This article contains new, firsthand information uncovered by its reporter(s). Police have not yet made any arrests. COVID Illinois: City of Chicago vaccine mandate, face mask requirements may not end Feb. 28, date Gov. SAG-AFTRA president and actress, Fran Drescher, called on Hollywood to put an end to its COVID-19 vaccination mandate. A few months ago they said they didnt know who I was. Gov. February 10, 2022 Chicago and Cook County health officials announced plans to revoke pandemic masking and vaccination entry requirements by Feb. 28, the day Illinois' statewide mask mandate. Chicago 's mask and vaccination requirements will end on Monday, February 28, the same day the state mask mandate is lifted, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced yesterday. 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, Alineas Top Bartenders Departure and Four More Shuffles, A running log of key moves within Chicagos hospitality industry, These top pizzerias wont show up on national TV stock footage of Chicago, Sign up for the 1616 E Wooster #15 The City of Chicago will be holding informational webinars to provide an overview of the vaccine requirement on Wednesday, December 22 at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 29 at 11:00 a.m., and Tuesday, January 4 at 2:00 p.m. To register for a webinar, please visit Chicago.gov/businesseducation. ICU beds: Chicago must have an average of 99 or fewer ICU beds occupied by COVID-19 patients per day. Illinois statewide mask mandate is set to end Feb. 28. Cook Countys public health department, which covers most of the countys suburbs, announced it would follow suit, lifting its general mask mandate and proof-of-vaccine requirement on Monday, as well as its requirement that employees of establishments such as restaurants and gyms be vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing. The lawsuit, which was initially dismissed but is now moving ahead with an amended complaint, seeks $10 billion in damages. Lightfoot accused Vallas of using the ultimate dog whistle by saying his campaign is about taking back our city, and of cozying up to the president of the Fraternal Order of Police, whom she calls a racist. Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Feb. 22, 2022, as she announces the city will be ending its indoor mask requirement in most locations on Feb. 28. But if we're talking about a week difference, for example, we might extend it. 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.. Indicates that a Newsmaker/Newsmakers was/were physically present to report the article from some/all of the location(s) it concerns. Earlier in the month, it remained unclear whether Chicagowhich has a . Asked if she was treated unfairly because of her race and gender, Lightfoot said: Im a black woman in America. Johnson has avoided the word defund during the race, and his campaign says he does not want to cut the number of police officers. Most of these cases have involved edibles, specifically edibles accidentally eaten by children or unwitting visitors like grandparents or babysitters. While COVID case numbers and hospitalizations have been on a downward trend in Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot won't commit to eliminating the mask and vaccine mandate in indoor spaces by the end of the month, in line with the state's plan. Here's what you should know as the mandates are removed. JB Pritzker announced last week Illinois statewide mask mandate is set to end Feb. 28, so long as the states COVID-19 metrics continue to fall. In making the announcement Tuesday, Lightfoot thanked residents who have complied with the rules and acknowledged the hardships that have resulted from the pandemic and resulting restrictions, citing the restaurant industry in particular. Chicago workers can pay for tests instead of getting COVID-19 vaccine until the end of the year By Claudia Morell. A man in his 60s was taken to Swedish Hospital in serious condition due to smoke inhalation, the Trib reports, but no other injuries were reported. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. School districts, too, may decide to implement their own mask mandates. Lightfoot also urged understanding of individual decisions, something that has been in short supply in recent weeks during the raging controversy over masks that has divided the nation. Eli Lilly cuts insulin prices up to 70% amid pressure to slash costs, Jurors to visit Murdaugh crime scene ahead of closing arguments, $1M winning Powerball ticket sold in Chicago. Particularly in a restaurant setting, where I have no idea now whether the people sitting around me are vaccinated, Ill be wearing a mask, Lightfoot said. 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. It was at 3.3 percent Monday. