Stories by kristen thometz

(Marco Verch Professional Photographer and Speaker / Flickr)

Preckwinkle, Cook County Officials Sound the Alarm on Rising Opioid Overdose Deaths

COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting Black and Brown communities, but the opioid crisis is also taking a “devastating toll” on Chicago-area residents this year, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said.

(Adler Planetarium / Facebook)

Chicago Museums Can Reopen in Phase 4, But Not All of Them Will

Museums and aquariums can now reopen their doors — with restrictions — but few of them have, and at least one Chicago institution says it will remain closed until phase five of Illinois’ reopening plan.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker outlines a new plan that would trigger additional coronavirus restrictions on Wednesday, 15, 2020. (WTTW News)

Pritzker Outlines Plan that Would Trigger Additional COVID-19 Restrictions

With the number of coronavirus cases rising in Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday announced a new COVID-19 mitigation plan to combat a possible resurgence of the virus.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces an apprenticeship program expansion on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, in Chicago. (WTTW News)

Pritzker Says He Won’t Hesitate to Reimpose COVID-19 Restrictions

“I will not hesitate to reimpose some mitigations if we see (coronavirus) numbers moving upward,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday. “My concern again is all about the health and safety of the people of Illinois.”

Dr. Emily Landon appears on “Chicago Tonight” on Monday, July 13, 2020. (WTTW News)

Infectious Disease Expert: Better National Leadership Needed to Fight COVID-19

COVID-19 numbers are rising nationally to startling new highs. Cases in the city and state are also climbing. What’s going on? We check in with Dr. Emily Landon of UChicago Medicine.

(Juraj Varga / Pixabay)

Got Maskne? Tips to Prevent, Treat Acne Under Your Mask

Wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently and using hand sanitizer can take a toll on your skin. A local dermatologist shares tips to preventing and treating ailments like “maskne.”

(WTTW News)

Mobile COVID-19 Testing Teams to be Deployed to Hard-Hit Communities

New statewide COVID-19 totals: 149,432 cases, 7,099 deaths

A dozen new mobile testing teams will offer drive-thru and walk-up services across the state, free of charge.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker testifies Wednesday before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. (Courtesy U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security)

Gov. Pritzker: ‘We Need a National Masking Mandate’

Testifying before a U.S. House committee on Wednesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker outlined steps the federal government can take to respond to the worsening coronavirus pandemic, including a mandate on wearing face masks.

(Photo by Stefano Ferrario / Pixabay)

Coalition Calls on Governor to Move Nursing Home Residents to Hotels

Advocacy groups are calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to move residents from nursing homes and other congregate care settings into community settings, like hotels, to allow for proper social distancing and to stop the spread of COVID-19.

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

Officials Report Lowest Number of Coronavirus-Related Deaths in Illinois Since March

New statewide COVID-19 totals: 147,865 cases, 7,026 deaths

As the number of deaths linked to COVID-19 surpasses 130,000 across the U.S., Illinois officials on Monday reported fewer than 10 deaths for the second consecutive day.

People wearing masks line up for a food drive in Brighton Park on Chicago’s Southwest Side on April 23, 2020. (WTTW News)

Medical, Hospital Associations to Public: ‘Wear a Face Mask’

In an open letter to the American public, physicians, nurses, hospital and health system leaders are urging people to wear face masks, maintain social distancing and wash their hands to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

(Shelby L. Bell / Flickr)

State Health Officials Urge Businesses to Comply with Public Health Measures

New statewide COVID-19 totals: 145,750 cases, 7,005 deaths

State health officials are urging businesses and residents to comply with public health measures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, which has now been detected in all of Illinois’ 102 counties.

(R Boed/ Flickr)

Officials Urge Residents to Stay Safe from Heat, COVID-19 This Weekend

“Be safe in all the ways that you can, protect yourself from the heat and protect yourself and all of Chicago from further spread of COVID-19,” Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said Friday morning.

During phase four of Illinois’ reopening plan, gatherings, including weddings, are limited to up to 50 people, according to state guidelines. (StockSnap / Pixabay)

Going to a Wedding or Planning One in 2020? Here’s What You Can Expect

What will weddings look like in the age of COVID-19? Here’s what betrothed couples and their guests can expect as Illinois settles into phase four of its reopening plan.

