Stories by kristen thometz

(Arvell Dorsey Jr. / Flickr)

Chicago Street Sweeping Starts Monday, But Cars Won’t Be Ticketed or Towed

After weeks of delay, Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation will begin its street sweeping season on May 18. But residents won’t get tickets for cars parked along cleaning routes as long as the stay-at-home order remains in effect.

In this April 16, 2020, file photo, a medical worker places a swab in a vial while testing the homeless for COVID-19 through the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, during the new coronavirus pandemic, in Miami. (AP Photo / Lynne Sladky, File)

Illinois Sets Single-Day Record for COVID-19 Testing, Cases

New statewide totals: 83,021 cases, 3,601 deaths

In a 24-hour period from Monday to Tuesday, the state conducted nearly 30,000 coronavirus tests and confirmed another 4,014 cases of COVID-19. “The more you test, the more positive cases you find,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said.

(Andrés Rodríguez / Pixabay)

Oakton Community College Offers Training Program for Contact Tracers

Illinois is seeking to create an “army” of contact tracers, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said earlier this month. A suburban college is hoping to meet that demand.

(valelopardo / Pixabay)

Addiction Treatment Providers Offering ‘A Necessary Service’ During Pandemic

The impact of the coronavirus is being felt in nearly every aspect of daily life, but it’s not the only health crisis people are facing. “Addiction can kill you as well,” said Aaron Weiner, a local addiction services director.

(Bert Kaufmann / Wikimedia)

Pritzker: Projections Show Illinois Reaching COVID-19 Peak as Late as Mid-June

New statewide totals: 79,007 cases, 3,459 deaths

Illinois was expected to reach its COVID-19 peak between late April and early May, but new projections show it could come as late as mid-June. Gov. J.B. Pritzker called the news “disheartening” but said it’s the result of a flattened curve.

Scammers are taking advantage of consumers seeking hard-to-find items like masks and gloves, according to the Better Business Bureau. (KlausHausmann / Pixabay)

Spring Brings Surge in Coronavirus-Related Scams, BBB Reports

With consumers seeking personal protective equipment and companionship amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Better Business Bureau is reporting a surge in scams for fake masks, gloves and even puppies.

A small business in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on April 7, 2020. (WTTW News)

Pritzker: More than 1 Million Unemployment Claims Processed Since March

New statewide totals: 70,873 cases, 3,111 deaths

With schools and many businesses closed, the coronavirus has taken an unparalleled financial toll on Illinois residents, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Thursday afternoon.

(WTTW News)

State Health Officials Urge Testing Amid Rise in COVID-19 Infections in Latino Communities

New statewide totals: 68,232 cases, 2,974 deaths

Across the state, Latino residents are testing positive for the coronavirus at a rate three times higher than the state’s average, health officials said Wednesday — and those figures could be even higher.

(Stephen M. Scott / Flickr)

Pritzker Outlines 5-Phase Plan to Reopen Illinois, Region by Region

New statewide totals: 65,962 cases, 2,838 deaths

A plan is in place to reopen Illinois, even as the number of coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise. “We have to figure out how to live with COVID-19 until it can be vanquished,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday.

A graphic from the Illinois Department of Public Health shows daily death totals across the state from April 5 to May 4, 2020.

Illinois Reports Fewest COVID-19 Deaths in 24-Hour Period Since Mid-April

New statewide totals: 63,840 cases, 2,662 deaths

Health officials on Monday reported 46 deaths in Illinois from the coronavirus. “When I saw that number today, I was hopeful that this is the beginning or continuation of a trend I’ve been praying for,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said.

(Pexels / Pixabay)

Psychiatrists Launch Support Line for Physicians Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

“We know physicians find it very difficult to ask for help,” said Dr. Smita Gautam, co-founder of the Physician Support Line, a free, national and confidential support line. “We’re here for you, and you deserve this help.”

The drive-thru testing facility at 6959 Forest Preserve Drive in Chicago. (WTTW News)

Officials: Expanded Testing Key to Fighting Virus, Reopening the Economy

New statewide totals: 52,918 cases, 2,355 deaths

A day before a modified stay-at-home order takes effect in Illinois, officials used their daily press briefing to discuss efforts to ramp up coronavirus testing across the state, and to urge residents to stay home and wash their hands frequently.

