Cook County

The number of coronavirus cases in Illinois has continued to grow this month prompting the cancellation of several events and closures of multiple Chicago-area schools to prevent its spread. Meanwhile, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has declared a disaster proclamation over the outbreak in the state, which is under a stay-at-home order until May 30. (Note: for the latest cases in Indiana,…

Cook County has seen more deaths in the first half of 2020 than it had in all of 2019, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced Wednesday.

Power outages are being reported in the area as a round of powerful thunderstorms impacts the region. According to the ComEd outage map, more than 14,000 customers in suburban Will County are without power. Power lines were damaged in some areas, including in Crest Hill, as a thunderstorm led to a severe thunderstorm warning in the county. According to the…

The first cases of COVID-19 have been detected in the general population of the Cook County’s Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, officials said Friday. Five detainees living in the same general population cell tested positive for COVID-19 this week, Office of the Chief Judge spokesman Pat Milhizer said in a statement. Five others in the cell tested negative, he said....

Large festivals and shows will not be allowed in Illinois until the state reaches the final stage of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s phased plan to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic and as a result, several events have gone virtual, been postponed or even canceled. Earlier this month, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker unveiled a five-phase plan to reopen the state, with phase five...

A 12-year-old boy who died early Thursday is the youngest known person to die from a COVID-19 infection in Cook County, officials said. The boy, from Gage Park, died at 12:18 a.m. at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. He died from pneumonia and a COVID-19 infection with asthma, sleep apnea...

The Cook County medical examiner’s office has confirmed another 86 deaths related to COVID-19. There are now 2,552 deaths in Cook County from the coronavirus, the medical examiner’s office announced Tuesday. Deaths in Cook County account for 73% of all COVID-19 deaths in Illinois, which stands at 3,459. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Illinois is more than 79,000, according...

A 19-year-old man allegedly shot his roommate in the chest, killing him, because he was frustrated that he was owed money, Cook County prosecutors say. Carlo Beck was walking with the victim and a witness the evening of April 13 in South Chicago when Beck became aggressive and said he needed the money now, Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said…

The change was put in place because of overcrowding and a lack of social distancing. Kye Martin reports.

Family and friends on Monday remembered a Cook County correctional officer who died from the coronavirus. NBC 5’s Lexi Sutter shares their story.

NBC 5 Investigates obtained a list, compiled last weekend by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, of deaths attributed to coronavirus. Natalie Martinez has the story.

An additional 15 inmates at the Cook County Jail tested positive for the coronavirus Saturday, bringing the total of inmates with the virus to 304, according to an update provided by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. A total of 213 employees with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, including 174 correctional officers, have contracted the virus. Two inmates have also died…

Families of offenders at the Cook County Jail as well as health care workers shared concerns Friday about the rising number of coronavirus cases at the jail. NBC 5’s Patrick Fazio reports.

An inmate at the Cook County Jail has died from the coronavirus, marking the first virus-related death at the facility, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. Sandra Torres reports.

An inmate at the Cook County Jail has died from the coronavirus, marking the first virus-related death at the facility, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. The individual, who has not been identified, died of “apparent complications” due to the coronavirus. An official cause of death will be determined following an autopsy, according to the sheriff’s office website....

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director for the Illinois Department of Public Health, warns that people who congregate during nicer weather Tuesday could set back any progress the state has made in its fight against coronavirus.

A 16-year-old detainee of the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center has contracted COVID-19 — the first resident of the jail to test positive for the disease. The teen was admitted to the jail March 30 and had not been exposed to the general population, according to a statement from Pat Milhizer, the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook...

NOTE: As the coronavirus crisis continues in Chicago, this article will serve as a recap of our coverage from January through April 5. Check back for weekly updates going forward. With coronavirus infections spreading around the globe, questions linger over the severity of the disease and what it means for areas seeing new cases. The outbreak has led to the…

The Cook County medical examiner announced 26 more deaths related to the coronavirus Sunday, pushing the county’s death toll up to 210. Cook County is home to over 75% of Illinois’ coronavirus deaths. Earlier in the day, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced 31 new deaths, bringing the statewide total up to 274. Sunday’s confirmed dead range in age from 41 to 83,…