A day after Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the first death in Illinois from the new coronavirus, a woman who family identified as a retired nurse from Chicago, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced 128 new cases. That brings the state total to 288 cases of COVID-19.

Officials also announced 24 more people at a long-term care facility in DuPage County have tested positive. In all, 46 people associated with the facility have been stricken, 33 residents and 13 staff.


Additionally, Lycée Français, a private school in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood has reported six cases of coronavirus, a cluster that might have stemmed from a fundraiser held earlier this month, according its website.

The coronavirus pandemic has sickened more than 200,000 people around the world, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 8,000 have died, about half of them outside mainland China.

The United States has seen about 7,500 coronavirus cases and more than 110 deaths.

Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus in the Chicago area and Illinois:

10:25 p.m.: Two luxury hotels in Chicago — The Peninsula and Park Hyatt — stop taking customers

Two luxury hotels in Chicago — The Peninsula and Park Hyatt — have stopped taking customers as a result of COVID-19.

An announcement on The Peninsula’s website says the five-star property “made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend services” due to public health concerns over the coronavirus. “The safety and security of our guests and employees remains our highest priority. No reservations will be available until further notice. We will keep our guests updated as soon as we are able to welcome them back to enjoy The Peninsula’s warm hospitality and service.”

The Park Hyatt’s website announced that it has “temporarily ceased normal operations and is not currently accepting room, restaurant, bar, or other reservations until April 30.”— Lori Rackl


7:58 p.m.: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot reverses course, says administration will fulfill public’s open records requests during ongoing coronavirus disruptions

Hours after Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration said it would automatically reject all Freedom of Information Act requests submitted by the public due to reductions in city services caused by the coronavirus emergency, the mayor reversed course and said she would follow the Illinois attorney general’s guidance on the issue.

“Due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Chicago is reducing nonessential services and requiring staff to work from home where possible to protect their health and safety — all while working to ensure operational continuity for our critical city services,” Lightfoot’s administration said in a statement. “That said, FOIA remains an important public service, which is why Mayor Lightfoot has directed her administration to ensure that all FOIA requests are reviewed and considered in the coming days, with each response evaluated on a case-by-case basis." Read more here. — Gregory Pratt

7 p.m.: Chicago Public Libraries closing 61 locations, 20 remain open, including Harold Washington

The Chicago Public Library made the announcement Wednesday night, saying they were making the reductions to ensure the health and safety of residents.

Closures will begin at the end of business Saturday, March 21.

Starting March 23, 20 remaining branches will be open Monday through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Besides the Harold Washington branch in the Loop, those which remain open are: Sulzer Regional, Woodson Regional, Edgewater, Lincoln Belmont, Albany Park, Roden, West Belmont, Humboldt Park, Austin, Douglass, Lozano, King, Brighton Park, West Lawn, Thurgood Marshall, Whitney Young, South Chicago , West Pullman and Vodak-East Side, the statement said.


“Chicago libraries serve as social safety nets for our communities – where our young people become lifelong learners and technology centers connect our residents to the world,” Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot said in the statement. “Although some libraries will close to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we know residents and neighborhoods will continue to need access to the resources they provide.”

The closures came after union demands. Read more here. — Rosemary Sobol

6:55 p.m.: Brookfield Zoo joins Chicago Botanic Garden in closing after trying to stay open

Brookfield Zoo late Wednesday announced it will close in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The west suburban nature park began the week trying to keep its outdoor spaces open to guests while closing all indoor facilities.

The zoo has now pulled the plug beginning Thursday and lasting at least through April 30, the zoo said in a Wednesday evening news release. “As the situation has progressed, we have a responsibility to do our part to reduce the risk of the virus spreading,” CEO Stuart Strahl said in the statement. Read more here. — Steve Johnson

6:16 p.m.: Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park leaders urge residents to ‘shelter in place’

With Oak Park announcing its first confirmed case of COVID-19, local village leaders are asking residents to voluntarily shelter in place to help fight the spread of the virus.

On Wednesday afternoon, the village of Oak Park announced one of its residents, a man in his 30s, tested positive for COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus. The man was screened and tested at Rush Oak Park Hospital, but is at home recovering in isolation, officials said.

In response, Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb, River Forest Village President Cathy Adduci and Forest Park Mayor Rory E. Hoskins are asking residents to voluntarily shelter in place and engage in preventative measures against COVID-19. Read more here.


6 p.m.: Archdiocese releases funeral guidelines

The Archdiocese of Chicago on Wednesday sent guidelines to all clergy about funeral service etiquette amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Funerals can still occur with immediate family members but should not exceed more than 10 people, church officials said.

The diocese prohibited any physical contact and requested attendees to stay at least 6 feet apart.

These new policies come after the Trump administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines urging the public to avoid groups of more than 10 people. — Javonte Anderson

5:57 p.m.: Naperville’s Edward Hospital using tent set up outside ER entrance to test people suspected of having coronavirus

Edward Hospital in Naperville has started using an outdoor triage tent as they prepare for a potential influx of coronavirus patients.

A large blue tent located outside the outpatient/emergency room entrance on Osler Drive is now serving patients who arrive with virus-related symptoms.

“The tents are in place in anticipation of higher volumes,” said Dr. Peter Schubel, an emergency medicine physician at Edward. “We are starting to use it even though our volumes so far have been pretty steady but not bad.”