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune). "We don't need to wait and miss two major economic opportunities for our city just because we want to be on pace with the state," said 15th Ward Alderman Ray Lopez. Were going back to a sense of normalcy. Hospital beds: Chicago must have an average of 249 or fewer beds occupied by COVID-19 patients per day. SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher, speaking during Sunday's SAG Awards, called on Hollywood to flex its economic muscles to democratize states where civil and human rights are under attack. "The Nanny" star Fran Drescher who is the current Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) president, alluded to the end of vaccine mandates in . CHICAGO (WLS) -- Frustration is growing over the differing timelines for lifting COVID-19 mandates in Chicago and the state. "We're really close, and it is really exciting.". Across the state, 23,110 vaccine doses are being administered per day, based on a seven-day rolling average. CHICAGO - Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Tuesday that the city will end its mask mandate and vaccine requirement for certain indoor spaces beginning next week. Suburban Cook County will follow suit, the Tribune reports. The state will lift the rule which requires people to wear masks when indoors in public at the end of the month as long as it continues to see declines in COVID-19 metrics, Gov. ", READ MORE: Pritzker to lift Illinois mask mandate for some. I think there might be a few, Toia said. The city's end to its mandates will line up with the state, which plans to lift its own mask mandate Monday. What to Know About the Cook County Commissioner After Advancing to the Runoff Election. The mandate requiring proof-of-vaccination will also end Feb. 28. A "Mask Required" sign at the entrance to a Kroger Co. grocery store in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Fundraising efforts for the three-year-old Twisted Hippo were spearheaded by Mikerphone Brewing in Elk Grove Village and quickly drew support from other Chicago area breweries including Half Acre, Pipeworks, Lo Rez, and Skeleton Key Brewing in suburban Woodridge. This doesnt mean COVID is gone, it simply means transmission levels are lower than they have been during surges. 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. Gov. Arwady: Our cases remain in high transmission, but we're getting very close to substantial territory. 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. JB Pritzker said Wednesday. Lightfoot was asked Tuesday whether the declaration of independence from masks and proof-of-vaccine mandates marks an end to a pandemic that has dragged on for two years. In June, Skeleton Key saw extensive damage after it was hit by a tornado. 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. As of Tuesday, Chicagos average daily case rate was 283 down 37% from the 452 cases-a-day just one week ago. She also said she will continue to wear a mask in public. As of yesterday, the current daily average number of cases in Chicago was 278, solidly in the substantial transmission category, but a significant drop from 871, where it was at the beginning of the month. "We are now seeing the fastest rate of decline in our COVID-19 hospitalization metrics since the pandemic began," Pritzker said. Sources Cited. Vallas, a former schools CEO backed by the police union, and Johnson, a Cook . (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune). At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said the city is averaging 431 cases per-day, above the 400 cases-per day threshold signaling high transmission. City officials later said, however, that they would consider going forward with dropping the mandate even if they hadnt hit those totals to avoid confusion for residents. 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. J.B. Pritzkers announcement earlier this month that he will lift his mask requirement for most indoor public places at the end of February should the states most recent and largest COVID-19 surge continue to subside. But Arwady noted that the full two-week period may not be reached before the lifting begins. Some have been forced to close, while others have had to make major adjustments. DeFranco is not the only one frustrated; another restaurant owner said if the city mandates go past Feb. 28, she's not going to enforce them. If the federal measure ends, the legal battle over New York's state mandate will determine if the shots are required of health . City of Chicago employees must, as a condition of employment, be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 effective October 15, 2021. As a news piece, this article cites verifiable, third-party sources which have all been thoroughly fact-checked and deemed credible by the Newsroom. Universal masking in CPS is part of an agreement with the teachers union that was sealed following its January work stoppage that resulted in five days of canceled classes. "Once that worry is gone I think we'll see the restaurant industry get back to as normal as we're gonna be," he said. Something went wrong. Lightfoot in August had announced a vaccine . But Chicago Public Schools is a notable exception and will continue to require masking. "Open it up now. That's just that's just how it isAnd we're getting really close and that is thanks to Chicagoans.". Arwady does expect a slight increase in cases after the mandates lift, but she thinks the city should be able to handle it. But if theres a week or more of difference between when the state drops its mandate and when Chicago is supposed to, the city will keep its mandates in place for the full two weeks, Arwady said. In all cases, thieves sought to take cash out of registers or tip jars. The former teacher and union organizer has argued that the answer to addressing crime is not more money for police but more investment in mental health care, education, jobs and affordable housing, and he was accused by rivals such as Lightfoot of wanting to defund the police. Arwady said that the vaccine mandate wont be removed until the city gets down to medium-low, the Tribune reports. Still, a lawsuit by CPS parents in Mount Greenwood against the mandate could impact the situation going forward. Thats down from 2% a week ago. Columbia University will end its COVID-19 