(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Here are latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak in Illinois on Saturday, April 11, 2020:
- The second Chicago Police officer who died from COVID-19 complications was remembered as a valiant servant to the city's public safety and a telling reminder that civilians must stay home to combat the virus, said Mayor Lori Lightfoot. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- A South Side charity organization is asking the public to help its residents hit hardest by the financial crisis caused by the pandemic closures. Project H.O.O.D., which serves Englewood and Woodlawn, started a Coronavirus Relief Fund on April 7 to assist residents with rent and food supplies. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- After four people tested positive for coronavirus at a downstate county jail-turned-detention center, a Chicago-based immigration social justice organization is planning to file a federal lawsuit to call on the government to release medically vulnerable immigrants detained there. READ MORE HERE.
- NEW NUMBERS: Saturday saw 81 new deaths and 1,293 cases, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 19,180 and 677 deaths.
- Pritzker signaled Thursday that it won't be business as usual for large summer events this year. In other words, concerts, festivals and other activities where crowds gather are not likely to happen, even if other types of COVID-19-related restrictions are lifted. Pritzker, who has issued a stay-at-home order for Illinoisans through April 30, said the risk of a novel coronavirus resurgence is too great, without a vaccine in hand. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- Cook County Jail is a hot spot for the novel coronavirus, but it’s just the opposite situation at the DuPage County Jail. DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick said Thursday it’s unlikely his jail will be able to keep the COVID-19 pandemic at bay forever, but he said his office is doing its best. READ MORE HERE.
- The Museum of Science and Industry is supporting local hospital and healthcare organizations in need of personal protective equipment by activating 20 of its 3D printers to make masks and face shields. READ MORE HERE.
- Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced Friday that his office filed emergency rules extending expiration dates for driver's licenses, identification (ID) cards, vehicle registrations and other transactions and document filings for at least 90 days after Driver Services facilities reopen. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- The Illinois Lottery announced Friday that it is extending the timeframe in which winners can claim prizes during the COVID-19 pandemic. READ MORE HERE.
- The Chicago Transit Authority announced Thursday new rear-door boarding and operational changes for buses beginning Thursday, April 9. READ MORE HERE.
- To prepare for a surge in COVID-19 deaths, Cook County officials on Thursday opened a refrigerated warehouse to store thousands of additional bodies. The 66,000-square foot refrigerated “surge center” can hold more than 2,000 bodies, and is located about five miles from the county’s Near West Side morgue, according to a statement office of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. DETAILS HERE.
- The Centers for Disease Control is shedding new light on how COVID-19 spread in Chicago. In February and March 2020, the Chicago Department of Public Health investigated a large, multi-family cluster of COVID-19. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 and their close contacts were interviewed to better understand the non-household, community transmission of COVID-19. It was found that it all began with a shared take-out meal. READ MORE HERE.
- Research from the Illinois Department of Public Health shows a disparity among Black communities, which have been hit hard by the virus. Black residents make up more than half of all cases and about 70 percent of those who’ve died of the disease.
- Cardinal Blase Cupich is preparing for the Chicago Catholic Church’s first Easter in modern history without people in the pews, because of the coronavirus pandemic. DETAILS HERE.
This is a rapidly evolving situation. Stay tuned to WBBM Newsradio where we will remain live, local, and committed to bringing you the latest information during this outbreak. >> LISTEN LIVE!