Schubel said the tent is in place to screen people who have viral symptoms, which may or may not qualify for coronavirus testing, in order to keep them out of the waiting and emergency rooms. Read more here.

Waubonsie Valley grad stranded in Honduras with her football team amid coronavirus shutdown: ‘We’re ready to go home’

The stores are closed and their flights are canceled and an American team of women’s football players are hunkered down in a largely empty hotel in Honduras, unsure of when or how they will return home, team leaders and an Aurora high school graduate who plays on the team said.

About 55 players, coaches and leaders of American Football Events left for a tournament in Honduras last week. At the time, there were a limited number of cases of COVID-19 in the country, and concerns about the spread of the coronavirus hadn’t yet escalated, they said.

But days after they arrived, Honduras’ leaders closed the country’s borders for at least seven days and then instituted a curfew, temporarily closing grocery stores, gas stations and banks and restricting residents’ movements. The team has been left largely stuck in their hotel in Tegucigalpa, the capital city, trying to help where they can as the hotel has limited its staff and meals, they said. Read more here.

5:37 p.m.: State education authority says a longer school shutdown is ‘a very real possibility’

It’s becoming more likely that the shutdown of Illinois schools will be extended.

In a communication to administrators, the Illinois State Board of Education said there “is a very real possibility of the closure extending beyond March 30." Read more here. — Hannah Leone

5:12 p.m.: 2 Evanston senior living residents tested positive for COVID-19. Facility’s director says, ‘we’re getting no help whatsoever.’

At least two people have tested positive for COVID-19 at Evanston’s Three Crowns Park senior living complex, city officials and the facility’s executive director have confirmed.

In a letter dated Tuesday, Phil Hemmer, executive director of Three Crowns Park, wrote that the second resident was taken for testing and remains hospitalized. Hemmer also shared his frustration that more tests have not been offered to residents, especially after 42 people tested positive for COVID-19 at a care facility in Willowbrook.

“We recognize that testing is a vital part of this process but when I inquired about testing residents and staff, Evanston replied that they do not advise testing for anyone who is asymptomatic,” Hemmer wrote.

Both cases involve residents of McDaniel House, a wing of the facility.

In his letter, Hemmer wrote that after Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a press conference that the Willowbrook community received testing, he immediately called the Evanston Health Department.

“I expressed my frustration that the advice they had been giving us was different from what was happening in Willowbrook," he wrote.

On Wednesday, Hemmer said the facility was still waiting for testing help from state and local public health officials.

“We’re 48 hours in, and we have not had a single test (administered)," Hemmer said. "We’re getting no help whatsoever.” Read more here. — Genevieve Bookwalter and John J. Kim

5:05 p.m.: High-ranking Chicago Fire Department official is 2nd CFD employee to reportedly test positive

A high-ranking Chicago Fire Department official is now the second CFD employee reported to have tested positive for the coronavirus, the Tribune has learned.

The identity of the fire official has not been disclosed, but sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday he is an assistant deputy chief paramedic.

In the first reported case, sources on Tuesday said a paramedic who worked on an ambulance in the South Side’s Hyde Park neighborhood was also diagnosed.

City officials said that paramedic’s firehouse has undergone a standard deep cleaning, as have any vehicles and equipment the paramedic used when symptomatic. Officials have also worked to identify people who may have been in close contact with the paramedic, whose partner was required to be quarantined.

The paramedic did not contract the virus through his employment, a source told the Tribune on Tuesday, but the paramedic did continue to work after exposure. The paramedic stopped working upon testing positive for the virus, the source said. — Jeremy Gorner

4:47 p.m.: ‘I have seen a lot, but not this’

While working for 40 years as an emergency room doctor, including 33 at Hinsdale Hospital and a much shorter stint at La Grange Hospital, Mark Moy got a first-hand look at many illnesses.

But for the former Oak Brook Village Board member, who also worked for a couple of years as a cruise ship doctor after he retired, seeing how the coronavirus is impacting people around the world is a brand new experience. Read more here.


4:39 p.m.: Lake County cases jump to 22 as evidence of community transmission found

As the number of novel coronavirus cases in Lake County jumped to 22 Wednesday, the Lake County Health Department is reporting that it appears some of those infected got the virus from others in the community, not because of travel or contact with another confirmed case. Read more here.

4:38 p.m.: 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals implements ‘Continuity of Operations Plan’

The 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals announced Wednesday it was implementing a “Continuity of Operations Plan” due to the threat of coronavirus, including closing its main courtroom to spectators until at least the beginning of May.

The court normally operates on the 27th floor of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in the Loop. Chief Judge Diane Wood said in an order posted to the court’s website that oral arguments would be conducted instead by telephone and later made available online for the public.

All employees of the 7th Circuit should work from home by phone. Any employees unable to do so will be considered on administrative leave, according to the order.

“Employees who telework must regularly report to their supervisors during the operation of this order for direction and guidance on work,” the order stated.

The 7th Circuit is one of the busiest federal appeals courts in the nation, encompassing districts across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. — Jason Meisner

4:02 p.m.: CTA ridership was down 61% Tuesday because of the new coronavirus

The CTA said it has continued to see systemwide ridership drops related to the new coronavirus outbreak, beginning last Wednesday and continuing to grow since.

