• CPS is on winter break, but it returns Jan. 3. Officials expect students to return — but entire classes could go virtual if they experience outbreaks and are in less-vaccinated communities.
We're firmly in a fifth wave of COVID-19 in Chicago, and it is one that has seen cases and positivity rates rapidly increase at a time when hospitalizations and deaths *were already up* due to a post-Thanksgiving surge.
Arwady: There is vaccine. You might not be able to get an appointment today because of the holidays, but there are vaccine doses available and you can get your shorts.
Ald. Pat Dowell: I'm navigating this by not going anywhere, and I don't have many people over to my place.
But if you're fully vaccinated, have your booster, you've put in testing protocol for the event, "you should do that, and keep your mask on."
BREAKING: Proof of COVID-19 vaccine required for Chicago bars, restaurants, gyms and other venues starting Jan. 3, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces. Here’s what you need to know: buff.ly/32rUJen.
COVID-19 vaccines will be required at all indoor Chicago businesses in the new year, Mayor Lori Lightfoot is expected to announce today. buff.ly/3spch5Z
Her news conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Check back here for live tweets and updates.
• Average daily COVID-19 cases are up 79% in the past week in Chicago, hitting 1,776/day.
• City's positivity rate is at 7.3%, up from 4.1% a week ago.
• Chicago averaging 10 residents dying per day from COVID-19. Highest since last winter's surge.
For months, some businesses voluntarily checked vaccination status. Other cities have required that. Last week, Cook County urged but did not require all suburban businesses to take that step.
Some biz are voluntarily shutting down in response to surge.
John Cunningham, chief of pediatrics at Comer Children's: "This week has been a long time coming for pediatric health care providers, for parents and, most importantly, for children." Kids 5-11 can now get vaccinated. 28 million nationwide, including 5 million+ in our region.