Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Heres what happened June 2 with COVID-19 in the Chicago area – Chicago Tribune

As coronavirus vaccination numbers continue to dip, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said this week the state continues to explore incentives including a possible lottery to encourage holdouts to get their COVID-19 shots.

Lots of other incentives (are) coming including potentially a vaccine lottery, so that people can actually win money, Pritzker said during an unrelated event in Rockford.

Pritzkers comments come as the number of people getting vaccinated has fallen off steadily. The most recent seven-day average for vaccinations was 41,234, Illinois public health officials said Wednesday. Earlier in the vaccination effort the daily average regularly topped 100,000.

Meanwhile, state officials Wednesday also reported 478 new and probable cases of COVID-19 and 9 additional deaths. It was the seventh consecutive day with fewer than 1,000 new cases in the state. The seven-day average of new cases in Illinois now stands at 763. Thats the lowest average in almost a year, when the state reported a seven-day average of 766 cases on June 27, 2020.

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

6:15 p.m.: The Bud Billiken Parade is returning after COVID-induced absence in 2020, organizers announced Wednesday.

The largest Black parade in the world, and second largest parade in the country, is coming back to the historic South Side neighborhood of Bronzeville, this time with the theme Back to School, Back to Life, Back to Bud Billiken.

Following its only cancellation last year due to COVID-19, the beloved parade is returning on Saturday, August 15th, with new safety measures, including COVID-19 testing, wellness checks, potential mask requirements and social distancing practices.

The parade will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Washington Park on Elsworth Drive from 51st to 55th streets in a closed tv set format, meaning it will be streamed as a series of short recordings instead of its traditional live format, said Chicago Defender Charities spokesperson Jakari Anderson.

We have to make sure we are being respectful to the community and neighborhood and following CDC guidelines, Anderson said, but despite challenges, the community is very happy that the parade is coming back.

5:30 p.m.: Pritzker signs 3-year cocktails-to-go extension that includes shot-for-a (COVID-19) shot provision

A three-year extension of the cocktails-to-go law created to help businesses during the pandemic, along with a provision that allows bars and restaurants to give a free drink to people whove been vaccinated against the coronavirus, was signed into law Wednesday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

The measure, approved overwhelmingly by lawmakers over the weekend, would allow businesses to continue serving cocktails and now single servings of wine for takeout and delivery until Jan. 3, 2024. The existing state law was set to expire Wednesday.

Our hospitality industry has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, said state Rep. Mike Zalewski, a Riverside Democrat, and the new law contains a number of initiatives designed to offer much-needed help, including an extension of cocktails to-go and shot and a beer incentives to help Illinoisans get vaccinated and then visit their favorite establishment for a drink.

State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, said the cocktails-to-go service was a lifeline to restaurants that were forced to adapt to delivery service when in-person dining restrictions were imposed due to the pandemic.

Any tool we can provide to help keep this vibrant industry going while they are rebuilding is critical, she said.

4:40 p.m.: Back-aching work. Low pay. No health care: Heres why Chicago restaurant workers arent coming back.

Emilio Enriquez has climbed from busser to line cook during his seven years working in restaurants, and he still dreams of becoming a chef.

But he hasnt worked during the COVID-19 pandemic and wont look for a job until fall, once unemployment benefits no longer pay more than he would likely earn working and, he hopes, more people are vaccinated.

This is what I want to do in the long haul, said Enriquez, 25. Im just not ready to do that yet especially since Im making more at home.

Kodi Roberts worked as a restaurant server for 10 years until the pandemic. Unlike Enriquez, she has no plans to return.

It hit me pretty quickly, Roberts said. My body started bouncing back. My back stopped hurting. My nails started growing because I wasnt dipping them in buckets of bleach and sanitizer all the time. I felt like a person who could move through the world relatively well again.

As society inches toward normal and diners fill tables and booths once again, a question has hovered over the restaurant industry: Where are the workers? From white-tablecloth destinations to casual neighborhood spots, business owners have decried a labor shortage that has led some restaurants to scale back menus and hours. Some need servers and bartenders. Others need dishwashers and cooks. Some need all of the above.

