coronavirus illinois

Restaurant owners have been dreading the day that they could be forced to halt indoor service amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and Tuesday’s announcement that Chicago will see new restrictions was met with anger, frustration and sadness. The suspension was announced by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday. “For a time in the summer, Chicago seemed to have this...

NBC 5 Investigates has analyzed federal and state reports to show which counties in the greater Chicago area have the most beds, both regular and the ICU, per capita, and which have the fewest.

A west suburban steakhouse is welcoming customers to dine inside at a time when many Chicago-area restaurants have been ordered by the state to stop indoor service due to a surge in the pandemic.

After Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that new coronavirus restrictions will go into effect in the city of Chicago on Friday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot is calling on the governor to reconsider, saying she is concerned that the new mitigations could have dire consequences for businesses struggling amid the ongoing pandemic. “I’m not sure that we’re reaching the right people...

In response to increases in coronavirus positivity rates and hospitalizations across the state, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the new wave could be worse than people expect.

As coronavirus cases and hospitalizations increase in Chicago, the city’s top doctor warned against traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday next month.

On the eve of a special IHSA board meeting to announce new details about the fate of the winter high school sports season, Illinois health officials have moved basketball from being classified as a “moderate risk” sport to the “higher risk” category. According to new guidelines released by the Illinois Department of Public Health, the department assessed the risk for…

Chicago health officials released staggering numbers Tuesday that show just how quickly the coronavirus is spreading in the city, with one estimate indicating that more than 57,000 residents could currently be infected with the virus. During a weekly press conference discussing the city’s latest travel restrictions, Dr. Allison Arwady, the director of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said that…

Statewide, Illinois reported over 380,000 cases in all of the state’s 102 counties, with more than 9,500 fatalities as of Tuesday. The state was under stay-at-home order, which took effect on March 21 and continued through May 29. That day marked the first day the state entered phase three of its five-phased reopening plan. In late June, Illinois entered Phase…

Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic across the state of Illinois today.

Chicago will once again be forced to suspend indoor dining as the city triggers new coronavirus restrictions, but will that also restrict what’s allowed for outdoor dining?

One week after Chicago closed indoor bar service and began a curfew for many businesses to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the city, additional restrictions, including the suspension of indoor dining, will be added as the city’s metrics trigger new mitigations from the state.

Chicago will once again be forced to suspend indoor dining as the city triggers new coronavirus restrictions from Illinois’ mitigation plan.

Illinois health officials will implement new coronavirus restrictions in three of the state’s healthcare regions this week, bringing the number of regions seeing the enhanced mitigations to seven of 11 total regions.

Illinois health officials reported 4,000 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, along with 46 additional deaths attributed to the virus.

Suburban Cook County will be under heightened restrictions, including the suspension of indoor dining, beginning Wednesday as the area sees increases in its coronavirus positivity rate and hospitalizations.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has a tough sell ahead as she tries to convince at least 26 Chicago aldermen her budget plan — a mix of higher taxes and fees — is the best way to fill a $1.2 billion hole in the city’s budget. Among the changes included in the plan, Lightfoot is proposing new speed camera fines. The…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivers daily coronavirus briefings alongside the Illinois’ top public health official as coronavirus cases rise statewide during the pandemic, sparking concerns over a “second wave” of the virus.

Watch Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s daily coronavirus press briefings live here every day at 2:30 p.m.

While older adults and those with pre-existing conditions have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, Illinois’ top doctor has urged everyone to take precautions, reiterating it’s not clear who will die from the virus. For months, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike has pleaded for residents to take precautions, and even more so in recent weeks...

A recent surge in coronavirus cases in Illinois and Wisconsin has pushed both states into unwanted territory, as the neighbors are reporting more coronavirus cases than nearly every other state in the country. According to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wisconsin and Illinois are now second and third in the country, respectively, in terms of…

Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic across the state of Illinois today.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday warned that “there seems to be a COVID storm coming” and urged residents to be prepared as the state’s metrics continue rising.

