Thread by @BauerJournalism

Dr. Allison Arwady, head of the Chicago Department of Public Health, has a news conference at 1 p.m. I'll live tweet.

Follow for updates. Let me know if you have questions.

blockclubchicago.org/2021/04/27/cor…

Still waiting on this to start.

You can watch here: facebook.com/watch/live/?v=…

Arwady: Vaccines are going to be how we get out of this in Chicago.

We have passed 2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Chicago. It's an "exciting" benchmark.

Arwady: "We're making amazing progress here in Chicago."

Arwady: "Our coverage for those over 65 is still lagging." 81% of Americans 65+ have gotten at least a first dose. That's at ~65% in Chicago. "We still have a lot of work to do there."

Arwady: This week we're in may be the first week where demand is dropping. This could be the first week where all of our vaccine does not get allocated; but to this point, 98% has been.

Arwady: We have J&J available at Kennedy-King College 9-3 Saturdays.

Arwady: We're entering eighth week . "This will be our last week for walk-in appointments for the Pfizer vaccine. Starting next week, we are going to do one week of walk-in J&J appointments." That starts Tuesday.
May 4-10.

...

Then, no additional first doses at United Center. Team will stay to complete all second doses of Pfizer on time. "But we are also going to start the drive-thru again at the United Center with J&J. We'll be starting the drive-thru on May 8 ... and then even when the walk-in is ...

"done and federal partners go home, at the moment, if we see good uptake, we are planning to continue the United Center only as a drive-in site" likely going through June.

Arwady: We want to get every homebound senior vaccinated by mid-May.

Arwady: You're going to see a lot more vans and tents and trying to bring vaccine to events that make Chicago, Chicago, whether it's block parties, festivals, etc.

Arwady: You'll hear more about Vax & Relax, where you might be able to get your nails done, etc. for free and get a vaccination.

Arwady: For people who are fully vaccinated (two weeks after final dose), you no longer need to wear a mask outside unless you're in crowded settings, per CDC.

Arwady: This is going to be an ongoing transition from COVID. We've been much more comfortable outdoors, knowing the risk is greater indoors.

Arwady: "The risk, at this point, when people are gathering — yes, we still have almost 550 cases per day, that's a high risk for Chicago, but very different before a vaccine. ... If you yourself are vaccinated, and you're in a setting where most people are vaccinated, even if...

"there's 550 cases per day in Chicago, your individual risk is low." But when you're not vaccinated, and especially if you're gathering with a lot of people who aren't vaccinated, the risk goes up.

Arwady: They expect to be "turning the dial" and reopening more in coming days as people are getting vaccinated.

Arwady: The risk is increasingly going to be on people who have not gotten vaccinated, and they think reopening is appropriate.

Arwady: All along, our plan has been that as COVID comes under control here in Chicago and in Illinois, "We will be turning that dial. So, yes, I am assuming ... as long as we can turn that dial and continue to see cases, hospitalizations stable or declining, ...

"I do anticipate ... we would be moving again in a dial way to more reopening, including in sports stadiums."

Arwady: For people who are fully vaccinated, masks remain required indoors.

Arwady: If I was an organizer for the Fourth of July, I'd say let's do everything we possibly can to vaccinate the people who might want to come.

"I suspect we will have some version of these activities we love."

Arwady: "We all want to put this behind us, and getting people vaccinated is the way to do it."

Arwady, asked about Lollapalooza, says she won't comment on what events could happen later in the summer.