(Rawpixel)

Illinois Acquires System to Decontaminate N95 Masks, Pritzker Says

New statewide totals: 50,355 cases, 2,215 deaths

With critical protective equipment in short supply, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday the state has a new system to decontaminate N95 masks, allowing them to be used up to 20 times.

(WTTW News)

Second Lawsuit Filed Against Pritzker’s Stay-at-Home Order

State Rep. John Cabello claims the governor “had no legal authority to act in ordering isolation or quarantine of citizens,” according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday — the second legal challenge to the governor’s stay-at-home order meant to curb the spread of COVID-19.

(cor gaasbeek / Pixabay)

Illinois Sees Largest Single-Day Increase in Deaths, Surpassing 2,000 Total

New statewide totals: 48,102 cases, 2,125 deaths

Public health officials on Tuesday reported 144 deaths over a 24-hour period, setting a new single-day record for fatalities linked to COVID-19. Across Illinois, 2,125 people have now died.

(Innviertlerin / Pixabay)

Study: High Thread Count Cotton, Silk Among Best Materials for Face Masks

Starting Friday, Illinoisans must wear face masks in public. Ready to make your own? Cotton and other common fabrics, like natural silk and chiffon, are best, a new study finds.

Lawrence Avenue in Albany Park (WTTW News)

Pritzker: Ruling Against Extended Stay-at-Home Order ‘Insulting, Dangerous’

New statewide totals: 45,883 cases, 1,983 deaths

A downstate judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday against the extension of Illinois’ stay-at-home order, a move the governor says risks the public’s health and safety.

(WTTW News)

Pritzker Extends Stay-at-Home Order Through May 30

New statewide totals: 36,934 cases, 1,688 deaths

After much anticipation, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces the stay-at-home order will not be lifted at the end of the month. But changes are coming. What to expect from the modified order on May 1.

(Kristen Thometz / WTTW News)

Illinois Poison Center Reports 36.5% Increase in Exposures to Household Cleaners

Concerns about the new coronavirus have unleashed a cleaning frenzy and, along with it, a rise in reports of exposure to household cleaning products.

(Photo by Stefano Ferrario / Pixabay)

Cook County to Provide Short-Term Housing for First Responders

First responders, health care workers and correctional officers are on the front lines of the pandemic, and “we owe it to them to provide a safe place to quarantine,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

(StockSnap / Pixabay)

Illinois Expands Payment Relief for Student Loan Borrowers

New statewide totals: 33,059 cases, 1,468 deaths

Gov. J.B. Pritzker says the state has secured relief options for student loan borrowers who weren’t previously covered by the federal CARES Act. The new options could benefit more than 138,000 Illinoisans, according to the governor’s office.

(Denny Hell / Pixabay)

Lightfoot Launches Citywide Cloth Mask Drive

The mayor is calling on residents to make and donate cloth masks to help the city's fight against the coronavirus. Find out how you can help.

(sabinevanerp / Pixabay)

Officials Ramping Up COVID-19 Testing at Nursing Homes

Newly released data offers a look at the scope of the coronavirus outbreak at long-term care facilities throughout Illinois. It’s a population officials have been working to protect since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

People walk along a busy street in Garfield Park on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. (WTTW News)

Pritzker: Changes to Stay-at-Home Order Could Vary by Region

New statewide totals: 31,508 cases, 1,349 deaths

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order is set to expire April 30. And while he has yet to announce his plans for the state come May 1, he says he’s “looking at every aspect of the order” on a daily basis.

(WTTW News)

Pritzker Outlines Efforts to Expand COVID-19 Testing Capacity, Sites

New statewide totals: 25,733 cases, 1,072 deaths

Testing is a key element of Illinois’ fight against COVID-19, and on Thursday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker provided an update on the state’s efforts to expand its testing capacity.

Windy City Ribfest, 2018 (Courtesy of Special Events Management)

Will There Be a Chicago Summer Festival Season This Year?

Summer in Chicago is synonymous with neighborhood street festivals, outdoor concerts and art shows. But what will the season bring in 2020? We asked some local organizers for their take on festival season in the COVID-19 era.