Illinois reported the lowest number of daily coronavirus deaths since early April on Monday, as officials announced 31 additional fatalities. That’s the fewest deaths in a 24-hour period in the state since April 5, when 31 deaths were also recorded.
There were also 1,713 new known coronavirus cases in the last day, bringing the state’s total since the pandemic began to 112,017, officials said. The state’s total death count is now 4,884.
Meanwhile, Chicagoans marked Memorial Day in a different way Monday, as local leaders tried to balance paying respect to those who died serving their country while also respecting the coronavirus-driven stay-at-home rules.
Here’s what’s happening Memorial Day weekend with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
3:50 p.m.: Crowd protests at Buckingham Fountain against Pritzker’s stay-at-home order on Memorial Day
At a Memorial Day rally in front of Buckingham Fountain, a crowd protested Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order as an affront to the freedoms that service members have died defending. The well-received speeches, though, frequently veered into plugs for online learning courses or political futures.
State Rep. Darren Bailey, R- Xenia, who is locked in a legal battle with the governor over the order, urged onlookers to get involved in their local government and flood the phone lines of their elected officials.
The crowd, which held signs saying “F-U-J-B” and “Fire Pritzker,” called on Bailey to run for governor. He told the audience it was “time to replace career RINOs,” a pejorative term for Republicans who aren’t considered conservative enough.
“If God opens a door, I’ll go through that door,” Bailey said as the crowd erupted in cheers. “But it’s going to take a lot of work.”
Bailey, who was removed from the House floor last week for refusing to wear a mask in violation of a bipartisan rule, also insisted he held a fondness for Chicago, which runs counter to his previous statements. He did not, for example, mention that he has supported efforts to separate the city from the rest of the state.
“I love Chicago, its part of Illinois,” he said. “But sometimes when you raise a wayward child, you have to discipline that child.”
The event was organized by Anthony Delmedico, an Arizona-based entrepreneur, who promoted the event as part of a documentary called “Unconstitutional.” He has predicted pandemic-related lockdowns soon will be viewed as “the biggest blunder in American History.”
At several points during the rally, Chicago police officers wearing face masks asked unmasked protesters to maintain 6 feet of social distance. One such request, repeated over a bullhorn by organizers, was met with boos and demands for police to arrest them if they didn’t like it.
Officers dispersed the protest, with the Police Department citing public health concerns in a statement.
“While we worked to ensure the First Amendment rights of those participating in today’s march, the organizers and participants were not practicing social distancing or abiding by the public health guidelines outlined in the stay-at-home order. Therefore, for the health and safety of all residents involved in the rally, the Chicago Police Department issued a dispersal of the crowd and ordered the organizers to shut down the event,” the statement read. —Stacy St. Clair
3:15 p.m.: State officials report 31 coronavirus deaths, the lowest number since early April
Illinois officials reported 31 more deaths related to COVID-19 in the previous 24 hours, the lowest number since April 5, when 31 deaths were also recorded.
There were also 1,713 new known coronavirus cases in the last day, bringing the state’s total since the pandemic began to 112,017, officials said. The state’s total death count is now 4,884, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. —Hal Dardick
11:15 a.m.: Memorial Day weekend violence not hampered by pandemic shutdown
Nine people already have been shot and killed in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend, as of Monday morning, making it the deadliest one since 2015.
The dead are among at least 36 people shot from Friday afternoon to early Monday, according to data kept by the Tribune.
With a day still to go in the long weekend, the number of shootings is approaching 2019’s total despite a coronavirus stay-at-home order, Saturday’s severe storms and added police patrols.
Last year, 43 people were shot, seven fatally, over a holiday weekend that also included severe storms and an extra 1,200 patrol officers. The most injured in one year was 2016 with at least 69 shot, six fatally, but 2015 saw more people killed with 12 fatalities.
New police Superintendent David Brown said on Friday that he expected the usual spike in violence to occur this weekend. Patrols would be stepped up, but he would not say how many extra officers would be deployed.