On Tuesday, the CTA saw an overall ridership drop of 61% compared to the same day last year, with rail ridership down 70% and bus ridership down 52%, the agency said in an email. — Mary Wisniewski

3:59 p.m.: South Shore Line, Amtrak curtail rail service

Both the South Shore Line and Amtrak’s Midwestern service will be running fewer daily trains in response to reduced customer demand during the new coronavirus outbreak.

The South Shore Line, a commuter railroad that runs between downtown Chicago and northwest Indiana, will cut the number of weekday trains to a temporary modified schedule, the railroad said on its website. The new schedule, similar to a weekend schedule but with a few more rush hour trains, begins on Monday, March 23.

The South Shore said that it is has seen a “substantial reduction” in daily ridership, and that by reducing the number of trains it is running, it can do more deep cleaning of out-of-service equipment.

Starting Thursday, Amtrak’s popular Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha corridor service will be cut to four daily round trips, down from the current seven, Amtrak said on its web site.

Also, the Chicago-Detroit-Pontiac Wolverine service will be cut to two daily round trips from three, while the Chicago-Holland-Grand Rapids Pere Marquette daily round trips will be suspended. Amtrak Thruway Bus routes also will have modified service. Amtrak riders should check the railroad’s website. — Mary Wisniewski

3:53 p.m.: Lightfoot administration suspends fulfillment of public’s open records requests

Citing a smaller workforce due to the coronavirus outbreak, the city of Chicago said it will automatically deny all Freedom of Information Act requests submitted by the public — effectively casting a shroud of secrecy over the inner workings of local government.

The state’s public records law is designed to give citizens access to records that detail how government works beyond what officials volunteer at news conferences and in other public settings. Experts say it’s a key tool for holding government officials accountable.

But Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration on Wednesday responded to a FOIA request with an automated denial that said “Freedom of Information Act responses have been deemed a non-essential city operation and are being temporarily suspended until further notice,” raising concerns about the city’s handling of public documents.

Asked about the city’s new policy on FOIA responses during a conference call with reporters, Lightfoot said she was unaware that that action had been taken, but acknowledged it was under consideration.

“We may have asked for additional time but we certainly haven’t taken that action yet that I’m aware of,” Lightfoot said. “Obviously, responding to FOIA requests is something that we take very seriously. But given the bandwidth issues and as we’re ramping down essential services that is certainly something that we’re looking at, but I don’t believe that we’ve taken any action yet.”

Informed that the administration had in fact denied requests under the new policy, Lightfoot said she would look into it. Read more here. — Gregory Pratt

3:48 p.m.: Gun stores place limits on ammo, extend business hours as demand spikes on coronavirus concerns

Shoppers have depleted grocery stores of hand sanitizer, toilet paper, canned food and other items as health officials urge the public to hunker down and avoid large gatherings.

But shelf-stable foods aren’t the only thing consumers have been on the hunt for: They have also swept rounds of ammo off the shelves at gun stores.

Many businesses have shut down or limited operations in response to the fast-spreading COVID-19, but gun stores have remained open, and customers have been stocking up. Read more here. — Abdel Jimenez

3:41 p.m.: BMO Harris closes 43 Chicago-area branches amid coronavirus outbreak

BMO Harris temporarily closed 43 Chicago-area branches Wednesday to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

The bank will also suspended lobby access at 151 Chicago-area branches. Twenty-three Chicago-area branches will remain fully open, said spokesman Patrick O’Herlihy.

The branches that will remain open “are strategically located in an effort to make full-service banking as accessible as possible,” O’Herlihy said in an email.

The changes will remain in place until further notice. Nationwide, the bank closed 63 branches and suspended lobby access at 421 locations. Drive-up facilities at the 421 branches will remain open, and those needing access to a safety deposit box at any affected branch can do so by appointment.

Meanwhile, Chase told employees it will temporarily close about 20% of its branches starting Thursday. Most of the 4,000 branches that will remain open have drive-up service or partition glass separating customers and tellers. Open locations are operating on a reduced schedule during weekdays, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with weekend hours remaining the same, the bank said. Read more here. — Ally Marotti


3:30 p.m.: Indiana Dunes, Pullman Monument open to public but facilities closed

National Park Service sites including Indiana Dunes National Park and the Pullman National Monument in Chicago will remain open, but some facilities are shutting down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

At Indiana Dunes National Park, all facilities are closed, including restrooms, said Superintendent Paul Labovitz. Additionally, all programming is delayed until further notice. The park and parking lots remain open. Labovitz said similar policies were in place during the last government shutdown and there were few problems. The park is asking visitors to practice safe behavior in light of the current crisis, Labovitz said in an email.

“We are concerned both for the health of our visitors and our park colleagues,” he said.

The Pullman National Monument remains open, but the visitor center and restrooms are temporarily closed. NPS Park staff are also not conducting tours or doing programs at this time, according to acting superintendent Sue Bennett.

“Where it is possible to adhere to the latest health guidance, the national monument remains open, as it is an historic neighborhood within the city of Chicago,” according to a news release from the Park Service.

Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, said in a statement that superintendents must be supported as they make decisions to close park areas.

