READ MORE: Pritzker to lift Illinois mask mandate for some. Lightfoot, the first Black woman and first openly gay person to lead the city, won her first term in 2019 after promising to end decades of corruption and backroom dealing at City Hall. While Chicago lifted its mask mandate Monday, is the proof of COVID-19 vaccination requirement removed now, as well? Its had a total of 553,812 confirmed cases. Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D., announced today that the City will remove the mask and vaccine requirements for certain public spaces on February 28 to align with the State of Illinois previously announced plans to lift the statewide indoor mask mandate on that day. "I think next week when we stand up, and we look at where things are, we'll be able to give a more definitive answer. Mask mandates already have been removed in more than 150 school districts around the state after a judge blocked Gov. But it's only hit one so far and the state's masking end date is creeping up. The figure represents the percentage of people testing positive among recent tests. Block Club Chicago is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, nonpartisan and essential coverage of Chicagos diverse neighborhoods. This article contains new, firsthand information uncovered by its reporter(s). She joined LX News to talk about mask restrictions and what loosening them could mean for the nation. Chicago will lift its mask and proof-of-vaccine mandates next week, but Chicago Public School students, teachers and employees must keep their masks on at least for the time being. In all, 53,187,015 tests have been reported in Illinois. The end of the. The state reported 2,893 cases since Monday. In all cases, thieves sought to take cash out of registers or tip jars. What to Know About the Cook County Commissioner After Advancing to the Runoff Election. When the @packers lose to the @49ers tomorrow night, we will be giving away all you can eat fries topped with Wisconsins finest cheddar, to all bar patrons who would like to celebrate. Chicago Tribunes Alice Yin, Tracy Swartz and Clare Spaulding contributed. Something went wrong. But opponents blamed Lightfoot for an increase in crime that occured in cities across the U.S. during the pandemic and criticized her as being a divisive, overly contentious leader. Earlier in the month, it remained unclear whether Chicagowhich has a . Come Monday, the indoor mask mandate will be lifted statewide, as well as in Chicago, where the city's proof-of-vaccination requirement will also end. Central U.S. location and a deep labor pool help Chicago snare top honor from Site Selection magazine for 10th year in a row. As of Monday, Chicagoans will no longer be required to show proof of. Police have not yet made any arrests. We will have a safe Chicago. Similarly, hospitalization rates are a fraction of what they were at the height of the omicron surge, when more people were admitted to hospitals than at any time during pandemic most unvaccinated, she said. Since COVID-19 arrived in Chicago, we have been guided by the data when making decisions about necessary steps to protect people and keep from overwhelming our healthcare system, said CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D. As Illinois aims to lift its mask mandate by Feb. 28, Chicago city officials assert the city's proof-of-vaccination and mask requirements could end soon, but have stopped short of providing a specific date. We look forward to the day when we can be mask-optional at CPS, but we still need to get more students vaccinated across our District, and we still need to work with our public health and labor partners on the best way to preserve a safe in-person learning environment for all., The CTU said in a statement it was glad that CPS will continueto honor the safety agreement that our members sacrificed four days of pay [for] last month despite a right-wing legal attack to remove public health protections.. Hospitalizations were down 29% to a daily average of 27. The health care vaccination mandate is scheduled to run until November 2024. Its at 2 percent. A few months ago they said they didnt know who I was. Public safety has been an issue in other recent elections, including the recall of a San Francisco district attorney who was criticized for progressive policies. The home popcorn will be available in select Walmart stores on March 11, the day before the 95th Academy Awards. Here are key takeaways from the night. Associated Press writers Claire Savage and Teresa Crawford in Chicago contributed to this report. Chicago lifting mask and vaccine mandates on Feb. 28 but will keep masks in schools for now, Maskless March: Pritzker to lift Illinois indoor mask mandate for most public areas