Officers also were supposed be “on the lookout for large gatherings” that are not allowed because of the pandemic, Brown said. Read more here. —Paige Fry
11:10 a.m.: Relief funds pop up for south suburban families
As the COVID-19 pandemic ravages the south suburbs, impacting thousands of families and exacerbating the economic and public health disparities endemic to the region, a pair of relief funds have popped up to help the Southland’s most vulnerable residents.
The Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund, launched in mid-March, and the Southland Family Support Fund, announced this past week, aim to provide emergency financial support to those locally in need.
The COVID-19 Response Fund raises money from local philanthropies, corporations and individual donors for distribution to nonprofits that serve populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. To date, it has provided $1.825 million to more than two-dozen organizations in the south and southwest suburbs.
The Family Support Fund, which takes a more direct approach to assisting Southland families, will next week begin providing $500 cash transfers to at least 1,000 Southland families directly affected by the pandemic.
Together, the funds are providing a lifeline to dozens of local social service organizations and thousands of their struggling clients.
Kathy Straniero, executive director of Together We Cope, a Tinley Park-based homeless prevention agency that has received $75,000 from the COVID-19 response fund, said she doesn’t know where her organization would be if it weren’t for the fund’s recent support. Read more here. —Zak Koeske
Sunday
7:10 p.m.: More than 1,000 attend drive-thru Eid celebration at suburban mosque. ‘Preserving human life comes before preserving the religion.’
At the beginning of Ramadan, Khawla Hammad feared the isolation amid the COVID-19 crisis would prove to be a burden spiritually, with mosques closed to the public and none of the traditional communal gatherings permitted.
Yet the 38-year-old from Chicago was surprised to find the solitude of the pandemic — along with innovative methods of connecting online or through social distancing measures — have in many ways augmented her faith and relationship with God.
“This gave us a chance to sit and reflect spiritually,” she said. “Just you alone with your creator.”
Hammad was one of more than a thousand local Muslims who celebrated Eid al-Fitr — the holiday marking the end of the month of Ramadan fasting — at a drive-up gathering Sunday at the Mecca Center in southwest suburban Willowbrook. Read more here. — Angie Leventis Lourgos
6:26 p.m.: With planting put off by coronavirus, Chicago Park District selling flowers to the public
Some green spaces in Chicago may still be shut down to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but some of the 50,000 plants planned to take root in Chicago parks this summer are up for grabs and available to bring home.
Because of the pandemic, seasonal workers weren’t hired to plant the annual flowers, so the Chicago Park District joined with the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance to bring the plants to the public.
The online flower sale from the Park District is open through Wednesday and contactless curbside pickup will be available starting Thursday at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave. Read more here. — Morgan Greene
4:32 p.m. (Updated): Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces reopening rules for businesses as Illinois is poised to move to next phase and loosen restrictions
With all four regions of the state as defined under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s phased-in reopening plan slated to advance to the next stage Friday, the state rolled out detailed guidance Sunday for what precautions restaurants and bars need to have in place to be able to serve customers outdoors, how manufacturers and some offices can resume operations with restrictions and how barbers can offer those badly needed haircuts.
The industry-specific guidance the state released Sunday for the sectors of the state’s economy that will see loosened restrictions in the third phase of the governor’s plan provides a glimpse at a gradual return to normalcy after more than two months under a stay-at-home order meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Read more here. — Jamie Munks
2:40 p.m.: Illinois officials announce 2,508 new known coronavirus cases and 67 more deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Sunday 2,508 new known cases of COVID-19 and 67 deaths, pushing the statewide known case count to more than 110,000.
Since the pandemic began earlier this year, 110,304 cases have been confirmed statewide, and 4,856 people have died. Nearly all of Illinois’ counties – 100 of 102 – have reported known positive cases. State officials also announced Sunday that 25,674 tests had been conducted in the previous 24-hour period, for a total of 747,921. — Jamie Munks
12:23 p.m.: Pritzker announces guidelines for bars, restaurants, retailers and other businesses that can reopen Friday
As Illinois nears the date when a range of businesses can begin to reopen with restrictions, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Sunday announced industry-specific guidelines for bars and restaurants to allow outdoor dining and drinking, more retailers to open with capacity limits and manufacturing with distancing between employees.