A simple narrative has taken root: The workers are staying home to collect unemployment, especially as long as the federal government offers a $300 weekly surplus through Labor Day due to the pandemic. At least 24 states have pulled out of the bonus payments in recent weeks, usually with Republican legislators saying it will force people back into the workforce.

But Enriquez and Roberts underscore a reality: No single answer explains the restaurant industrys thinning labor force, nor can we predict when or whether it will return.

2:55 p.m.: Pritzker raises possibility of a lottery to encourage more people to get their COVID-19 shots

As coronavirus vaccination numbers continue to dip, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said this week the state continues to explore incentives including a possible lottery to encourage holdouts to get their COVID-19 shots.

Lots of other incentives (are) coming including potentially a vaccine lottery, so that people can actually win money, Pritzker said during an unrelated event in Rockford.

The governor offered no further details on how a lottery would work or when it might start. Ohio rolled out a vaccine lottery last month and officials said it led to an increase in vaccinations.

Illinois has offered tickets to Six Flags Great America and, in a bill passed at the end of the legislative session this weekend, opened the door for bars and restaurants to offer a free drink to those who have been vaccinated. The state legislature also authorized a lottery in the budget implementation bill that was passed this week.

This pandemic isnt over and there are many, many people who have not been vaccinated yet, Pritzker said Wednesday. I talked a little bit about the fact that more than two thirds of people in Illinois have been vaccinated, but that leaves a third and we are not at herd immunity, where we need to get to. So were doing everything at the state level to try to incentivize people to go get vaccinated.

Pritzkers comments come as the number of people getting vaccinated has fallen off steadily. The most recent seven-day average for vaccinations was 41,234, Illinois public health officials said Wednesday. Earlier in the vaccination effort the daily average regularly topped 100,000.

A total of 11,338,305 vaccines have been administered in the state since the effort began, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 67% of Illinois adults have received at least one vaccine dose. Nearly 51% of adults are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

2 p.m.: With mask mandates easing, can those who are vaccinated safely attend gathering or shop in places where unvaccinated people could be present?

The recent easing of COVID-19 restrictions has coincided with seasonal gatherings like graduation parties. So how can we safely mingle in social settings with friends and family members who are not vaccinated?

Similarly, many local stores have signs saying masks are optional but recommended for those who arent vaccinated. But those of us who are vaccinated still wear a mask indoors, at least for the short term?

And for families who are planning summer vacations, but have kids under 12 who are still too young for the vaccine, is there a safe way to travel that would mitigate risk for the unvaccinated?

An expert from Northwestern University answers your questions in our latest COVID-19 Q&A. Read the answers here. Karen Ann Cullotta

12:30 p.m.: COVID-19 vaccine protection may diminish need for yearly boosters, but more research needed, scientists say

Scientists have found clues that the worlds leading COVID-19 vaccines offer lasting protection that could diminish the need for frequent booster shots, but they caution that more research is needed and that virus mutations are still a wild card.

Critical studies are underway, and evidence is mounting that immunity from the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna does not depend exclusively on antibodies that dwindle over time. The body has overlapping layers of protection that offer backup.

Pfizer and Moderna have fueled booster questions by estimating that people might need yearly shots, just like with flu vaccinations, and the companies are working to have some candidates ready this fall. But companies will not decide when boosters get used. That will be up to health authorities in each country.

Other experts say boosters may be needed only every few years.

I would be surprised if we actually needed a yearly booster shot, said Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine specialist at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia who advises the Food and Drug Administration.

12:05 p.m.: 29,322 vaccine doses administered, 478 new cases and 9 deaths reported

Illinois public health officials on Wednesday reported 478 new and probable cases of COVID-19 and 9 additional deaths. That brings the states totals to 1,383,065 cases and 22,842 deaths.

There were 35,697 tests reported in the previous 24 hours and the seven-day statewide positivity rate as a percent of total test is 1.5%.

