Chicago plans summer reopening as COVID-19 vaccinations tank
Kalia Butler, Contributing Writer|May 9, 2021
People gather with their dogs in Chicago’s Montrose Dog Beach, Tuesday, April 27, 2021. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its guidelines Tuesday on the wearing of masks outdoors, saying fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to cover their faces anymore unless they are in a big crowd of strangers. (AP Photo/Shafkat Anowar)
Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Wednesday she hopes to fully reopen the city by July 4. As Chicago progresses towards being a city once again filled with baseball games, concerts and restaurant-going, some residents have pushed the vaccine to the side.
Memorial Day Parade to be Naperville s first public event as COVID-19 restrictions start to loosen chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Updated 5/7/2021 9:33 PM
More standing room at restaurants. Larger festivals and summer concerts in the park. And maybe, more kids at summer camp.
There are a lot of nuances and guidelines yet be determined as Illinois heads toward a Bridge Phase of reopening with fewer COVID-19 restrictions on May 14.
But reaction from businesses, park districts and other entities was positive Friday as industry experts helped decipher the state s rules that contain technicalities such as 15 people per 1,000 square feet, under current Phase 4 restrictions for spectator events, and 30 people per 1,000 square feet in the Bridge Phase.
Boiled down, it means everyone who wants to attend Naperville s popular Concerts in Your Park series will get their wish, Naperville Park District Director of Recreation Brad Wilson explained.
Coronavirus in Illinois: 1,741 New COVID Cases, 30 Deaths, 81K Vaccinations
Illinois health officials reported 1,741 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases and 30 additional deaths Sunday, along with nearly 81,000 vaccine doses administered.
According to the latest figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the state has now recorded 1,354,967 cases of the virus since the pandemic began, along with 22,223 fatalities related to the virus.
An additional 2,354 deaths are currently classified as “probable” COVID-19 fatalities, according to IDPH data.
In the last 24 hours, 65,930 tests have been performed statewide, bringing the state’s total number of tests to 23,347,731.
State officials say that 80,843 doses of the coronavirus vaccine were administered Saturday, boosting the state’s rolling seven-day average to 73,622 doses per day. In all, 9,908,489 doses of the vaccine have been administered since it became publicly available in December.