Under Pritzker’s five-phase “Restore Illinois” plan to gradually reopen Illinois’ economy as it meets a range of health metrics, the four regions the plan divides the state into are all on track to enter the next phase on Friday.
New state guidelines were also issued Sunday for fitness centers, offices, salons and barbershops, service counters, day camps, youth sports and other outdoor recreation, that deal with physical workplaces, employee health monitoring and restrictions for customers.
The rules are published on the state website. —Jamie Munks
9:35 a.m.: Chicago faith leaders divided on whether to reopen for in-person service
A group of Chicago-area church leaders Saturday slammed President Donald Trump’s call to governors to allow churches to reopen for in-person services, even as other pastors said their churches would open their doors Sunday, despite local restrictions still in place.
The battle over church services marks the latest division in public opinion regarding when and how Illinois should reopen, even as the state Saturday added 2,352 new known cases of COVID-19 in Illinois, including 75 additional deaths. Read more here. —Madeline Buckley
7 a.m.: In historic pandemic-driven special session, Illinois lawmakers pass budget and clear path for Chicago casino
The Illinois legislature’s historic pandemic-driven special session ended in overtime early Sunday morning after lawmakers approved a maintenance-level $40 billion state budget that depends heavily on federal funds and made another effort to get a Chicago casino off the ground.
Both the House and the Senate on Saturday passed a bill that would revamp the tax structure for a Chicago casino, a step toward overcoming what has been seen as a key obstacle to getting one built. Mayor Lori Lightfoot has long pushed for tax changes, and the House vote was the furthest her proposal has gotten in the General Assembly.
The Senate early Sunday joined with the House to pass a budget plan that would maintain funding for many parts of state government from the current budget, except for health care agencies significantly impacted by the pandemic, despite Republican complaints that it ceded too much legislative authority to the state’s Democratic chief executive. Read more here. —Rick Pearson, Jamie Munks and Dan Petrella
Saturday
7:28 p.m.: Lawmakers’ historic pandemic-driven special session focuses on new budget and Chicago casino
Illinois lawmakers stretched their historic pandemic-driven special session into overtime Saturday, as they sought to finalize details on a maintenance-level $40 billion state budget that would depend heavily on federal funds while also making another effort to get a Chicago casino off the ground.
With some bipartisan support, the House on Saturday approved a bill that would revamp the tax structure for a Chicago casino, a step toward overcoming what has been seen as a key obstacle to getting one built. Mayor Lori Lightfoot has long pushed for tax changes, and the House vote was the furthest her proposal has gotten in the General Assembly.
A Chicago casino is seen as key to the $45 billion capital bill the legislature passed last year. Read more here. —Rick Pearson, Jamie Munks and Dan Petrella
6:57 p.m.: On Friday, Illinois stopped providing historical data on COVID-19 in nursing homes. A day later, the full numbers are back.
A day after limiting its report on COVID-19 cases and deaths in Illinois nursing homes to facilities with “active” outbreaks, the state on Saturday reversed course and disclosed the total numbers.
State data now shows that 14,882 workers and residents of long-term care centers have tested positive and more than 2,400 have died. That’s an additional 1,800 cases and 250 deaths that were not part of Friday’s data. Read more here. —Jennifer Smith Richards and Robert McCoppin
2:40 p.m.: State officials announce 75 more deaths, 2,352 new cases of COVID-19
Illinois announced 2,352 new known cases of coronavirus, with 75 newly confirmed deaths.
That brings the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 107,796, including 4,790 deaths, in 100 counties, according to state officials. —Madeline Buckley
12:21 p.m.: A few black leaders in Chicago say they’ll open this weekend following Trump’s call for churches to hold services
Two black community leaders spoke out Saturday morning urging Mayor Lori Lightfoot to reopen churches for in-person services after President Donald Trump on Friday said places of worship are essential and governors should open them this weekend.
