(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Here are latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak in Illinois on Thursday, May 21, 2020:
- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday said he's relaxing some restrictions in the next phase of his reopening plan and will allow bars and restaurants to serve diners outdoors, with restrictions. All of Illinois is set to move into "Phase 3" of his reopening plan on May 29, provided health metrics hold. Bars and restaurants that are able to serve customers outdoors during the warm weather can move forward, provided they are able to keep tables 6 feet apart and away from sidewalks and as long as servers wear masks, Pritzker said. Previously, restaurants would not have been allowed to serve dine-in customers until Phase 4 of Pritzker's plan. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- NEW NUMBERS: The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,914 new cases and 147 deaths. That takes the state's overall known total to 100,418 cases, including 4,525 deaths. READ MORE HERE.
- Chicago police announced one more COVID-19 case Wednesday, bringing the number of cases in the department to 530. Of the confirmed cases, 503 are officers and 27 are civilian employees. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- A new bi-weekly survey looks at lost income as a result of COVID-19. According to the Society for Human Resource Management and Oxford Economics, their new "COVID-19 U.S. Business Index" finds that U.S. workers to date have lost $1.3 trillion in income. DETAILS HERE.
- Republican Rep. Darren Bailey was booted from the Illinois House Wednesday for not wearing a mask. Before he was ejected, he spoke against a proposed rule that lawmakers wear face coverings, which went on to pass the General Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support. Bailey's ejection was approved with the help of some Republicans. READ MORE HERE.
- A new elective course offered by the Feinberg School of Medicine provides an intensive look at COVID-19. It's a virtual course, not surprisingly, because in-person medical education is suspended during the pandemic. The real-time virtual elective allows students to gain insight into the disease and its impact. The course was among the nation's first for medical students. 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!