There were 29,322 doses of the vaccine administered Tuesday and the seven-day rolling average of daily doses is 41,234. Officials said 67% of Illinois adults have received at least one vaccine dose and 51% of adults are fully vaccinated.

12:05 p.m.: Stimulus checks substantially reduced hardship for struggling Americans, analysis shows

Julesa Webb resumed an old habit: serving her children three meals a day. Corrine Young paid the water bill and stopped bathing at her neighbors apartment. Chenetta Ray cried, thanked Jesus and rushed to spend the money on a medical test to treat her cancer.

In offering most Americans two more rounds of stimulus checks in the past six months, totaling $2,000 per person, the federal government effectively conducted a huge experiment in safety net policy. Supporters said a quick, broad outpouring of cash would ease the economic hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Skeptics called the policy wasteful and expensive.

The aid followed an earlier round of stimulus checks, sent a year ago, and the results are being scrutinized for lessons on how to help the needy in less extraordinary times.

A new analysis of Census Bureau surveys argues that the two latest rounds of aid significantly improved Americans ability to buy food and pay household bills and reduced anxiety and depression, with the largest benefits going to the poorest households and those with children. The analysis offers the fullest look at hardship reduction under the stimulus aid.

Among households with children, reports of food shortages fell 42% from January through April. A broader gauge of financial instability fell 43%. Among all households, frequent anxiety and depression fell by more than 20%.

12 p.m.: Chicago music festival organizers reveal how 2021 lineup decisions were made during the pandemic: We couldnt be more proud

My Chemical Romance was the first act to be announced for the 2020 edition of Riot Fest in Chicago. Were tired of you asking, so were bringing My Chemical Romance to Riot Fest. September 11-13, 2020, festival organizers tweeted in January 2020.

Large Chicago summer celebrations were canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, which left music festival organizers scrambling. Some had announced their 2020 lineups and sold tickets, which had to be refunded or reissued for 2021. And there was no guarantee that major events could even be held in Chicago this year. City leaders announced the official return of festivals just weeks ago as Chicago marches toward a full reopening.

The Tribune talked to organizers of some of the largest local music festivals about the challenges of pulling together band lineups amid the unpredictability of coronavirus. They said there are fewer international acts performing in Chicago than in years past as coronavirus-related safety and travel measures continue in some areas. You would think there was a fight for talent because several of these events are scheduled for late summer, but many organizers said the pandemic spurred cooperation as they waited for the green light together.

As a result, some artists are booked to play more than one show in the Chicago and Milwaukee area this summer since organizers relaxed the so-called radius clause of their talent contracts, which prevent performers from appearing at nearby concerts or festivals within a certain time period. The whole music community really came together and had a lot of camaraderie that I hope and pray stays that way coming out of this, Windy City Smokeout co-founder Ed Warm said.

9:49 a.m.: Chicago Cultural Center reopening Wednesday

The Chicago Cultural Center was set to reopen late Wednesday morning after being closed since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, city officials said.

The Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St., built in the late 19th century as the citys main public library, was set to reopen at 11 a.m. Wednesday, according to a release from the mayors office.

New to the Cultural Center starting Wednesday is a Chicago-centric shop, BUDDY, a store selling Chicago-made art and other Chicago-made products thats the brainchild of the Public Medica Institute, according to the release.

Two art exhibits were scheduled to debut Wednesday at the Cultural Center, Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford: League of Nations and what flies but never lands?, according to the release.

For more information, check the citys website.

9:32 a.m.: Time Out Market Chicagos biggest food hall announces reopening date for indoor service and a stellar lineup of new vendors

After being closed since October due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Time Out Market Chicago announced it will indeed return, with a reopening date slated for June 17 and the addition of some beloved Chicago restaurant vendors.

Guests will notice significant changes to the vendor lineup, with 11 mostly new operations.

Chef Brian Fisher returns, as does chef Bill Kim, who will actually have two kiosks: the eponymous Bill Kims Ramen Shop, plus Urbanbelly. A pair of Logan Square favorites the Mexican restaurant Dos Urban Cantina and Asian fusion spot Mini Mott also return to the Time Out Market lineup.