“It is the job of national park superintendents to ensure the safety of their park, their staff, their visitors and their community,” Pierno said. “In some cases, they will need to make the difficult decision to close entire parks. The best way we can support national park leaders is to heed their guidance and refrain from visiting sites until a time when they are deemed safe to reopen. These are unprecedented times, and we need to make sure park staff and visitors’ health come first.”

Meanwhile, the National Park Service said it was temporarily suspending park entrance fees but urged visitors to follow CDC guidelines when visiting a park. — Morgan Greene

3:16 p.m.: Orland Square mall to close until March 29

The owner of Orland Square mall in Orland Park said it would close that and its other U.S. retail properties until March 29 due to coronavirus concerns. Read more here.

3:07 p.m.: Drive-up COVID-19 testing, with doctor’s OK, available at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge

Drive-up testing for COVID-19 coronavirus is now available at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, but not just anyone can show up for a test, hospital officials warn.

“The key point is that these are not a drive-up window like at a fast-food restaurant,” Dr. Robert Citronberg, director of infectious diseases at Lutheran General, said during a Wednesday afternoon conference call with reporters. “They are not open to the general public. The people who can get tested need authorization from their physician.” Read more here.

3 p.m.: Lincoln Park library branch closed for cleaning after DePaul University faculty member tests positive

The Lincoln Park public library branch, used for two weeks as a polling place, was closed for cleaning Wednesday along with other offices in a DePaul University building after a faculty member tested positive for the coronavirus.

The branch at 1150 W. Fullerton Ave. opened as an early voting site on March 2 and served four precincts on election day Tuesday, according to Jim Allen, spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. Additional voters were routed to the site on election day after problems were reported at neighboring polling sites.

“We’ll look into this with public health officials,” Allen said.

The faculty member told school officials he was last in the building briefly on Sunday with someone not connected with DePaul but who has also tested positive.

“For precautions and the safety of the community, the building at 1150 W. Fullerton Ave. — including the Chicago Public Library branch and Amita Sage Medical — will close today, March 18, to allow for cleaning,” the school said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

Ald. Michele Smith, 43rd, said her understanding is that the faculty member — an art teacher — worked on the upper floor and was not in the library on the 1st floor. The teacher did use an elevator that is an option for people who can’t make the three-stair climb from the lobby to the first-floor landing, she added.

“The possibility for exposure was very limited,” Smith said. “I really don’t think there’s cause for tremendous concern.” — Sophia Sherry, Hal Dardick

2:50 p.m.: 128 new cases of coronavirus in Illinois; 20 more people at long-term care facility

The Illinois Department of Public Health on Wednesday announced 128 new cases of coronavirus in the state, with confirmed cases in two new counties, Kendall and Madison counties.

The statewide total is now 288 cases of coronavirus in 17 counties across Illinois, with cases in people aged 9 to 91.

The state also said 20 more people at a long-term care facility in DuPage County have tested positive for COVID19. In all, 42 people associated with the facility have been stricken, 30 residents and 12 staff.

The first case at the Chateau Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Willowbrook was announced over the weekend.

“The grim truth is that these numbers will continue to grow significantly,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike at the news briefing in Murphysboro, Ill., where the new coronavirus cases were announced.

Ezike emphasized that residents of long-term care facilities are the “most vulnerable population and at the greatest risk of severe illness, which is why the state has moved to restrict nursing home visitors and is screening workers at those facilities.

“It seems so harsh, but it’s why we have to keep visitors out. We know that visitors, wanting to see loved ones, are also transmitting this virus, bringing it into the nursing home, again, putting at risk the people that they care for,” she said. “Limiting visitors will decrease the possibility of this virus affecting our most vulnerable and will limit the spread.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker attributed the large daily jump in cases, in part, to more available testing.


“We know that this in part due to an increase in testing, but also we know it is spreading,” Pritzker said. “This virus knows no bounds.” — Jamie Munks

2:48 p.m.: Utilities suspend shut-offs

The Illinois Commerce Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to require utilities in the state to stop disconnecting services to customers who can’t pay their bills because of hardships associated with the new coronavirus. The vote, which also requires utilities to implement flexible payment options, came after Gov. J.B. Pritzker urged the industry to take such steps.

Most utilities, including ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas, Ameren Illinois, and Illinois American Water, had already announced plans to suspend shut-offs.

The order from the ICC, which regulates utilities in the state, calls on electric, natural gas, water and sewer utilities to suspend late payment fees until May 1 or until the governor announces the end of the COVID-19 state of emergency. The order also says that if the state of emergency continues past May, utilities have to implement “on a temporary basis more flexible credit and collections procedures” that must be approved by ICC.

“Life changed seemingly overnight for all Illinois residents due to COVID-19. As regulators, it is our responsibility to balance the interest of the utilities with the needs of consumers. Now is not the time to be cutting off potentially life-saving utility services. Ceasing disconnections and threatening notices, and hefty fines will give residents some much-needed peace of mind during these difficult days,” ICC Chairman Carrie Zalewski said in a statement. — Abdel Jimenez

2:45 p.m.: Private school in Chicago reports 6 cases of coronavirus

A private school in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood has reported six cases of coronavirus, a cluster that might have stemmed from a fundraiser held earlier this month, according its website.