Feb. 28 but not yet for schools, Rising COVID-19 cases prompt warnings for Illinoisans to remain vigilant and remain up to date on vaccine shots, State public health officials move away from outdated COVID testing positivity rate in favor of hospital metrics, Illinois COVID-19 cases rising: Critically important for immunocompromised to get vaccinated, boosted, Aiming to predict COVID, future pandemics better, CDC opens infectious diseases forecasting center, Unmasked transit: Pritzker ends mask mandates in public transportation, airports, US mask mandate for planes, other travel voided by federal judge in Florida, Dr. Ngozi Ezike to become CEO of Sinai Chicago hospital system, With COVID-19 cases rising, Pritzker still searching for public health chief to succeed Ezike, a hero during this pandemic, Lightfoot is out, Vallas and Johnson are in the April runoff, No major damage reported as tornadoes briefly touch down in Joliet, Naperville, Progressive leaders can blame themselves if Garcia or Johnson fail to make mayoral runoff, Blackhawks trade Patrick Kane to Rangers in era-ending move, Oscar predictions: Signs point to Everything turning to gold, Rain or snow coming later this week; NWS says stay tuned, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre cant be taken seriously, or humorously, Chicago area scores No. Hospitalizations are down 75% from their high. As of Tuesday, the citys test positivity rate of 1.5%, was in the low transmission category, while its rate of occupied hospital and ICU beds was in lower transmission. The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases was still at substantial transmission at 283 cases, but all those categories were decreasing. Thats my personal choice, Lightfoot said. newsletter, Fulton Market Meets California Wine Country For Lettuce Entertain Yous Latest, Oakville Grill & Cellar will feature 750 different wines, Boka Goes Family-Friendly Inside Lakeviews Former Speakeasy and Brothel, GGs Chicken Shop and Itoko give the Southport Corridor casual options inside a storied 120-year-old building, This Historic Chicago Sausage Stand Made the Maxwell Street Polish a Local Icon, Jims Original has served the city for more than eight decades, Alineas Top Bartenders Departure and Four More Shuffles, A running log of key moves within Chicagos hospitality industry, These top pizzerias wont show up on national TV stock footage of Chicago, Sign up for the Regardless of tonights outcome, we fought the right fights and we put this city on a better path, Lightfoot said. Noting that she caught a mild case of COVID-19, Lightfoot said she intends to continue wearing a mask, particularly in restaurants where diners will soon have no idea whether other customers are vaccinated. The treasurer's office oversees the city's $9 billion investment portfolio, and the treasurer records the city's finances and shares reports on them with City Council. Two days after a devastating fire destroyed Twisted Hippo Brewery in Albany Park, supporters and fellow craft beer makers have raised nearly $138,000 on GoFundMe to help displaced staff and help cover repair costs. All Rights Reserved. Speaking to supporters Tuesday night, Lightfoot called being Chicagos mayor the honor of a lifetime.. Aaron Rodgers hasnt won a super bowl since Obamas first term pic.twitter.com/D0WxOeCDfn, Tribune critic Louisa Chu grants two-and-a-half stars to Peanut Park Trattoria, the new neighborhood restaurant in Little Italy from the owners of deli palace Tempesta Market, thin-crust hit Coalfire, and suburban traditionalist Ristorante Agostino. This includes directly interviewing sources and research / analysis of primary source documents. Currently the test positivity is in the lower transmission range, with ICU availability and hospital availability possibly moving into the lower transmission category soon, Dr. Arwady said. Its important for us to recognize this moment for what it is: a huge step forward in our effort to overcome COVID-19, Lightfoot said. Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Feb. 22, 2022, as she announces the city will be ending its indoor mask requirement in most locations on Feb. 28. 