“We just want her to recognize our institution as being essential,” said Pervis Thomas, pastor of New Canaan Land Missionary Baptist Church in Englewood.
Thomas plans to hold services Sunday at his church, citing Trump’s comments and new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
At a press conference Friday, Trump said state governors need to “do the right thing” and open houses of worship. Later, the CDC posted non-binding guidance for faith institutions considering re-opening, including use of masks and limiting the size of gatherings.
Lightfoot called the president’s declaration “dangerous and foolish” and said he has no power to override local restrictions, which still ban such gatherings. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state will continue to “operate on the basis of science and data.”
Still, Thomas said his church, along with a number of others, plan to hold services tomorrow, despite a risk of citations. Chicago police fined three houses of worship $500 each after they held services last weekend.
“We just want to have a freedom of choice,” Thomas said. “We just feel the mayor is (overstepping).”
Thomas held in-person service last Sunday for the first time since the stay-at-home order was implemented in March. About 10 people attended.
Thomas said his church will have hand sanitizer on hand, make use of masks and gloves and encourage the elderly and people with preexisting conditions to stay home. There also will not be a choir.
Jimmy Lee Tillman, president of the Martin Luther King Republicans, echoed Thomas’s call for in-person service.
“We’re calling on the governor and the mayor to adhere to the president’s … guidelines,” Tillman said. “We feel we are breaking no laws.” —Madeline Buckley
11:30 a.m.: City Youth Commission holding virtual concert to engage young people on reopening plans — with DJ Mike, Bella Bahhs, Jeremih
As part of efforts to get Chicago young people involved but also encourage them to stay home while enjoying the Memorial Day weekend, Mayor Lori Lightfoot’sYouth Commission will hold a Saturday afternoon online concert, according to the mayor’s office.
Dubbed the “We Gon’ Be Alright” virtual concert, the online event starts at 3 p.m. Saturday, broadcast simultaneously on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, on the official mayor’s office accounts, @chicagosmayor on Twitter and Instagram and @chicagomayorsoffice on Facebook.
Performers were to include “song-writer Jeremih, Bella Bahhs, Angelina Victoria, DJ Mike P, Mayor Lightfoot, and other special guests,” according to a release.
The concert “was part of a day of events planned by the Mayor’s Youth Commission to engage and hear from youth from around the city on Chicago’s reopening and recovery efforts,” according to the release. —Chicago Tribune staff
5 a.m.: As need for food assistance soars, schools expand from meal pickup to grocery delivery: ‘We are seeing more demand every day.’
With one out of three students in suburban High School District 211 qualifying for free or reduced lunch, administrator Stacy Lenihan said the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially devastating for families who were struggling even when the economy was healthy.
But as Lenihan orchestrated a recent distribution of 5,000 bags of groceries for families in the Palatine-based district, she realized a growing number of recipients who have come to count on the weekly curbside delivery likely never imagined they would be needing such assistance.
“We’re now well over our free and reduced numbers. … We’re hearing from our students’ families who were fully employed, and now, both mom and dad are out of a job, and having trouble getting by week to week,” Lenihan said, adding: “I’ve gotten multiple letters and cards, and people are pulling up in cars with signs saying, ‘Thank you so much, District 211,’ which is incredible, and very emotional.”
Following the statewide school shutdown in mid-March, officials from school districts across the Chicago area wasted no time in launching meal delivery programs to ensure that students from low-income families would still have access to breakfast and lunch.
Two months later, those fledgling efforts have grown to include expansive school district-based grocery distribution programs, the majority of which are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.
Read the full story here. — Karen Ann Cullotta
5 a.m.: Chicago’s first lady launches ‘My Chi. My Future.’ campaign to find opportunities for city’s young people this summer and beyond
Connecting every young person in Chicago to a meaningful opportunity this summer. That’s the immediate goal of the city’s “My Chi. My Future.” initiative, which launches Saturday.
With the school year almost at an end, and the city of Chicago on pace to cautiously begin reopening in June, young people are looking for ways to stay engaged during the summer months. That’s why first lady Amy Eshleman and Deputy Mayor for Education and Human Services Dr. Sybil Madison are launching the My Chi. My Future. initiative — Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s youth-focused campaign that hopes to connect young people with opportunities geared toward their interests, and mentorship that will help them on the path to success.
“Some communities don’t have as many of these opportunities as others, or don’t have as rich a number of opportunities as other communities. There are communities in which young people and their families are afraid — there are physical and emotional barriers in just moving around,” Madison said. And then there’s just barriers in terms of information. A big part of this effort is putting all these opportunities in one place, so it’s easier for caring adults to have the information that youth needs to connect to these opportunities.”
Work on the site began last year. Lightfoot and Eshleman are announcing the launch of the “My Chi. My Future.” social media campaign during a virtual youth summit Saturday. The website was to go live the same day. Read more here. — Darcel Rockett
Breaking coronavirus news
Stay up to date with the latest information on coronavirus with our breaking news alerts.
May 22
Here are five things that happened Friday that you need to know:
Chicago will cautiously reopen in early June, begin easing restrictions on some businesses and activities, Mayor Lori Lightfoot says
Department of Justice declares its support of lawsuit challenging Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order
Lightfoot rejects Trump’s call to reopen churches, says he’s “pandering to a base” while running for re-election
All Illinois child care facilities can open with limits as soon as next week, Pritzker says
Illinois Senate approves expanded voting-by-mail bill for Nov. 3 election, which now heads to the governor
May 21
Here are five things that happened Thursday that you need to know:
Chicago restaurants won’t be ready to open on pace with rest of Illinois, Mayor Lori Lightfoot says
Illinois hits highest total for number of COVID-19 tests administered in a single day, officials say
Illinois House expands vote-by-mail but pandemic-era budget plan awaits final day of session
Preckwinkle “profoundly disappointed” after Cook County Board OKs sharing COVID-19-positive addresses with first responders
“The grind is a lot harder”: Sex workers struggle to make a living as COVID-19 batters their industry
May 20
Here are five things that happened Wednesday that you need to know:
Illinois restaurants and bars can go al fresco as soon as next Friday as Gov. J.B. Pritzker nods to reopening pressure
Pritzker backs down, unmasked lawmaker escorted out: First day of legislature’s special pandemic session a mix of political drama and showmanship
Mayor Lori Lightfoot introduces new tenant rules, advocates say they don’t do enough to protect Chicago renters
Lightfoot says Chicago reopening “on the horizon” but warned against ignoring stay-at-home order
Three Floyds closes legendary brewpub indefinitely due to coronavirus, even as Indiana moves to reopen businesses
May 19
Here are five things that happened Tuesday that you need to know:
Gov. J.B. Pritzker preaches patience, expresses optimism as Illinois coronavirus metrics improve
Rent relief in Illinois could be on its way, as state legislators rush to pass bills during three-day session
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first year in office was filled with big moments and tough decisions. Then the coronavirus “changed everything.”
Fearful of a winter coronavirus resurgence, colleges including Notre Dame and Marquette will start fall classes early and shorten breaks
Mariano’s parent Kroger will not seek repayment from workers it overpaid during COVID-19 outbreak
May 18
Here are five things that happened Monday that you need to know:
Business owners now face misdemeanor charge if they reopen in spite of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says city will fine churches that violated social distancing rules
“Our movement man,” a fixture at Chicago protests, loses life to COVID-19
Uber laying off another 3,000 workers, raising more questions about the company’s future in Chicago
With a new, stricter grading system — plus warmer weather — Cook County is now getting a D on social distancing
![By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON and DARLENE SUPERVILLE (Associated Press) WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday said the first rule to set minimum staffing levels at federally funded nursing homes and require that a certain portion of the taxpayer dollars they receive go toward wages for care workers is a long-overdue “milestone” that […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Election_2024-Harris_89203.jpg?w=525 "By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON and DARLENE SUPERVILLE (Associated Press) WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday said the first rule to set minimum staffing levels at federally funded nursing homes and require that a certain portion of the taxpayer dollars they receive go toward wages for care workers is a long-overdue “milestone” that […]")
