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. And we must respect it, Lightfoot said. The Chicago Transit Authority reminded travelers Saturday that masks are still required on public buses and trains, as well as within the station. 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. 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. 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. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast). "We got to see the day to get there. In Chicago, 24 deaths were reported since Monday. 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. Mayors Press Office press@cityofchicago.org. CHICAGO Illinois' mask mandate is ending Feb. 28. What to Know About the Cook County Commissioner After Advancing to the Runoff Election. Testing in Chicago is up 17 percent from a week ago. 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.. Arwady does expect a slight increase in cases after the mandates lift, but she thinks the city should be able to handle it. 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 city's. The moves bring Chicago in line with Gov. 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. Throughout the pandemic, Lightfoot has walked a fine line between tough measures and keeping the city open. 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. Subscribe to Block Club Chicago,an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. It's unclear when face mask and COVID vaccine requirements will be lifted in the city. Heres what we know and what it means for schools, Chicago and the suburbs. Hospitalizations are down 75% from their high. Under the statewide and newly announced city rules, face coverings will still be required in schools, health care settings and public transportation. 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. Gov. 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. Public safety has been an issue in other recent elections, including the recall of a San Francisco district attorney who was criticized for progressive policies. CHICAGO The city's mask and vaccine card mandates will end Monday. Previously, the United Center had required proof of vaccination (and did not accept a negative test) for entry, and required all event-goers to wear masks. A federal judge last week denied a request from Chicago-based fast food giant McDonalds to toss out a discrimination lawsuit brought by Byron Allen, the high-profile businessman and media mogul behind the Weather Channel, according to Crains. He also said he wasnt responsible for the liked tweets, which he called abhorrent, and suggested someone had improperly accessed his account. As of Monday, Chicagoans will no longer be required to show proof of. We look forward to the day when we can be mask-optional at CPS, but we still need to get more students vaccinated across our District, and we still need to work with our public health and labor partners on the best way to preserve a safe in-person learning environment for all., The CTU said in a statement it was glad that CPS will continueto honor the safety agreement that our members sacrificed four days of pay [for] last month despite a right-wing legal attack to remove public health protections.. 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. On the North Side, business owners aren't satisfied with the still-uncertain plan. City data shows more than 1.8 million Chicagoans or 68.2 percent of all residents are fully vaccinated, and 76.1 percent of all Chicagoans have gotten at least one shot. Its reporting an average of 376 per day. Aaron Rodgers hasnt won a super bowl since Obamas first term, the tweet notes. Currently the test positivity is in the lower transmission range, with ICU availability and hospital availability possibly moving into the lower transmission category soon, Dr. Arwady said. ### Associated Press writers Claire Savage and Teresa Crawford in Chicago contributed to this report. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. And many business owners are getting frustrated with the city, especially those in the restaurant industry, which has been hit hard by the pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has four levels of community transmission. 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. At least 32,072 people have died from COVID-19 in Illinois, and another 3,985 deaths are probably related to the virus, according to the state. Hospital beds: Chicago must have an average of 249 or fewer beds occupied by COVID-19 patients per day. 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. 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. The omicron variant arrived instead. This guy actually has a plan. Clickhereto support Block Clubwith atax-deductible donation. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and other City Council members. Some have been forced to close, while others have had to make major adjustments. 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. Eleven Chicago aldermen signed a letter callingon the city to lift all mandates by this weekend, in time for the Super Bowl and Valentine's Day. More than half of CPS students 12 and older are fully vaccinated, but for students ages 5 to 11, less than one-third have received at least one vaccine dose. He has called for adding hundreds of police officers to patrol the city, saying crime is out of control and morale among officers sunk to a new low during Lightfoots tenure. 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? What to Know About the Cook County Commissioner After Advancing to the Runoff Election. 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. 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 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. 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, at the end of the month, reflecting a renewed hope for normalcy in the city as COVID-19 cases continue dropping from alarming highs. As of Monday night, 352 people with COVID-19 were in the ICU and 172 people with COVID-19 were using ventilators in Illinois. 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. Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces Feb. 22, 2022, that the city will be ending its indoor mask requirement in most locations on Feb. 28. 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 . Speaking on Feb. 14, Chicago MayorLori Lightfoot said the city is not there yet in regard to eliminating mask and vaccine card requirements, but the city's top doctor has since provided more insight on when changes may occur. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the city will end its mask mandate at the end of February, in line with the statewide date. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago health officials said they anticipate that the city's proof of vaccine requirement and indoor mask mandate will lift around the same time as the state's. Gov. There are clear contrasts between Vallas and Johnson. But Chicago Public Schools is a notable exception and will continue to require masking. The state reported 2,893 cases since Monday. In all cases, thieves sought to take cash out of registers or tip jars. I dont want to put myself at risk. The move comes amid improving COVID-19 metrics. "February 28 is obviously the date that the state set; it's not the date that the city set.". The National Weather Service is tracking a storm that could bring a decent accumulation of snow. Were going back to a sense of normalcy. She has encouraged residents to get vaccinated and warned about possible restrictions if the city sees spikes. 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. Columbia University will end its COVID-19 vaccine requirement as the national public health emergency expires this spring. But she voted for Vallas on Tuesday, saying she was impressed by his detailed strategy to address public safety. Johnson on Tuesday night noted the improbability that he would make the runoff, considering his low name recognition at the start of the race. 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. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady explained she is relying on a set of metrics to determine when restrictions can be lifted, and three out of four key metrics must be met to move forward with easing restrictions. I will be honest with you: We need to hit those metrics to feel confident, Arwady said. The mandate requiring proof-of-vaccination will also end Feb. 28. 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. Please enter a valid email and try again. 1616 E Wooster #15 Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and other City Council members, Woman, 55, fatally wounded Tuesday night in North Austin neighborhood, New NCAA president says NIL rules could protect college athletes, Glencoe begins cost sharing program to combat lead pipes, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. ICU beds: Chicago must have an average of 99 or fewer ICU beds occupied by COVID-19 patients per day. The ruling is the latest chapter in McDonalds long legal saga regarding claims of racial discrimination. Proof of vaccination would no longer be required for patrons of restaurants, bars and gyms, along with the indoor mask mandates applying to those spaces in the city. Burglars this month hit four Asian restaurants Imm Rice and Beyond, Nhu Lan Bakery & Sandwiches, China Cafe, and Hunan Egg Roll King and two other businesses in a sweep of break-ins this month in Uptown, according to Block Club. 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. She is the first elected Chicago mayor to lose a reelection bid since 1983, when Jane Byrne, the citys first female mayor, lost her Democratic primary. "Open it up now. Then, a party of five leaves because all five of em do not have the vaccine. It wouldnt be worth confusing residents to continue the mandates, so long as Chicago has hit at least three of its goals and numbers are declining, she said. 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 Columbia University Provost Mary Boyce announced last week that the COVID-19 vaccine mandate "will no longer be in effect" starting on May 11, in a memo to students, faculty and staff. 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