vaccine requirement as the national public health emergency expires this spring. Regardless of tonights outcome, we fought the right fights and we put this city on a better path, Lightfoot said. Please enter a valid email and try again. Jupiter served Gullah red rice fritters, a seared pork chop with creamy millet, an okra salad, and, for dessert, a meringue made from whipping the liquid in a can of black-eyed peas and mixing it with fried ham hocks, sorghum molasses, frozen peaches and pralines. And if operators still want to impose mask mandates at their individual restaurants, they can. Vallas was the only white candidate in the field. Chicago was supposed to hit three out of four COVID-19 milestones for two weeks before it'd drop the city's mandates. Rudina Alihajdaraj, a hostess with Pequods Pizza, inspects a COVID-19 vaccination card on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, the first day that proof of vaccination mandate is required to eat inside at Chicago restaurants. Some said by the end of the month isn't soon enough. 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. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune). Undaunted, the chain plans to refile this month. ", "I don't want to put an artificial date on when this is going to happen when we still see some danger signs in the data," Lightfoot said. sent-trib.com 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? "As the . Many residents may continue to wear masks in public spaces for a variety of reasons even if they are vaccinated or as more mandates and advisories fade. Its reporting an average of 431 per day. Oct. 8, 2021, 4:30 p.m. CT . Under the statewide and newly announced city rules, face coverings will still be required in schools, health care settings and public transportation. The city only reached that point on Monday, Block Club reports, but Arwady said that transmission rates have been dropping steadily and precipitously in the past few weeks. 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. The state reported 2,893 cases since Monday. Lightfoot touted her record of investing in neighborhoods and supporting workers, such as by increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour. The ruling is the latest chapter in McDonalds long legal saga regarding claims of racial discrimination. But opponents blamed Lightfoot for an increase in crime that occured in cities across the U.S. during the pandemic and criticized her as being a divisive, overly contentious leader. [Illinois will end its indoor mask mandate for most public places on Feb. 28. Illinois Restaurant Association President Sam Toia welcomed the mayors decision to lift the mandates, keeping to the same statewide date set by Pritzker. It has been difficult. The home popcorn will be available in select Walmart stores on March 11, the day before the 95th Academy Awards. 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. READ MORE: Pritzker to lift Illinois mask mandate for some. Oops. The Wild Things 2023 Conference drew thousands of outdoor sorts. Plus, local breweries raise thousands of dollars for Twisted Hippo after a devastating fire in Albany Park. Allens company sued McDonalds in May 2021 , alleging that the chain almost exclusively spends ad dollars with white-owned television stations, thus discriminating against Black-owned networks like his own. The city is seeing an average of more than eight people dying per day, down 40 percent from a week ago. 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? 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. I want to thank Chicagoans and in particular, our business community for adhering to these measures and helping us pass through this difficult time while keeping restaurants and other businesses open.. But the city could also opt to end its mandates early to line up with the state and avoid confusion for residents, Arwady said. Illinois, Cook County and Chicago mask mandates and other COVID regulations before restrictions will be widely lifted Monday. That is their right. Here are key takeaways from the night. Of course.. As Illinois aims to lift its mask mandate by Feb. 28, Lori Lightfoot said the city is not there yet in regard to eliminating mask and vaccine card requirements, 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, Election Results: See How All 50 Wards Voted in Chicago's Aldermanic Elections, Who Did Your Ward Vote For? Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, holds a face mask while speaking on Feb. 22, 2022. ### Let's not play games with the numbers, and let's let the economy roll," said Leonard DeFranco, co-owner of Hawkeye's Bar And Grill. 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. The deluge of well-wishes has prompted Golom to think about delaying the closure and put the business up for sale in the hope that another operator will take it over. Mayor Lori Lightfoot puts on a face mask while listening as Dr. Allison Arwady speaks to reporters, during a press conference announcing the citys plans to lift its mask and proof-of-vaccine mandates at City Hall, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Chicagos health department then announced it would also aim to end the citys mask and vaccine card mandates by the end of the month, though Chicago would have to hit three out of four milestones for at least two weeks for that to happen. Masks will continue to be required in health care settings, on public transit, and in other congregate settings. 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