(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Here are latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak in Illinois on Tuesday, April 21, 2020:
- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday said he's considering lifting coronavirus-related restrictions in some regions of the state before others, but would not specify when he'll make a decision about the fate of his current, overarching "stay-at-home" order, which expires at the end of April. MORE DETAILS.
- NEW NUMBERS: The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,151 new cases, including 59 deaths. That takes the state's overall known total to 31,508 cases, including 1,349 deaths. READ MORE HERE.
- Governor JB Pritzker said he's considering a statewide order that people wear masks in public places, like grocery stores, following a number of suburban communities who already have the requirement in place. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- The Governor said there will be a new emphasis on testing staff at long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, to prevent further spread of the virus among the vulnerable residents. The state has said nearly a fourth of all coronavirus deaths in Illinois are linked to nursing homes. READ MORE HERE.
- The City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced Tuesday, with regret, the cancellation of four beloved annual events and what would have been a new citywide celebration of music. DETAILS HERE.
- Mayor Lightfoot and the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) will launch Tuesday a citywide cloth mask drive. The "Chicago Together! Make a Mask, Give a Mask, Wear a Mask" initiative is encouraging residents to make and donate homemade cloth masks that will be provided to Chicago's vulnerable residents, "further building on Mayor Lightfoot's hyper-focused strategy centered around deep, consistent education and outreach to communities most adversely impacted by COVID-19," the Mayor's Office said in a statement. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- The McHenry Outdoor Drive-In Theater announced that they will open for the season on Friday, May 1, immediately following Illinois' stay-at-home order. READ MORE HERE.
- The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced Monday that Illinois has been approved to provide approximately 316,000 Illinois households with additional SNAP benefits. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- The Office of the Chief Judge of Cook County announced Monday another employee tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the number of cases in that office to 19. DETAILS HERE.
- The Cook County medical examiner's office confirmed Monday 67 additional COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total in the county to 968. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- Two more inmates at Cook County Jail who tested positive for COVID-19 have died, the sheriff's office announced Monday. READ MORE HERE.
- Another employee at the Cook County Circuit Court clerk's office has tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the overall total to 20. DETAILS HERE.
- A correctional officer at the Cook County Jail has died of the coronavirus. Sheila Rivera, 47, is possibly the first correctional officer at the jail to die of the disease, according to a statement from the Cook County sheriff's office. READ MORE HERE.
- Mayor Lightfoot provided an update Monday afternoon on the latest efforts by the Racial Equity Rapid Response Team to mitigate the racialized outcomes present in the COVID-19 crisis. MORE 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!