Chicago officials caution that though Halloween is not cancelled, there are specific precautions people should take to ensure a safe, fun holiday weekend.

With the state of Illinois seeing increases in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, Gov. J.B. Pritzker says there are no plans currently in place to turn Chicago’s McCormick Place into a field hospital to deal with a potential surge in patients. The convention center, which was prepared as an emergency field hospital earlier this year before being decommissioned when coronavirus...

Illinois health officials will implement new coronavirus restrictions in two of the state’s healthcare regions this week, bringing the total number of regions seeing the enhanced mitigations to six. Suburban Cook County will now join that group of regions dealing with the new rules, as will Region 4 in southwestern Illinois. Regions 1, 5, 7 and 8 were already in…

Trick-or-treating in Chicago will likely look somewhat different this year.

Illinois health officials reported 4,729 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, along with 17 additional deaths attributed to the virus. Monday’s new cases mark the fifth time in the last six days that the state has reported more than 4,000 new cases of the virus. The new numbers bring the statewide total to 378,985 cases of the virus since the…

In a moment that captured the emotional toll of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of Illinois Department of Public Health, was brought to tears Friday during a news briefing as she delivered difficult news about the second surge of the pandemic. “Just thinking about how many seats are going to be empty, how many people who started this…

Though officials warn Halloween will not likely happen as planned, the City of Chicago has released several spooky events allowing for safe measures amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Two Illinois regions will soon be under new coronavirus restrictions as rising metrics triggered the state’s mitigation plan.

The state of Illinois has reported more than 10,000 new cases of coronavirus this weekend alone, marking a continuing upward trend in case numbers and positivity rates. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the state exceeded 6,000 new cases in a single day for the first time ever Saturday, with 6,161 new cases reported. The state reported more…

Multiple Illinois regions are nearing thresholds for new coronavirus mitigation strategies, as areas in both the southwestern part of the state and in the northeastern corner of the state could see those rules put into place. On Sunday, Illinois’ Region 4 reported a positivity rate of over 8% for the third consecutive day, potentially meaning that restrictions could go back…

After a record setting day Saturday, Illinois reported 4,062 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, along with 24 additional deaths attributed to the virus. Sunday’s new cases mark the fourth time in the last five days that the state has reported more than 4,000 new cases of the virus. The new numbers bring the statewide total to 374,256 cases of…

There are currently four healthcare regions in the state of Illinois that are contending with additional coronavirus mitigation restrictions as a result of elevated positivity rates, but several other regions could potentially see those rules put in place as well. Those regions include Chicago itself, along with Region 9, which includes McHenry and Lake counties. Here are the latest numbers…

As coronavirus cases and positivity rates continue to surge across the state, another region could potentially be facing new mitigation rules to help stop the spread of the virus. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Region 4, located in southwestern Illinois near St. Louis, has seen its positivity rate rise to 8.2% as of 10/21, the last date…

Illinois’ recent surge in coronavirus cases took another alarming leap forward Saturday, as the state reported a single-day record 6,161 new cases of the virus along with 63 additional deaths. The state’s new record smashes the previous mark of 4,942, which was set on Thursday. In all, more than 30,000 new coronavirus cases have been reported in the last seven…

An 18-year-old suburban Chicago college student has died after a lengthy hospitalization due to COVID-19 complications, university officials in Ohio said Friday. According to a letter sent out to students, faculty and staff at the University of Dayton, Michael Lang, 18, passed away Thursday after a long battle against the illness. School officials say Lang, a LaGrange resident, left campus…

Seventy local businesses met Thursday night, agreeing to keep serving customers indoors despite a new state order, a Bradley restaurant owner said. Thomas Spellman, owner of Hoppy Pig, said his restaurant will continue serving patrons inside, defying Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s new order on some regions to cease indoor dining to lessen the spread of the coronavirus. “We have families....

