coronavirus illinois

Illinois Coronavirus Updates: Chicago's Phase 3 Begins, Testing Sites Reopen

Here are the latest developments on the coronavirus crisis today

(NOTE: Daily press conferences from Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot will be streamed live in the player above. Check back for updates.)

Chicago's phase three of reopening officially began Wednesday.

The move means big changes for the city after months of heightened restrictions.

Here are the latest developments on the coronavirus crisis today (June 3):

Illinois Reports 982 New Coronavirus Cases, 97 Additional Deaths

For the second time in three days, Illinois reported fewer than 1,000 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, as the state recorded 982 new cases of the virus.

In all, 123,830 cases of the virus have been reported statewide since the pandemic began, with all but one county in the state reporting at least one positive case as of Wednesday.

Authorities confirmed 97 additional deaths related to the virus, bringing the statewide death toll to 5,621.

Community-Based COVID-19 Testing Facilities Reopen Across Illinois

Most of Illinois' state-run coronavirus testing sites reopened Wednesday after two days of closures during protests and unrest across the state.

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 10 of the state's 11 community-based testing sites would resume operations.

The sites returning to normal operations Wednesday include: Harwood Heights, Aurora, Rockford, East St. Louis, Bloomington, South Holland, Auburn/Gresham/Chatham, Champaign, Rolling Meadows and Peoria.

The site in suburban Waukegan will reopen on Thursday in a new location, 102 W. Water St., to accommodate the restoration of vehicle emission testing at the facility on Northwestern Avenue, IDPH said in a statement.

Chicago Enters Phase 3 of Reopening

Chicago entered the third phase of its reopening plan amid the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday, even after police brutality protests drew massive crowds across the city for five straight days, and as businesses look to recover from looting and vandalism.

After days of uncertainty, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Tuesday that the city would move into the next phase of reopening as scheduled, allowing a number of businesses to resume operations at limited capacity and with certain restrictions in place.

Those industries include:

  • Childcare centers and family childcare
  • Non-lakefront parks (no contact sports)
  • Libraries and other city services
  • Office-based jobs, professional services, and real estate services
  • Hotels / lodging
  • Outdoor attractions (e.g., boating – not including the Playpen, non-Lakefront golf courses)
  • Non-essential retail
  • Personal services (e.g., hair/nail salons, barbershops, tattoo parlors)
  • Restaurants and coffee shops (outdoor dining only)
  • Manufacturing, construction, and warehousing
  • Hospitals, dentists, community mental health centers, and Federally Qualified Health Centers
  • Public transit, regional transit, taxis and rideshare
  • Gyms (outdoor and 1:1 personal training only)

Read more here.

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