COVID-19 in Illinois updates: Heres whats happening Wednesday – Chicago Tribune

Illinois health officials Wednesday announced 1,337 new known cases of COVID-19 and 30 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known infections in Illinois to 253,690 and the statewide death toll to 8,214 since the start of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Public Schools on began the school year Tuesday with remote learning. Most educators were teaching from their homes, although some streamed lessons from their school classrooms.

Many suburban school districts have already resumed classes, with teachers giving lessons remotely from their school classrooms. Some private schools, including the Archdiocese of Chicagos students, already went back to school in person.

Also Tuesday, the city of Chicago added Kentucky to its mandatory quarantine order and removed California and Puerto Rico, officials announced.

Heres whats happening Wednesday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:

9:05 p.m.: No COVID-19 relief package before the election? Top GOP senators make pessimistic predictions.

Top Republican senators made pessimistic predictions Wednesday about securing a bipartisan coronavirus relief package before theNovember election, signaling instead they will just try to pass legislation that would avoid a federal shutdown as lawmakers head home to campaign.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he was optimistic that Republicans would deliver strong support for the GOPs $500 billion slimmed-downCOVID-19rescue package in a test vote Thursday. But he declined to say whether his majority would be fully on board. Democrats have indicated they will shelve the Republican measure as insufficient, leaving lawmakers at an impasse.

Theres no indication yet that bipartisan talks that crumbled last month will restart. Lawmakers closely tracking recent efforts to strike a deal that could pass before the November election said they saw little reason for hope.

Unless something really broke through, its not going to happen, said Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The stalemate is politically risky for all sides heading into the fall election that will decide not only the presidency, but alsocontrol of Congress.

7:45 p.m.: Half of Chicago households report serious financial problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, NPR-Harvard poll finds

Half of Chicago households, many of them Black and Latino families, reported facing serious financial problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a poll of more than 3,400 respondents in four major U.S. cities published Wednesday.

The poll was conducted from July 1 through Aug. 3 in New York City, Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

During the pandemic, many Chicago residents have struggled to pay bills, rent and utilities, as well as afford medical care and child care. Many have also depleted their savings, according to the study.

The poll found 69% of Black households, 63% of Latino households and 59% of households making less than $100,000 annually in Chicago reported serious financial problems.

6:30 p.m. (update): COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 3? Halted study explains just how unlikely that is.

The suspension of a huge COVID-19 vaccine study over an illness in a single participant shows there will be no compromises on safety in the race to develop the shot, the chief of the National Institutes of Health told Congress on Wednesday.

AstraZeneca has put on hold studies of its vaccine candidate in the U.S. and other countries while it investigates whether a British volunteers illness is a side effect or a coincidence.

This ought to be reassuring, NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins said before a Senate committee. When we say we are going to focus first on safety and make no compromises, here is Exhibit A of how that is happening in practice.

Read more here. Associated Press

4:30 p.m.: Lightfoot says she doesnt expect mass crowds of trick or treating this Halloween

On what should have been an epic year for Halloween lovers, with the annual celebration of costumes and candy falling on a Saturday, it seems the coronavirus will be playing the final trick on those seeking treats in Chicago.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the citys looking at how to best celebrate the holiday and doesnt expect it to look like years past. Lightfoot said the city is working on plans to recognize and celebrate Halloween, but in a way thats consistent with the public health guidance.

I dont expect to see mass crowds of trick or treating like we have in years past, she said. Its not safe for the children. Its not safe for the adults.

The announcement isnt a surprise in a city thats discouraged large social gatherings while urging people to be careful about who they come into contact with, though its unclear how the city would enforce trick or treat bans.

3:45 p.m.: CPS clerks must continue to work in person for now, but unfair labor complaint prompted by COVID-19 will be heard

Chicago Public Schools employees who say the risks of COVID-19 make their buildings unsafe must continue to show up for in-person work for now.

Illinois education labor board denied a request from the Chicago Teachers Union for emergency relief for clerks and other school employees whove been asked to work in person but say CPS has not bargained with them in good faith over working conditions.

Despite the outcome of Wednesdays hearing, the board has agreed to advance the case.

1:43 p.m.: United, pilots union reach tentative deal to avoid furloughs

United Airlines and the union representing its pilots have reached an agreement that would spare almost 3,000 pilots from furloughs next month.

1:41 p.m.: Positive COVID-19 test at Hinsdale Central High School

Hinsdale High School District 86 has launched its contract tracing procedure as someone at Hinsdale Central High School has had a positive COVID-19 test.

District officials notified families Wednesday morning about the positive test, but did not say when the person was tested or when the individual was in the school.

Students have been doing remote learning since the start of school last month, so students are not attending classes in person at Hinsdale Central or Hinsdale South high schools.

Students could be at the school campus participating in one of the fall sports, which include girls and boys cross country, girls tennis and girls swimming and diving.

1:04 p.m.: Impact of COVID-19 seen on enrollment numbers at Illinois universities

The number of freshmen and international students are down at many Illinois universities as the impact on the coronavirus on fall enrollment begins to come into view.

At the University of Illinois, the number of undergraduate students enrolled is down about 350 from last years high. The freshman class is also down about 1.8%, and the number of students who chose to defer enrollment was nearly five times higher than in a typical year, officials said.