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Friday that Illinois State Police will regulate all regions that have begun enhanced coronavirus mitigations over the last week in response to a sudden surge of metrics.

Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic in Illinois today.

As colder weather approaches, Illinois’ top doctor said on Friday that dining inside a tend is considered the same as inside a restaurant.

Illinois’ top public health official, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, became visibly emotional Friday, urging people to “stay strong” as the state battles a resurgence of coronavirus cases and looks for solutions to fight the pandemic. “The way we work, the way we live, the way we play has all changed,” she stated during a daily coronavirus news briefing alongside Gov....

Illinois health officials reported 3,874 new cases of coronavirus Friday, along with 31 additional deaths as the state again set a record for highest number of tests conducted in a single day.

Fifty-one counties in Illinois are now at a “warning level” for coronavirus, the state’s health department said Friday.

Enhanced coronavirus restrictions are now in effect in four of Illinois’ 11 health care regions, as state health officials warn others are nearing the threshold.

 Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Thursday that Illinois State Police will start patrolling bars and restaurants in regions of the state where coronavirus numbers are surging, and establishments that disregard his new restrictions could face sanctions including the loss of their liquor or gambling licenses. On another record-setting day for new COVID-19 infections, Pritzker announced the police patrols in four...

It’s estimated there are currently between 35,000 and 50,000 active cases of COVID-19 in Chicago, according to the city’s top doctor. During a press conference on Thursday, Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady addressed media with a pressing and grim message about the number of “active now” cases of coronavirus in Chicago. She said there are 7,055…

Illinois broke records Thursday, reporting the highest number of coronavirus tests and regular one day case counts statewide since the pandemic began.

Increased restrictions will soon begin for one Illinois region already under heightened mitigations due to rising positivity rates during the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday.

Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic in Illinois today.

Illinois health officials reported 4,942 new cases of coronavirus Thursday, along with 44 additional deaths, as the statewide positivity rate remains.

Enhanced restrictions are taking effect in two more of Illinois’ 11 health care regions, with two already seeing additional mitigations, and state health officials warning four others are nearing the threshold.

New restrictions to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus take effect in one of Illinois’ 11 health care regions on Thursday after the area has seen a sustained increase in its testing positivity rate.

Illinois health officials reported 69 deaths attributed to coronavirus Wednesday, the state’s highest single-day death toll since mid-June.

Health officials in Illinois are working on plans to distribute and administer the coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available, and the state is identifying groups that will be among the first to get the new treatment after it passes through the clinical trial stage. During a press conference Wednesday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker revealed that individuals from “vulnerable populations”...

As Illinois ramps up its plans for distribution of a coronavirus vaccine in the coming months, state health officials emphasized Wednesday that the treatment will be free of charge to state residents seeking to be inoculated against the disease. Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, made that point during a press conference Wednesday afternoon. Ezike…

Illinois continues to see “concerning trends” in hospitalization rates as coronavirus metrics climb, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday.

Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic in Illinois today.

Illinois on Wednesday sent its first shipments of rapid antigen tests to local health departments in the state, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced. The shipments include more than 200,000 Abbott BinaxNOW rapid tests, which will be used in pilot programs “to gather more data about their accuracy and sensitivity,” Pritzker said. “For now, the majority of the initial tests delivered to…

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike announced Wednesday that the state has begun to formulate plans for the distribution and administration of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus when it becomes available in the future. According to the governor, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has asked every state in the...

