(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Here are latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak in Illinois on Thursday, April 30, 2020:
- Illinois' modified stay-at-home order begins Friday with retail stores able to reopen by taking orders online or by phone and delivering them curbside. Golf courses, some state parks - excluding those in Cook County and Chicago - and greenhouses will be able to open by adhering to strict measures. Patients wanting to have elective surgeries will be able to as well. The extended stay-at-home order expires May 30. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- NEW NUMBERS: The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,137 new cases and 105 deaths. That takes the state's overall known total to 56,055 cases, including 2,457 deaths.
- Chicago police announced Thursday six more cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of cases in the department to 436. Of the confirmed cases, 415 are officers and 21 are civilian employees. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- Ravina, the oldest music festival in the country, has been forced to cancel its 2020 season in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. DETAILS HERE.
- Some iconic Chicago art installations have a new look and are promoting public health. Crews spent Thursday morning installing giant masks on the lions and the Picasso in Daley Plaza. The initiative is a partnership with local designers and the City of Chicago, using creative vision to promote public health. The idea came from Glenview-based Dimension Design. READ MORE HERE.
- The coronavirus pandemic continues to hit public transportation hard, especially Metra. Metra has seen a 97 percent decrease in ridership, and is now further reducing train service on its three least-busy lines beginning Monday. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- While school administrators all across Illinois are busy trying to continue educating their students via remote and e-learning during Governor Pritzker's stay-at-home order, they're also keeping an eye on what the next academic year will look like. Elgin District U-46 Supt. Tony Sanders said his district "sprinted" to get distance learning up and running in three weeks and now is in a "marathon" to look at a range of scenarios for the next school year, depending upon where things stand with the coronavirus. DETAILS HERE.
- The City of Chicago's highest-ranking sports fan is sounding off on the possibility that baseball could make a comeback this summer, in some form or other, but, she balks at saying she's confident. Mayor Lightfoot is a fanatic sports enthusiast, and she said baseball being played in Chicago would be a good thing. READ MORE HERE.
- Some Chicago firefighters and paramedics will now be tested for the coronavirus before and after their shifts. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- A North Side hospital is among the first Chicago-area facilities to see success in an experimental coronavirus treatment using plasma taken from someone who has recovered from the virus. Weiss Memorial Hospital in Uptown said it was able to successfully treat a COVID-19 patient thanks to a treatment involving the plasma of another person who had recovered. READ MORE HERE.
- You can still enjoy the city's famous cultural museums by tagging along with Mayor Lightfoot to check them out — from the comfort of your own home. The city unveiled a new virtual field trip initiative to keep students engaged and learning while they stay at home e-learning during the pandemic. Stay Home. Hit Play. features weekly episodes of museum tours with Lightfoot, who will give special field trips and behind-the-scenes looks at iconic institutions such as the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, National Museum of Mexican Art, Museum of Science and Industry, DuSable Museum Art Institute and Lincoln Park Zoo. 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!