For more on fall enrollment at UIUC and other Illinois colleges, read more here. Elyssa Cherney

12:24 p.m.: I wanted to always play it down: President Trump admits to downplaying the threat of coronavirus in new Bob Woodward book

President Donald Trump acknowledged to journalist Bob Woodward that he had knowingly played down the coronavirus earlier this year even though he was aware it was deadly and vastly more serious than the seasonal flu.

This is deadly stuff, Trump told Woodward on Feb. 7 in one of a series of interviews he conducted with the president for his upcoming book, Rage.

The Washington Post and CNN were given advance copies of the book and published details Wednesday.

You just breathe the air and thats how its passed, Trump said. And so thats a very tricky one. Thats a very delicate one. Its also more deadly than even your strenuous flu.

That was a vastly different story than what Trump was telling the public.

I wanted to always play it down, Trump told Woodward on March 19. I still like playing it down, because I dont want to create a panic.

12:05 p.m.: 1,337 new known COVID-19 cases, 30 additional deaths reported

Illinois health officials Wednesday announced 1,337 new known cases of COVID-19 and 30 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known infections in Illinois to 253,690 and the statewide death toll to 8,214 since the start of the pandemic.

11:22 a.m.: NIH: Halted vaccine study shows there will be no compromises on safety

AstraZenecas suspension of final testing of its potential COVID-19 vaccine while it investigates a volunteers illness shows there will be no compromises on safety in developing the shots, the chief of the National Institutes of Health told Congress on Wednesday.

This ought to be reassuring, NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins said before a Senate committee. When we say we are going to focus first on safety and make no compromises, here is Exhibit A of how that is happening in practice.

Late Tuesday, AstraZeneca announced its final-stage studies are on temporary hold while the company looks into whether a test subjects illness is a side effect of the shot or a coincidence. The company gave no details on the illness, but Collins said it involved a spinal problem.

10:22 a.m.: Tamale Guy restaurant reopens today in Chicago as owner remains in ICU

Tamale Guy Chicago reopens today in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood. The namesake restaurant of Claudio Velez was closed for nearly two weeks after he tested positive for COVID-19, just two weeks after a grand opening with 10 block long lines, two hour waits and selling out of thousands of tamales. Prior to the coronavirus mandated closures, Velez was best known for his red cooler full of warm tamales, sold bar to bar on the North Side of the city.

Velez remains hospitalized on a ventilator in ICU with his condition improving. His business partners, longtime chef and friend Pierre Vega and his wife Kristin Vega, will continue operations. All staff tested negative for the coronavirus. They also have cleaned and disinfected the takeout-only restaurant according to CDC guidelines, said Velezs son, Osmar Abad.

A GoFundMe for Velezs medical expenses has raised more than $56,000 to date. Last week Abad said the family planned to close the campaign, but its still open. We will leave the funds there until my dad is able to wake up and make his own decisions, said Abad.

9:24 a.m.: Dr. Anthony Fauci sticks with 2021 prediction for coronavirus vaccine

Dr. Anthony Fauci said hes sticking with his projection that a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine may be ready in early 2021. He said its possible it could be sooner, but unlikely.

The White House adviser on the coronavirus told "CBS This Morning the more likely scenario is that we will know by the end of this calendar year and hopefully well be able to start vaccinations in earnest as we begin early 2021.

Fauci said its routine for late-stage vaccine studies to be put on hold because of side effects. A study by AstraZeneca of a potential coronavirus vaccine was recently paused for safety reasons after an illness from a shot in a recipient in Britain.

7:15 a.m.: JPMorgan Chase says some customers and employees misused PPP, other stimulus programs

JPMorgan Chase said Tuesday that a number of its employees and customers may have abused the Paycheck Protection Program and other coronavirus stimulus programs.

The New York-based bank said it is working with law enforcement in some cases, although in a memo sent to employees it did not state how many employees may have unethically misused the programs, or what exactly they did. The bank declined to comment beyond the memo.

Unfortunately, weve also seen conduct that does not live up to our business and ethical principles and may even be illegal, the memo said.

7 a.m.: Pritzker to attend Springfield memorial service for those who died from COVID-19

After census event in Normal in the morning, Gov. J.B. Pritzker was scheduled to attend a memorial service in Springfield Wednesday evening for people who have died from the coronavirus, according to his office.

Pritzker was scheduled to attend a memorial service at the First Presbyterian Church in Springfield to honor those who have lost their lives to coronavirus and their families, according to his press office. Further details werent immediately released.

6:45 a.m.: Parents, students at Wheaton rally call for in-person learning and the early return of high school sports

Could Illinois be next on the list for an early return of high school sports?

That was an idea behind a large gathering Tuesday night in Wheaton.

Wheaton businessmen Dave Ruggles and Eric Brown helped form a We Stand for the Students rally at Memorial Park. More than 1,000 people showed up for two purposes bringing back fall sports in its regular form as well as in-person learning to schools.

On Sept. 3, Michigan government officials lifted an order restricting organized sports. The Michigan High School Athletic Association then reinstated football and other fall sports.

The next day, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association announced football will resume in that state on Oct. 8. Colorado is considering doing the same for football and other fall sports.

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

Here are five stories from Tuesday related to COVID-19.

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COVID-19 in Illinois updates: Heres whats happening Wednesday - Chicago Tribune