On Wednesday afternoon, Illinois health officials laid out their plans for the distribution and administration of a future vaccine for the novel coronavirus, and Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, detailed what would be required for the immunization to achieve maximum effectiveness. Ezike, speaking at a daily press conference held by Illinois state officials Wednesday,…

To help keep riders safe amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Chicago Transit Authority is implementing a unique solution: Vending machines that dispense personal protective equipment. According to a press release from the agency, the new machines will be made available at six rail stations across the CTA system later this year. “We understand the need for our customers to…

DuPage County’s health department released a message to residents as the area braces for new coronavirus restrictions taking effect Friday due to increased positivity rates. “We need to act and take this virus seriously,” Karen Ayala, executive director for the DuPage County Health Department, said in a statement. “Although some people may feel tired of COVID-19, this is not...

Illinois health officials reported 4,342 new cases of coronavirus Wednesday, along with 69 additional deaths, as the statewide positivity rate in testing again increased.

Residents in four suburban counties will see enhanced coronavirus restrictions go into effect on Friday, as Regions 7 and 8 in the state’s healthcare system have exceeded the 8% positivity rate threshold for three consecutive days. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker made the announcement during his daily coronavirus press briefing on Tuesday afternoon. The new restrictions will take effect Friday in…

As enhanced coronavirus restrictions go into effect in four different healthcare regions in Illinois, there are still more regions where additional mitigations could soon be implemented. As of Tuesday, there are four more regions in the state that are currently seeing increasing positivity rates that have exceeded 7%. If those regions exceed an 8% positivity rate for three consecutive days,…

Enhanced restrictions are set to soon go into effect in three more of Illinois’ 11 health care regions, with one already seeing additional mitigations, and state health officials warning four others are nearing the threshold.

Illinois was divided into 11 separate regions during the coronavirus pandemic, allowing for a more focused approach to battling the virus as the pandemic continues.

Business owners in some Chicago suburbs are bracing for the worst as a troubling rise in coronavirus cases and positivity rates have led state officials to impose new restrictions in four different counties beginning Friday. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker made the announcement Tuesday, saying that restaurants and bars in DuPage, Kane, Will and Kankakee counties will have to suspend...

As coronavirus case numbers soar, suburban school districts are faced with increasingly difficult decisions about safe learning. In Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205, students will go back to learning remotely for two weeks beginning Wednesday. “Today could be my last day of school,” said York High School senior, Miguel Montamez, who hopes to eventually major in music in college….

Gov. J.B. Pritzker urged Illinois residents to be “very careful” when hosting gatherings as the holidays near and coronavirus cases in the state continue to climb.

For the second day in a row, Illinois officials are urging the public to fight back against so-called “coronavirus fatigue,” saying that vigilance and buy-in will be required to turn back the recent increases in COVID-19 cases and positivity rates in the state. During a press conference Tuesday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says that while individuals in rural parts...

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration is facing some criticism over its decision to re-impose coronavirus mitigation strategies on bars and restaurants in four healthcare regions, but the governor says that the decisions are meant to be temporary and are based on science and contact tracing. The Pritzker administration has ordered a halt to indoor dining and bar service in...

Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic in Illinois today.

As multiple regions across Illinois start to see heightened restrictions due to increased positivity rates during what’s being described as a “second surge” of the coronavirus pandemic, could the state see another stay-at-home order?

With indoor bar and restaurant service set to be suspended in at least four healthcare regions across Illinois, health officials are defending their decisions to impact those businesses, calling eateries and taverns “significant spreading locations” of the coronavirus. Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, says that contact tracing…

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,714 new cases of coronavirus Tuesday, along with 41 additional deaths, nearly double the single-day death toll the state saw Monday. In all, 350,875 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the state during the pandemic. Tuesday’s additional deaths, which are nearly double the 21 reported Monday, bring the total number of…

With coronavirus cases and positivity rates surging in the state of Illinois, officials are urging residents not to allow themselves to let their guard down in the fight to curb the spread of the virus. Speaking during a press conference Monday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker urged residents to “pick their guard” back up, saying that individual action will be...

Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic in Illinois today.

