Thread by @BauerJournalism

Arwady says the city is "worried" about rise in new cases, positivity rate.

https://twitter.com/ChiPublicHealth/status/1374391128598802434

Arwady: We're seeing some spread in sports teams, including at the high school level and college and adult. Advises parents to make sure kids are wearing their masks.

"While COVID rates are still relatively high, there is some risk there."

Arwady: At rate we're going here, by late April to early May, probably at least half of Chicagoans will have been able to get first dose.

"That may be even faster if more and more vaccine gets here. But my biggest worry is we're still sitting here in March, and I think people...

"are, in some ways, starting to feel like it's July already. And we're just not there."

Arwady: "United Center is doing beautifully." They're doing "well over 5,000" appointments per day. "We're having absolutely no trouble booking vaccines."

Arwady: "We are posting some appointments on Zocdoc every single day for anybody in Chicago who lives anywhere ... who is eligible."

Arwady: "I can tell you for a fact there will not be changes in eligibility at the United Center. We are having absolutely no problem filling appointments." When they're put up through Zocdoc, they're gone in minutes. When opening them through community groups, they go.

Arwady: Please don't use a code you're not eligible for because it just creates work for CDPH to confirm you're not eligible and cancel your appointment.

Arwady: United Center drive-thru open. Still using Pfizer.

Arwady: "I do think by this summer, broadly, you're going to be able to have a wedding in the way that you want to have a wedding."

Outdoor weddings won't really be an issue. If every adult is vaccinated, CDPH isn't worried about it.

Arwady: "The question will be, when you're sort of planning your wedding, I do think you're going to have to keep some of the COVID in mind." There could be kids who can't get vaccinated and who might be higher-risk. There might be people who aren't getting vaccinated.

Arwady: "I think by this summer you probably will be in good shape to have a wedding, and especially if you do it outside. That really decreases risk for everybody."

COVID could still surprise us, though. But "I'm feeling really optimistic."

Arwady: We have had "thousands and thousands of people signing up for homebound appointments." She's glad about that, "but as a reminder, I expect that our homebound program is going to take the whole summer to get through."

Arwady: We will get to everybody who needs a vaccine through that program.

It's done by CFD, volunteer medical workers and even if they're efficient they can only do a few per day.

Arwady: If you are sick, even a little sick, stay home and get a COVID test. Our COVID rates are going up. Sniffles, cough are signs of COVID.

Arwady: "I think by this summer, an outdoor eent, particularly if all your performers are vaccinated absolutely will be something I'm very hopeful we'll be in good shape to do."

The city is thinking about how they can do some of the things we love (without a huge crowd).

Arwady: "Can't emphasize enough, especially with cases on the rise," we need to get older people vaccinated.