As covid-19 variants slam the state with new records for infections, new covid restrictions begin around some areas of Illinois on Monday, Jan. 3, and some schools are planning on beginning their semesters this week on remote learning schedules. For the first time, Chicago as well as suburban Cook County — areas in regions 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 —  will require proof of vaccination for many indoor public spaces for anyone over the age of 5. The proof of full vaccination will be to dine inside or visit gyms or entertainment venues where food and drinks are being served. Anyone 5 and older must... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Illinois has absolutely decimated the daily record for covid cases, with a stunning 30,386 cases over the last 24 hours, according to numbers just released by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Given that children’s cases and hospitalizations are likewise spiking, some are speculating about whether or not Illinois schools will return as scheduled to in-person learning next week, or if they’ll go to remote learning at least until the latest surge has passed. The whopping 30,386 cases over the past 24 hours obliterated the previous record of 21,131 in one day set... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Illinois covid-19 numbers continued to soar as the state roared by the 20,000-case barrier for the third time in six days, and children’s cases and hospitalizations are hitting new highs as schools get ready to resume in-person classes next week. Illinois barely missed hitting a new record for cases over the last 24 hours, as the state reported 21,098 cases, just short of the Christmas Eve, 2021 record of 21,131, according to data released today by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Illinois Department of Public Health officials reported 128,246 new COVID-19 cases over... Read More

UPDATED: The following article is updated with new information from the office of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Illinois has hit a new all-time high for covid numbers, as the seven-day positivity rate hit 12.4 statewide, cases reached 20,800 today, the seven-day daily average went over 16,000 for the first time, and Gov. JB Pritzker is calling on regions to implement their own restrictions as needed. To put the soaring numbers into perspective, previously, a region could be potentially placed under the most restrictive Tier 3 mitigations if it sees a test positivity rate over 12 percent for three... Read More

UPDATED: The following article is updated with new information from the office of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Illinois has hit a new all-time high for covid numbers, as the seven-day positivity rate hit 12.4 statewide, cases reached 20,800 today, the seven-day daily average went over 16,000 for the first time, and Gov. JB Pritzker is calling on regions to implement their own restrictions as needed. To put the soaring numbers into perspective, previously, a region could be potentially placed under the most restrictive Tier 3 mitigations if it sees a test positivity rate over 12 percent for three... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: As Illinois covid numbers hit yet more record highs, Gov. JB Pritzker announced the state will beef up testing and booster vaccine availability, and reinforced new restrictions beginning in January. The governor will increase staffing at vaccination clinics by more than 100 people to administer more free booster shots and vaccinations, and the sites will begin operating six days a week, he said at a press conference today. “I’m announcing this surge staffing to support our local health departments to vaccinate and boost tens of thousands more Illinoisans,” Pritzker said in... Read More

Illinois once again saw its covid numbers skyrocket to a new record, as shutdowns of schools and businesses are starting to seep through the state, and vaccination mandates are coming to the northern part of the state, prompting speculation about another statewide shutdown. For the third time in a week, Illinois covid numbers set a new record high. Almost 19,000 more new cases of covid were confirmed over the last 24 hours, according to figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health, whose data showed 18,942 cases of the virus were diagnosed. The seven day average for the state covid infection... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Illinois school shutdowns have begun, along with shutdowns of various businesses and performances, and Chicago area businesses are beginning to require vaccination for entry, as covid continues to ravage the state and the omicron variant begins to spread rapidly. Yesterday set the record for the most covid cases in one day since Dec. 1, 2020 as 12,328 new cases of the virus were reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Today, Illinois public health officials reported 10,264 new cases and 63 covid-related deaths. The seven-day statewide test positivity rate is 7.6 percent.... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Illinois covid numbers have ripped up another 20 percent over the past week, omicron is surging around Chicago, statewide healthcare officials are pleading people to be cautious as hospitals are overwhelmed, and events cancellations continue as the possibility of another statewide shutdown looms. Health officials in Cook County, which encompasses Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, are warning that “suspected cases of the omicron variant are rising… and are likely to escalate quickly,” the health department said in a press release. “CCDPH is issuing Increased... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Shutdowns of performances, events and schools have begun to hit Illinois as covid numbers rage “out of control” and the omicron variant begins to make its spread across the state, as Gov. JB Pritzker hints at more restrictions and shutdowns to come. “This is setting up to be a very deadly COVID Christmas and New Years,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said Friday in a video press conference. “Hospital bed availability has reached a critically low level, demand on resources is high and the wait times in local emergency departments... Read More