Packaged garden salads from various grocery stores, including Hy-Vee, have been linked with an outbreak of an intestinal illness. (Courtesy FDA.gov)

FDA: Streamwood Facility ‘Likely Cause’ of Foodborne Illness Linked to Salads

Health officials say a Cook County production facility is the “likely cause” of an outbreak of an intestinal illness linked to packaged salads that has sickened more than 200 people across the country.

(valelopardo / Pixabay)

Care Kits for COVID-19 Patients Aim to Ease Anxiety

A local health center is giving COVID-19 patients tools to monitor their blood oxygen levels as they recover at home. 

(WTTW News)

As City Enters Phase 4, COVID-19 Positivity Rate Remains High in 60639 ZIP Code

An analysis of city data shows the majority of Chicago ZIP codes have positivity rates at or below those needed move into phase four, but one has a rate of 15.3%. We discuss metrics and reopening with Chicago’s top doctor.

A cyclist enters the 606 trail in Chicago on its reopening date Monday, June 22, 2020. On Friday, the city and state will move into phase four of reopening plans. (WTTW News)

Officials Praise Residents, Urge Caution as Illinois Enters Phase 4

New statewide totals: 139,434 cases, 6,810 deaths

It’s official: Illinois will move into the next phase of its reopening plan Friday. “Illinois is being touted across the country for getting it right,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.

(Steve Buissinne / Pixabay)

CDC: Growing Number of Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Backyard Chickens, Ducks

More than 460 people across the country, including 16 in Illinois, have become ill after coming in contact with poultry in backyard flocks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A Red Cross blood donor rolls up a sleeve to give blood during the COVID-19 outbreak at the Rockville Donation Center in Maryland. (Photo by Dennis Drenner / American Red Cross)

With Blood Supplies ‘Critically Low,’ Centers Seek Donations

Coronavirus-related shutdowns of businesses, schools and community organizations has led to massive cancellations of blood drives, leading to a nearly 60% drop in collections, according to the Illinois Coalition of Community Blood Centers.

(WTTW News)

Pritzker Unveils Plans for Schools to Reopen in the Fall

New statewide totals: 137,825 cases, 6,707 deaths

Teachers, parents and students across Illinois finally have an answer to the question of whether or not classrooms will reopen in the fall — and the answer is yes. But it’s not going to be business as usual.

Packaged garden salads from various grocery stores, including Hy-Vee, have been linked with an outbreak of an intestinal illness. (Courtesy FDA.gov)

Health Officials Investigating Foodborne Illness Linked to Packaged Salads

An outbreak of an intestinal illness linked to packaged salads has sickened more than 20 people across the state, according to health officials.

(WTTW News)

COVID-19 Saliva Test as Accurate as Swabs, UChicago Research Finds

Testing for COVID-19 involves inserting a swab deep into the nasal cavity. But the virus can also be detected in saliva, and early research by University of Chicago scientists found those less invasive tests to be just as accurate.

Crews start boarding up the 3 Smokin Sisters Tobacco Shop on 71st Street in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. Shop owners emptied the store of inventory following looting on Sunday, May 31, 2020. (@paschutz / Twitter)

$900M in Grants for Families, Businesses Impacted by COVID-19, Unrest: Pritzker

Funding will be used to support communities and businesses disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus and the unrest following the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said.

The website, Corona Connects, was started by a group of college students looking to volunteer their time when campuses closed and courses moved online. (Courtesy of Corona Connects)

Looking to Volunteer? Or Need Help? Website Links Volunteers with Opportunities

CoronaConnects.org seeks to match people across the country with coronavirus-related volunteer opportunities based on interest, location, availability and time commitment.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaks to the media Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. (WTTW News via BlueRoomStream)

Attorney General Kwame Raoul Tests Positive for COVID-19

The Illinois attorney general says he began self-isolating after experiencing minor symptoms over the weekend. He is the most prominent politician in the state to test positive for the novel coronavirus.