With the threat of new restrictions amid an increasing number of coronavirus cases throughout the state, business owners could once again feel the pinch if mitigation rules are put in place to help stop the spread of the virus. On Monday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said that it is possible the city could move back to Phase Three of its…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker warned Monday that Illinois could be in the predicted second wave of the coronavirus pandemic as cases surge in all regions across the state. “Experts have predicted for months that the country could see a resurgence of the virus as temperatures get colder and more people spend more time inside,” Pritzker said. “Here in Illinois, it...

As coronavirus cases continue to surge around the state of Illinois, three different healthcare regions could be on the verge of having enhanced mitigation strategies put into place as a result of increasing positivity rates. According to data available through the Illinois Department of Public Health, Region 5, located in southeastern Illinois, has exceeded the 8% threshold for its seven-day…

With Illinois officials hoping to fight back against increases in coronavirus cases and positivity rates, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike both said Monday that part of the incentive to push back against those increases is that it would allow more students to attend school in-person this year. Speaking at a press conference Monday, both officials...

As Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot indicate that new coronavirus restrictions could be implemented in their respective jurisdictions amid a surge in cases, new numbers show just how widespread new cases of the virus are becoming in the state. According to data compiled by NBC 5 Investigates, Illinois has reported more new coronavirus cases in the…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker will once again deliver daily coronavirus briefings alongside the Illinois’ top public health official as coronavirus cases rise statewide during the pandemic, sparking concerns over a “second wave” of the virus.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to deliver a coronavirus update on Monday, days after warning that the state is trending in a “concerning direction” and just hours after Chicago officials said the city is experiencing a “second surge” of the pandemic.

With coronavirus cases on the rise in areas all across the state, officials are opening mobile testing sites in eight different locations this week. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the mobile test sites will be open daily while testing supplies last in each location. Here are the counties where testing will be available: Fiesta Market, 400 West…

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,113 new cases of coronavirus Monday, along with 22 additional deaths. In all, 347,161 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the state during the pandemic. Monday’s additional deaths bring the total number of coronavirus-related fatalities to 9,236. In the last 24 hours, 48,684 tests were returned to state laboratories, meaning that…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Sunday that President Donald Trump and his allies in Illinois are partly to blame for the coronavirus spike in the state.

The positivity rate in the state of Illinois kept up its rapid rise on Sunday, as the seven-day rate now stands at 5.3%, its highest level since early June. According to new data from the Illinois Department of Public Health, 4,245 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed over the last 24 hours, the second-largest single day increase in the…

Illinois saw a slight decline in coronavirus cases on Saturday, but the state’s positivity rate continued to climb as concerns grow over the spread of the virus statewide. That increase in cases has led some to call for Illinois residents to hunker down and to limit their social contacts, with Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin all hitting new record-highs in...

Illinois health officials reported another 3,629 cases of coronavirus on Saturday as the state’s seven-day positivity rate continues to inch higher. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Saturday’s new coronavirus cases bring the statewide total to 339,803 since the pandemic began. Officials also reported 27 additional deaths over the last 24 hours, bringing the state’s total number of…

The University of Chicago doctor who captured the nation’s attention with an impassioned, but rather blunt plea for social distancing is advising people to hunker down and limit social contacts as Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin all see record COVID-19 case numbers. Illinois’ daily case total topped 4,000 for the second straight day on Friday as the state reported its highest…

Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic in Illinois today.

Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin each broke their own records Friday for the most new coronavirus cases reported statewide in a single day since the pandemic began.

For the second day in a row, Illinois set a record for daily new coronavirus cases, topping 4,000 again as the state reported its highest single-day testing total since the pandemic began

Thirty-four counties in Illinois are now at a “warning level” for coronavirus, the state’s health department said Friday

Coronavirus cases in the city of Chicago were up 30% Thursday afternoon compared to the same point one week earlier, according to Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Public Health. During a news conference with members of the city’s Latinx Coronavirus Prevention Task Force on the Near West Side, Arwady said cases have increased among all...

Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic in Illinois today.