6:45 PM PT - Tuesday, February 28, 2023. The pandemic also may shape elections for mayor in other cities this year, such as Philadelphia and Houston, where incumbents cannot run again due to term limits. All rights reserved, This Map Shows Exactly How the City of Chicago Voted for Mayor in the 2023 Election, Report: Jalen Carter Arrest Warrant Issued for Racing Car, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its masking guidance Friday, Election Results: See How All 50 Wards Voted in Chicago's Aldermanic Elections, Who Did Your Ward Vote For? We have made great progress in recent weeks against this virus, and we do not want to jeopardize that progress by moving too quickly, CPS said in a release. A formal announcement regarding changes to the mask and vaccine proof requirements will be made next week, the health official stated. I want to thank Chicagoans and in particular, our business community for adhering to these measures and helping us pass through this difficult time while keeping restaurants and other businesses open.. ", READ MORE: Pritzker to lift Illinois mask mandate for some. Also, some venues may continue to impose their own mitigation efforts to keep their clients and customers safe. CHICAGO Chicago is not on track to end its mask mandate Feb. 28, when the statewide mandate is set to end but the city might lift the requirement then, anyway. Chicago officials announced they'll also lift the city's . (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune). Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Eli Lilly cuts insulin prices up to 70% amid pressure to slash costs, Jurors to visit Murdaugh crime scene ahead of closing arguments, $1M winning Powerball ticket sold in Chicago. I think there might be a few, Toia said. When you get a party of five or six that comes in, three or four might have the vaccine and a couple dont. Face masks on the Chicago Riverwalk last year. Illinois seven-day case positivity rate was at 2.9 percent. He knows how hes going to do it.. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Tuesday that based on the way the city's COVID-19 numbers are trending, proof of vaccination requirements could be lifted . Indicates that a Newsmaker/Newsmakers was/were physically present to report the article from some/all of the location(s) it concerns. Arwady said that the vaccine mandate wont be removed until the city gets down to medium-low, the Tribune reports. This guy actually has a plan. At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said the city is averaging 431 cases per-day, above the 400 cases-per day threshold signaling high transmission. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and other City Council members. The vaccine requirement for restaurants, bars, gyms and other indoor public settings where food and beverages are served went into effect on January 3 in response to the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases both locally and nationally, driven in part by the Omicron variant. More information will be announced next week, Arwady said. More Chicagoans were hospitalized with COVID-19 during the Omicron surge than at any prior point in the pandemic and the great majority of these hospitalizations were in unvaccinated Chicagoans. "As the . Illinois will end its indoor mask mandate for most public places on Feb. 28. That's just that's just how it isAnd we're getting really close and that is thanks to Chicagoans.". City data shows more than 1.8 million Chicagoans or 68.2 percent of all residents are fully vaccinated, and 76.1 percent of all Chicagoans have gotten at least one shot. Bowling Green, OH 43402 Mask mandates are being lifted across Illinois, including in Chicago . A federal judge last week denied a request from Chicago-based fast food giant McDonalds to toss out a discrimination lawsuit brought by Byron Allen, the high-profile businessman and media mogul behind the Weather Channel, according to Crains. Under the statewide and newly announced city rules, face coverings will still be required in schools, health care settings and public transportation. JB Pritzker said he anticipates the state's indoor mask mandate for venues that are not schools, hospitals, and public transit will lift on Feb. 28 as COVID hospitalizations continue to drop. I want people to understand were not just choosing a date; were going based on when were there.. Block Club Chicagos coronavirus coverage is free for all readers. In a gathering of 50 people, she said during the mayors announcement, there is a one-in-five chance someone has COVID-19, as opposed to one-in-two, as it was a week ago. Subscribe to Block Club Chicago,an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Throughout the pandemic, Lightfoot has walked a fine line between tough measures and keeping the city open. As the City transitions its mitigation measures to remove the mask requirement, many Chicagoans will continue to wear masks in public spaces for a variety of reasons, even if they are vaccinated. "We got to see the day to get there. But the city could also opt to end its mandates early to line up with the state and avoid confusion for residents, Arwady said. OAN Sophia Flores. Something went wrong. Chicago is currently at high, the top of the scale. Aaron Rodgers hasnt won a super bowl since Obamas first term, the tweet