45 PM PT - Tuesday, February 28, 2023. But its also a sign of the turmoil in U.S. cities following the COVID-19 pandemic, with its economic fallout and spikes in violent crime in many places. newsletter, Fulton Market Meets California Wine Country For Lettuce Entertain Yous Latest, Oakville Grill & Cellar will feature 750 different wines, Boka Goes Family-Friendly Inside Lakeviews Former Speakeasy and Brothel, GGs Chicken Shop and Itoko give the Southport Corridor casual options inside a storied 120-year-old building, This Historic Chicago Sausage Stand Made the Maxwell Street Polish a Local Icon, Jims Original has served the city for more than eight decades, Sign up for the As cases rose in October 2020, for instance, she regularly warned about tighter restrictions being forthcoming then criticized Pritzker for again shutting down indoor dining. JB Pritzker said he anticipates the state's indoor mask mandate for venues that are not schools, hospitals, and public transit will lift on Feb. 28 as COVID hospitalizations continue to drop. Asked at an unrelated event in Chicago about the citys decision to end its mask rule Monday, Pritzker said that date seems like a great day for everybody to follow suit., But, the governor continued, I will add that there are local governments that have imposed stricter mitigations, and theyre welcome to do so.. CHICAGO Illinois' mask mandate is ending Feb. 28. As of February 21, the 7-day-rolling-average test positivity (now 1.5% in Chicago), hospital COVID-19 census, and ICU COVID-19 census have all reached the pre-defined lower risk category, meaning they have been in an acceptable lower risk range for the last week. There have been at least 7,136 deaths from COVID-19 in Chicago. Edibles, specifically edibles accidentally eaten by children or unwitting visitors like or! 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