The Lycée Français school president said in an online posting that “all parts of our adult community have been touched,” including parents and staff members. Read more here. – Elyssa Cherney

2:38 p.m.: Governor issues order over vehicle registrations, driver’s licenses, permits and parking decals

With state driver’s service facilities closed until at least April 1, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday issued an executive order that temporarily suspends state code dealing with the expiration of vehicle registrations, driver’s licenses, permits and parking decals.

The governor’s order also suspended the state law that sets out requirements for identification cards issued by the Secretary of State.

The order extends 30 days past the end of Pritzker’s disaster proclamation, which extends to April 8. — Jamie Munks

2:05 p.m.: Fox Valley Mall to close Thursday amid coronavirus outbreak

Citing concerns for the health and safety of employees and customers, Fox Valley Mall in Aurora announced it will close Thursday due to the coronavirus outbreak.The mall said it will be closed until approximately April 1. Fox Valley Mall is owned by Centennial Real Estate, which also owns Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills. Read more here.

1:53 p.m.: Big Three automakers to shut down

The economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic mounted Wednesday with word that Detroit’s Big Three automakers have agreed to shut down all their North American factories to protect workers.

Two people briefed on the matter said Wednesday that Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler have agreed to close their factories. The two spoke on condition of anonymity because the closings had not been announced.

The move would idle about 150,000 workers, who are likely to receive supplemental pay in addition to unemployment benefits. The two checks combined will about equal what the workers normally make. — Associated Press

1:37 p.m.: FYI: Flushing paper towels or napkins can lead to plumbing problems

Carts full of toilet paper lead one to ponder just how much damage we can do to our toilets during self-quarantine. (Bidets are becoming popular.) According to Patrick Sullivan, a 24-year plumbing veteran with Wheeling-based Taylor Plumbing Inc., it’s a lot of damage if common sense isn’t used.

Baby wipes? Those don’t go in the toilet.

As for Kleenex? That, too, is a no-go.

1:35 p.m.: Will County courts to run on limited schedule through April

Will County courts will run on a limited scheduled through April in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Will County Chief Judge Richard Schoenstedt ordered Tuesday.

The order reschedules some court cases, including traffic and ordinance violations, to a later date. Notice of the new dates will be mailed by the circuit court clerk’s office. Read more here.

1:20 p.m.: Daughter visits mother through window of Willowbrook nursing home where 22 patients tested positive for coronavirus

Doreen Hall stood outside her mom’s first-floor room window at Chateau Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday morning to get in a short visit — even if it was from outside the building.

“I have to see my mom ... that’s my little girl,“ said Hall, who parked her car along the entrance road to the facility and walked across the lawn to her mother’s window.

Her mother, Phyllis Wade, is among the residents inside the Willowbrook nursing home where, officials announced Tuesday, 22 people have tested positive for the coronavirus. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported that six of the patients have been hospitalized, all are in isolation, and public health workers are tracing the people with whom they have been in contact.

Her mother has tested negative. Read more here.

1:14 p.m.: Chicago to ease debt collections on certain ticket violations

The city of Chicago will ease up on its debt collection practices to give people a break on certain ticket violations as part of an effort to help residents amid the coronavirus outbreak, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Wednesday.

Through at least April 30, Lightfoot said, the city will suspend booting for defaults on payment plans for city debts, she said. The city also will abe limiting ticketing, towing and impounding solely to what she said are public safety related issues.


“We’ve been hearing from lots of folks,” Lightfoot said. — Gregory Pratt

12:50 p.m.: Pritzker explains why he is calling up national guard unit with medical expertise

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has activated an Illinois National Guard unit with medical expertise, deploying them throughout the state in an attempt to combat the coronavirus.

The governor called up about 60 service members, including 43 Airmen from the Peoria-based 182nd Airlift Wing’s Medical Group and 17 planners and liaison officers from both National Guard and Air National Guard units from across the state. The group includes medical planners, who will help with the anticipated rise in COVID-19 cases.

Pritzker said the service members will perform “a variety of missions” in the coming days and weeks. For now, the units may assist in distributing meals to schoolchildren who might not be getting enough food during the state-ordered school closures until March 30, the governor said. Read more here. – Stacy St. Clair and Dan Petrella

12:48 p.m.: First Oak Park coronavirus case: man in his 30s tested positive, officials say

A man in his 30s is the first Oak Park resident confirmed to have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, officials announced Wednesday afternoon.

According to a village release, the man was screened and tested for COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, on Monday at Rush Oak Park Hospital. The positive test was confirmed two days later, officials said. Read more here.

Chicago just launched a coronavirus relief fund for our hardest-hit residents. In one day, it raised $8 million.

Chicago has joined a growing list of cities establishing COVID-19 relief funds to deploy immediate resources to the families and neighborhoods hit hardest by the economic fallout of the new coronavirus.

On Tuesday, the Chicago Community Trust and United Way of Metro Chicago announced the launch of the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund, a place where individuals and corporations can donate money to be pooled and distributed to local nonprofits with experience in providing food, housing, health care, child care and other crucial assistance to residents in need.

Within the first 24 hours of launching, the fund raised $8 million. Read more here.

12:36 p.m.: Flights remain slowed at Midway after three employees test positive for COVID-19

Flight operations at Midway International Airport remained slowed Wednesday after three employees tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Midway’s air traffic control tower remained closed Wednesday for a thorough cleaning, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said in an email.