Newcomers feature plenty of recognizable names, though, including Soul & Smoke, the Evanston barbecue spot the Tribune recently awarded three stars. Soul & Smoke is currently working out of a commissary kitchen in Evanston, but also works out of virtual kitchens in Avondale and the South Loop. Two Bronzeville institutions will also make their way north to the food hall: Shawn Michelles ice Cream and Cleos Southern Cuisine.

As Chicagos hospitality industry lurches back to life following a year of pandemic shutdowns, food hall operations have remained somewhat in flux: the Loops Revival Food Hall remains a standby, while Well St. Market went takeout full-time, and West Loops Politan Row remains in hibernation mode from the winter.

9:14 a.m.: Can Loretto Hospital rebuild trust after vaccine controversy and news of questionable business ties?

Loretto Hospital has treated and employed generations of people in the Austin community.

The hospital has been an anchor in the predominantly Black neighborhood an area thats dealt with both historic and recent health disparities, including far higher rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths than the city as a whole.

But over the last six months, controversies and questions linked to Loretto have shaken the hospital and its community.

And reporting by the Tribune and other local media outlets reveals questionable connections between Loretto and an associate of Ahmed. One of Ahmeds business partners, Dr. Sameer Suhail, has ties to at least four companies connected with the hospital, the Tribune found. Three of those companies were Lorettos highest paid independent contractors, earning nearly $4 million from the community hospital between July 2018 and June 2019, according to tax documents.

Its really been a pillar in the community, said Austin resident Dora Dantzler-Wright, of Loretto. Shes executive director of the Chicago Recovering Communities Coalition, an Austin nonprofit that provides services to people struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. Its unfair to the people who live in the community that they cannot take pride in a hospital that has been there for years.

6 a.m.: Reaching people with vaccine hesitancy or limited access: Its really thinking creatively, says UIC team leader on $1.4 million grant

Recently, Carlos Millan had a conversation with a man who was worried about the COVID-19 vaccine.

The man had read somewhere that it could have an impact on his sperm, so he was reluctant to be vaccinated. After their conversation, recalled Millan, who completed the city health departments Vaccine Ambassador Course training, he feels a lot better.

Outreach to communities that are hesitant to get the vaccine, or have less access to it, will be a major focus this summer and fall as the city moves forward through this pandemic.

The University of Illinois at Chicago was recently selected by the National Institutes of Health as the main site for a multicenter collaboration to research and create outreach to communities disproportionality affected by COVID-19. The group aims to improve access to testing, treatment and clinical trial opportunities. The university will receive a $1.4 million NIH grant to increase vaccine confidence.

The UICs Dr. Molly Martin, associate professor of pediatrics at the College of Medicine and principal investigator on the NIH grant, said the researchers hope to use their understanding of access to the vaccine and information sharing through communities to go beyond COVID-19. For example, Black women face major health disparities, and what researchers find out about connecting with communities of color could help approach those issues as well.

6 a.m.: Effingham County Fair returns with new harness racing series, facilities upgrades

The organizers of the Effingham County Fair on Tuesday announced details about this years fair and associated horse races. They also discussed several upgrades to the facilities and reviewed other activities at the fairgrounds.

If you take me and put me down in that fairground 10 or 15 years ago and then put me down again today, its just amazing what weve accomplished, said County Fair Board President Phillip Hartke, before taking out a novelty Make Fairs Great Again hat.

This years fair will run from Saturday, July 31, to Saturday, Aug. 7, at the Effingham County Fairgrounds in Altamont.

This is a return to form after the fair canceled most of its events last year and modified the few remaining ones to comply with public health guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fair will feature traditional events, including a parade, talent show, rodeo, demolition derby and more.

Andrew Adams, Effingham Daily News, via Tribune Content Agency

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Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Heres what happened June 2 with COVID-19 in the Chicago area - Chicago Tribune