notes. At his victory party, Vallas noted that Lightfoot had called to congratulate him and asked the crowd to give her a round of applause. Still, the number of cannabis-related calls is a very small percentage of the more than 80,000 the center received last year; of those, the highest percentage were for household cleaners, prescription drugs, cosmetics, and alcohol. Email Newsroom@BlockClubChi.org. "At this point in time, the status of the COVID-19 pandemic . Undaunted, the chain plans to refile this month. In a memo to students, faculty and staff, University Provost Mary Boyce announced last week that the mandate "will no longer be in effect" starting on May 11, and phase out submitting proofs of vaccination. The risk is down to a point where it is appropriate to lift the mandates, Arwady said. But she also has made a point of emphasizing her desire to keep the city as open as possible. Many school districts around the state have already gone mask-optional following recent court rulings school that temporarily suspended the mask rules for children whose families sued. Chicagoans will no longer be required to wear masks or show proof of vaccination in most indoor spaces, though individual bars and restaurants could still impose their own requirements, just as they did before the citywide vax mandate began on January 3. Gov. CHICAGO The city's mask and vaccine card mandates will end Monday. She also said she will continue to wear a mask in public. He also said he wasnt responsible for the liked tweets, which he called abhorrent, and suggested someone had improperly accessed his account. Dr. Arwady said they are using case numbers, test positivity, hospital bed availability and ICU bed availability to make determinations on COVID mitigations, with three of four metrics needing to be in blue or green level for low transmission. Cook Countys public health department, which covers most of the countys suburbs, announced it would follow suit, lifting its general mask mandate and proof-of-vaccine requirement on Monday, as well as its requirement that employees of establishments such as restaurants and gyms be vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing. JB Pritzker said last week he anticipates the state's indoor mask mandate for venues that are not schools, hospitals and public transit will lift on Feb. 28 as COVID hospitalizations continue to drop. Positivity rate: Chicagos positivity rate must be at 4.9 percent or lower. City of Chicago employees must, as a condition of employment, be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 effective October 15, 2021. Lightfoot was asked Tuesday whether the declaration of independence from masks and proof-of-vaccine mandates marks an end to a pandemic that has dragged on for two years. Mayors Press Office press@cityofchicago.org. There have been at least 7,136 deaths from COVID-19 in Chicago. But some contend it's time to stop now, citing fewer severe COVID-19 cases, health care staffing shortages and the impending May 11 expiration of a national public health emergency that has been in place since January 2020. As of Monday night, 352 people with COVID-19 were in the ICU and 172 people with COVID-19 were using ventilators in Illinois. DeFranco is not the only one frustrated; another restaurant owner said if the city mandates go past Feb. 28, she's not going to enforce them. CHICAGO Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D., announced today that the City will remove the mask and vaccine requirements for certain public spaces on February 28 to align with the State of Illinois previously announced plans to lift the statewide indoor mask mandate on that day. ### Vallas served as an adviser to the Fraternal Order of Police during its negotiations with Lightfoots administration. Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that Chicago will drop its mask mandate for most settings, as well as its proof-of-vaccination mandate at restaurants, bars and other indoor establishments,. The fire began around 3:30 a.m. Monday in an apartment neighboring the brewery at 2925 W. Montrose Avenue, according to multiple news reports, before rapidly spreading to Twisted Hippo and a nearby gym, both of which were decimated. As of Monday, Chicagoans will no longer be required to show proof of coronavirus vaccination in most indoor spaces, although there are some exceptions. JB Pritzker's Illinois mask mandate to end Feb. 28 By Rob Elgas and. Starting this coming Monday, patrons of restaurants, bars and gyms will be free to take their masks off and keep their vaccine cards in their wallets, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady announced at a City Hall news conference Tuesday. 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