The airport is open, but operations remain limited, Chicago Department of Aviation spokesman Matt McGrath said in an email Wednesday. Flights, which can be controlled from an alternate air traffic control facility, were being allowed to land and take off one at a time. As of noon Wednesday, more than half of all flights departing from and arriving at Midway had been canceled, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.

“We’re working with the FAA to resume normal operations as quickly and safely as possible — which ultimately means having the tower back in service,” McGrath said. – Lauren Zumbach

Noon: Columbia College Chicago latest higher ed campus to report case of coronavirus

A person affiliated with Columbia College Chicago has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a notice posted online. The school did not disclose whether the confirmed case is a student, faculty or staff member.

The person, who is self-isolating and reported only mild symptoms, last visited the campus on Friday, according to a message from Kwang-Wu Kim, president and CEO of the school. The person was in one campus building – located at 33 E. Ida B. Wells Drive – within the last two weeks, and it has been closed for a deep cleaning, Kim said.All other campus buildings and campus housing will close Sunday at 5 p.m. until “further notice,” according to the school.

Columbia College had already suspended all in-person classes and activities through April 6, when courses are expected to resume remotely. – Elyssa Cherney

11:50 a.m.: Ford halts production temporarily over coronavirus case at Indiana supplier

Ford temporarily shut down production at the Chicago Assembly Plant on the city’s Southeast Side after a confirmed coronavirus case at a Hammond, Ind., seat manufacturing plant disrupted the supply chain.

Michigan-based Lear, which owns the plant, halted operations Tuesday after a worker tested positive for a coronavirus infection. The plant is closed for cleaning, Lear spokesman Brian Corbett said Wednesday.

“The timetable is uncertain for when the plant will reopen, but the intention at this time is to reopen the plant after the cleaning is complete,” Corbett said. “It could take several days to clean the entire facility.”

Ford spokeswoman Kelli Felker confirmed Wednesday the temporary shutdown over the seat supply shortage, but did not offer a timetable for resuming production at the Chicago Assembly Plant.

The automaker’s oldest plant in continuous operation has more than 5,500 hourly employees working three shifts to build the Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator and Police Interceptor SUVs.

The UAW and Detroit’s Big Three automakers – Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler – formed a coronavirus task force this week to implement enhanced protections for manufacturing employees, including social distancing, health screening and increased cleaning efforts. – Robert Channick

'There’s a potential for things to spark up quickly:’ How street outreach workers are adapting for coronavirus

On Chicago’s West Side, street outreach workers plan to wear gloves to pass out printed cards with public health information while using social media and the phone to keep in touch with community members and clients.

In Humboldt Park, workers are driving by known hot spots for violence to make sure large crowds aren’t gathering.


While much of the city has closed down to slow the spread of the coronavirus, outreach workers are adapting their strategies to safely serve their neighborhoods where gun violence has been rising this year. Homicides jumped 50% in January, raising concerns after three consecutive years of declines following a spike in 2016.

“We’re trying to flatten the curve, knowing it will hit the neighborhood, knowing we work with the highest risk population,” said Teny Gross, executive director of the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, which works in Austin, West Garfield Park and Back of the Yards. Read more here.

11:43 a.m.: Retailers reserve early shopping hours for seniors, vulnerable populations

Retailers from national chains to local supermarkets are encouraging consumers to set aside early morning hours for shoppers who could be at greater risk from the new coronavirus and could be hesitant to shop in crowded stores.

North suburban supermarket Sunset Foods said it plans to set aside the hour after stores open at 7 a.m. for older shoppers or people with health conditions that could make the virus more of a concern, starting Wednesday. Several customers expressed interest in the idea on social media and in emails, said marketing director Sarah Hanlon.

Dollar General, Target, Whole Foods and Jewel-Osco also said they are setting aside time for customers who could be more vulnerable.

Whole Foods and Dollar General said they will set aside an hour for older shoppers each day. Whole Foods said customers who are at least 60 can shop for an hour before a store’s posted opening time. Dollar General asks other shoppers to visit at least an hour after stores open “to allow at-risk populations the ability to purchase the items they need at affordable prices,” Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s CEO, said in a statement Monday.

Starting this week, Target is reserving the first hour of shopping every Wednesday for “vulnerable guests,” including elderly shoppers and people underlying health concerns, the retailer said Tuesday.

Jewel-Osco’s “Senior Hours,” also intended for “vulnerable” shoppers, will run from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday, the company said.

It’s not clear whether the larger retailers will enforce the limits. Sunset Foods, which has stores in Highland Park, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Long Grove and Northbrook, said it won’t check early-morning shoppers at the door.“

We’re just asking the community to do their part to let this vulnerable group have a safer space to shop in,” Hanlon said. – Lauren Zumbach

11:30 a.m.: Illinois launches coronavirus website

The state of Illinois has launched a website intended to serve as a clearinghouse for information about coronavirus, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday. The website has information about the confirmed coronavirus case count in Illinois, as well as information about resources for unemployment assistance, insurance and Medicaid coverage. The website is coronavirus.illinois.gov

11:09 a.m.: Chicago city government worker tested positive for coronavirus

An employee for the Chicago Department of Procurement Services has tested positive for COVID-19, a city spokeswoman said.

Officials do not believe the employee contracted the virus at work, an official said. It was unclear whether the case was previously disclosed.

