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.
Health
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.
Gov. JB Pritzker officially repeals parental notification of abortion
Despite nearly three-quarters of Illinoisans opposing the legislation, Gov. Pritzker repealed parental notification of abortion. His office cited non-resident abortions in Illinois are up over 250% since 2014.
US drug overdose deaths top 100,000 in one year, up nearly 30% since COVID lockdowns
Drug overdoses now surpass deaths from car crashes, guns, and even flu and pneumonia. The total is close to that for diabetes, the nation's No. 7 cause of death.
Bill would remove 'conscience' as basis for refusing vaccine
The Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act states that Illinois will respect and protect the right of conscience of all persons who refuse to obtain, receive, or accept medical care as well as those providing it. Illinois Democrats are trying to "carve-out" an exception to that for COVID.
Gov. Pritzker says prepare now to vaccinate kids aged 5 to 11
According to the CDC, 15 children aged 0-17 years have died with confirmed or presumed COVID-19 in the entire state of Illinois so far this year, while 43 children aged 0-17 years have been fatally shot in Chicago alone so far this year.
Pritzker orders vaccinations or testing for day care workers
Illinois' weekly COVID case count has dropped for seven weeks in a row. The state has also seen new cases per day numbers drop 50% from seven weeks ago.
About 440 Advocate Aurora Health workers leave over mandate
The deadline to comply with the mandate was Friday and workers initially were given a three-day suspension to have one last chance to comply, the company said.
US to reopen land borders in November for fully vaccinated
No testing will be required to enter the U.S. by land or sea, provided the travelers meet the vaccination requirement, according to the CDC. The U.S. will accept travelers who have been fully vaccinated with any of the vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization.