Health
Pritzker to lift mask mandate...except for schools
The change in policy doesn't apply to schools, and the Democratic governor has appealed a circuit court ruling last week that found he had overstepped by requiring face coverings for in-person learning.
Illinois AG Kwame Raoul officially appeals school mask ruling
Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul asked the 4th District Appellate Court in Springfield for an emergency halt to a temporary restraining order against the mask mandate.
UChicago Medicine wants to build $633M cancer facility by 2026
The new center would include space for outpatient procedures and services, 128 hospital beds, an urgent care, and be a research center with clinical trials enrolling area patients.
Another lawsuit against suburban Chicago COVID-19 testing company accused of faking results
Customers throughout the country have been complaining about the center’s delayed or lack of results, leading health authorities in several states to launch investigations.
Fentanyl seizures rise sharply downstate
The DEA Division that overseas the southern Illinois area reported a 230% increase in deadly fentanyl seizures in 2021 over 2020, and a 175% increase over the amounts seized in 2019.
Chicago Public health officials say city has passed omicron peak
The city’s COVID-19 test positivity peaked at nearly 20% on Jan. 1 and is about 13% currently. The peak of daily cases was 8,553 on Jan. 4 and currently averaging just under 3,000 a day. Hospitalizations haven't dropped but started to plateau.
Walgreens sees fiscal 1Q sales jolt from vaccinations and testing
Walgreens notched strong sales growth in the face of a number of challenges during the quarter including a spike in the theft of profitable beauty products, which company leaders attributed to organized crime rings.
Cook County follows city and mandates vax proof for restaurants and bars
Cook County’s vaccine mandate will also begin Jan. 3, the same day a similar requirement for Chicago that was announced Tuesday is set to begin.
City to require proof of vaccination at restaurants, bars, gyms, and others
In just two more weeks...the city will require vaccinations for many indoor venues but not all. Employees will have a test option but not customers. So far, 20% of restaurants and bars have been unable to survive.
UI/UIC, Northwestern, and DePaul announce plans to briefly go remote in January
Despite reported student vaccination rates of 95% and students reporting depression, suicidal thoughts, and overdoses at all-time highs, some area universities are already announcing more plans for remote learning.