The Department of Assets, Information & Services cleaned and disinfected its office as well as the employee’s workspace and City Hall’s common areas, according to a statement from the city.

“We continue to work closely with the CDPH and follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines as we ensure proper protocols and preventative measures are in place for the health and safety of our staff,” the statement said. – John Byrne

10:57 am.: Lake County has 3rd coronavirus case, officials say

Lake County has its third confirmed COVID-19 case, officials said Wednesday.

Indiana has nine new positive cases of the coronavirus, bringing to 39 the number in the state.

The new cases involve two in Marion County, home to Indianapolis, and one each in Clark, Fayette, Hamilton, Hendricks, Jennings, Lake and Madison counties, the Indiana State Department of Health reported.

Indiana has recorded two COVID-19 deaths, one each in Marion and Johnson counties, the department has said. – Post-Tribune staff and Associated Press

10:38 a.m.: Chicago Police Board meeting closed to public, but you can listen

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the public will not be allowed to attend Thursday night’s monthly Chicago Police Board meeting.

For the first time in recent memory, the public only will be allowed to listen in on the 7:30 p.m. meeting through an audio conference call, according to city officials. For more information about how to listen in on the call, please visit the police board’s website.

The police board is a nine-member panel that decides on the most serious police disciplinary allegations at its monthly meetings. The public typically is permitted to sign up to speak at the meetings on police matters each month. – Jeremy Gorner

10:35 a.m.: Lutheran General starts drive-through COVID-19 testing by appointment, Christ Medical Center prepped as one of system’s coronavirus testing sites

Advocate Lutheran General in Park Ridge had signs outside the hospital Wednesday, indicating that coronavirus testing was available on a drive-up basis if people have registered in advance, as Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn prepped to be able to do testing, along with other hospitals in the system. Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital last week began a pilot program for its hospital system, Advocate Aurora, to do similar drive-up COVID-19 screening.

Wednesday morning, a white tent sat outside Lutheran General on hospital property, with medical providers in full blue protective gear and face masks. Signs with arrows pointed to the area, directing people to near the tent for COVID-19 testing.

A man in a brown Honda Civic pulled up to the tent, in an area that’s usually a parking lot but is now sectioned off with yellow caution tape. Four medical providers in full blue gowns, gloves, face masks and hair coverings were in or around the tent. One medical provider holding a laptop approached the driver’s side of the vehicle.

The line was only two or three cars at any point, and there did not appear to be any wait.Dmitra Miller, 43, from Chicago’s West Side, said she heard reports of drive-thru testing and pulled up, but was told she needed to call her doctor first and make an appointment. Miller, who was wearing a face mask, said she’s had symptoms of the highly contagious new virus and was frustrated that it isn’t easier to get tested.

“There should be a better setup,” she said, adding that she plans to try to come back later.Meanwhile, Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn was being prepped to act as one of the Advocate system’s testing sites for the new coronavirus, a spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday.

“We are working on logistics now for Christ to be a testing site,” said Johnna Kelly, a spokeswoman for the hospital group, in an email. “We will provide you with more details when those have been confirmed.”A sign outside Christ Medical Center identified the hospital as a “COVID-19 temporary drive-up testing site,” and warning people that “If you do not have a testing order from your physician, STOP. Do not proceed.”


Advocate has 12 hospitals in Illinois.The preparations come in the wake of other private medical practices also starting to do curbside testing. Read more here

– Angie Leventis Lourgos

An nearly empty State/Lake CTA "L" station during the 5 p.m. evening rush hour March 17, 2020, in Chicago's Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

10:10 a.m.: Transit ridership continues to decline in Chicago area

Local transit operators continue to report a decline in ridership because of the new coronavirus. Pace, the suburban bus service, said it saw a 6% drop in fixed route ridership last week, and preliminary numbers from this week show a greater tumble, according to spokeswoman Maggie Daly Skogsbakken.

Metra said it’s number of passengers on Monday was 30% below a typical Monday, and spokesman Michael Gillis said the count will likely be lower on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Skogsbakken said Pace has plans for potential service reductions, but that it has a duty to keep operational so people have access to work, medical services and food.

“We will follow the direction of our governmental and public health officials and continue to operate service to the extent possible for as long as possible,” Skogsbakken said in an email.

Pace already has moved to “non-school service” operations on routes that ordinarily see a lot of students, and is not running service for special events since they are all canceled, Skogsbakken said. Pace is asking riders, especially seniors and others at higher risk, to limit travel to essential trips. – Mary Wisniewski

10:05 a.m.: United, American slash flights from Chicago in April

United Airlines has slashed about 60% of the flights it expected to operate in April as travel restrictions designed to contain the new coronavirus pandemic take a toll on demand for travel. Read more here

– Lauren Zumbach

9:30 a.m.: Coronavirus imperils Chicago’s more than decade-long construction boom

After more than a decade of boom times, Chicago developers, contractors and construction workers face an unexpected obstacle to continued prosperity.

Wide-ranging safety precautions are being implemented on job sites to limit the potential spread of the new coronavirus, and to try to avoid the fate of Boston, which on Monday became the first U.S. city to shut down construction entirely. On the West Coast, nine counties in the San Francisco Bay region issued a shelter-in-place order that could affect construction projects there.

A similar construction shutdown in Chicago could endanger the ongoing construction cycle that has reshaped the city’s skyline. Along with the jobs created during construction, the new towers have helped support waves of jobs moving downtown from the suburbs and other cities and boosted the residential population downtown. Read more here

– Ryan Ori

8:27 a.m.: Health officer: Monitoring 19 people with coronavirus symptoms in Porter County

The Porter County Health Department is monitoring 19 people who have signs of COVID-19, a department official told the Board of Commissioners Tuesday.

Of that group, four have been tested for the new coronavirus, said John Pisowicz, the emergency preparedness coordinator for the health department, and two have tested negative. Another two test results are pending, including one for a person with a compromised immune system.

“We would love to keep it out of our county. That is not feasible in this current situation,” said Maria Stamp, the county’s health officer and a medical doctor.

The goal right now is to minimize and slow the spread of the virus so intensive care unit beds are available for those who need them, she said.

“People likely have this and don’t know it,” Stamp said. Read more here

– Amy Lavalley

8:25 a.m.: Medical marijuana dispensary in Rogers Park shuts down temporarily

A medical marijuana dispensary in the Rogers Park neighborhood, Greengate Chicago, has temporarily shut down amid the coronavirus outbreak.

“The risk to all has become too great, and for the greater good of humanity, we have shut our doors for approximately two weeks, to clean and quarantine,” said an email the dispensary sent to customers Tuesday night. “We will miss you all during these difficult times.”

Greengate only sells medical marijuana, and is one of the first dispensaries to stop medical sales because of COVID-19. Special effort is being made throughout the industry to protect the state’s more than 104,000 medical marijuana patients, many of whom have compromised immune systems. Other dispensaries have been adjusting hours, increasing disinfecting efforts and limiting customer entry.

The Herbal Care Center, a dispensary near the Pilsen neighborhood, is also closing to do a deep clean on Thursday, according to a text alert sent to customers. The store plans to resume medical sales Friday, but recreational sales are suspended until further notice.Other shops, including Dispensary33 in the Uptown neighborhood and MOCA Modern Cannabis in the Logan Square neighborhood, also have stopped recreational sales.

Greengate’s closure came days after the state issued guidance to dispensaries on how to help contain COVID-19. The stores must ensure customers don’t come within 6 feet of other patrons, and may take orders from medical patients at the curb or in the parking lot, outside of their shops. – Ally Marotti

8 a.m.: ‘There is no end in sight’: Tourism chief sounds alarm over changes to hospitality industry

The man who makes his living “putting heads in beds” is concerned about the effects of coronavirus reactions will hurt all aspects of the hospitality industry.

Speros Batistatos, president and CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, said the impact on the hospitality industry and the workers that make their livelihood from it will be devastating.


“This is 25 times worse than Sept. 11,” Batistatos said.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the message was different, he said. There was a plan outlining how the government was working and the steps being taken to keep people safe. Batistatos said Americans were encouraged to get out, live their lives and not let anyone keep them down. “Let’s keep the country going.” Read more here

– Carrie Napoleon

7:50 a.m.: DePaul building closed Wednesday for cleaning after faculty member tests positive for coronavirus

A DePaul University faculty member has tested postive for the coronavirus, the school announced early Wednesday morning.

The faculty member, who works at 1150 W. Fullerton Ave., told school officials he was last in the building briefly on Sunday with someone not connected with DePaul but who has also tested positive.

“For precautions and the safety of the community, the building at 1150 W. Fullerton Ave. -- including the Chicago Public Library branch and Amita Sage Medical -- will close today, March 18, to allow for cleaning,” the school said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

Amita Sage Medical at the Lincoln Park Campus will reopen on Thursday, it said.

On Tuesday, all university libraries were closed, including the Richardson Library, Loop Library and Rinn Law Library in Lewis Center. All university computer labs were also closed.

Also Tuesday, the Ray Meyer Fitness Center was closed until further notice. All operations and programs were suspended, including drop-in recreation, programs, classes and group fitness.

And starting Wednesday and continiuing through Spring Break, access to the Lincoln Park Student Center will be limited to DePaul students, faculty and staff. DePaul IDs will need to be shown to gain entry, the school said.

6:45 a.m.: Officials to discuss state response, hold daily briefing in southern Illinois

Gov. J.B. Pritzker was scheduled to meet Wednesday morning with officials in Belleville at the St. Clair County Health Department “to discuss the statewide response to COVID-19,” then hold the state’s daily briefing on the new coronavirus Wednesday afternoon in Murphysboro in southern Illinois. — Chicago Tribune staff

3:30 a.m. Wednesday: Business student first positive coronavirus case at the University of Chicago

The University of Chicago announced Tuesday that a student has tested positive for coronavirus. The Booth School of Business student lives off-campus and is receiving treatment, according to a statement from the university.

The university established a call center for those with questions regarding the virus, which can be reached at 773-795-5374. Questions can also be sent to coronavirusinfo@uchicago.edu. — Paige Fry

Breaking coronavirus news Stay up to date with the latest information on coronavirus with our breaking news alerts.

Tuesday, March 17

Here’s a recap of coronavirus updates in the Chicago area and Illinois from Tuesday:

Monday, March 16

Here’s a recap of coronavirus updates in the Chicago area and Illinois from Monday:

Sunday, March 15