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Second Highest Number of Deaths Per Week
This is important because it emphasizes the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. -
First COVID Case
The first confirmed case of COVID-19 reported in a Chicago resident. This is important because it marked the beginning of the spread in IL. -
Announced the First Case As "Not a Threat"
Public Health officials announced the first COVID- 19 case. However, Public Health Officials said it was not a threat to the general public and allowed people to go about their lives normally. This is important because it began a sense of panic through the state due to awareness of the lesser known. -
First COVID Death
Illinois Department of Public Health announce the first COVID-19 death in Illinois. This is important because it flagged this virus as fatal. -
Statewide Stay At Home Order
Governor JB Pritzker orders the state to stay at home so healthcare workers can continue to slow the spread. People could not go to events of more than 10 people.This is important because it isolated people from their relations and made many people realize the risk. -
Actions taken to Protect the Finances of IL Residents
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced a series of actions to protect Illinoisans in areas of consumer borrowing, servicing, and collections. This is important because it provided support and security to the information that was being given to the state and citizens. -
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Increase in Cases/Deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 8,623 new cases of COVID-19, including 347 additional deaths.
March 31, 2020
April 4, 2020
April 28, 2020
May 12, 2020
This was important because it demonstrates the rapid spread of COVID in IL within a short period. -
Response to Riots/Frustration
Governor JB Pritzker activated 375 Illinois National Guard soldiers for State Active Duty to help the Chicago Police Department to protect the City of Chicago and its residents. This is in response to riots and people expressing their frustration with what is going on in the world. This was important because there must be some force that controls and calms down society in times like COVID. -
Under Phase 4 of COVID-19
Restore Illinois plan, swimming facilities licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health can open at a maximum of 50% of capacity. This was important because it was the continuation of closing out the state from each other. -
Restrictions on Sports
Governor JB Pritzker announced restrictions for youth and adult recreational sports, like school sports, travel clubs teams, recreational leagues, and park district sports programs. This was important because sports are so important to child development and can allow them to connect with others in their age group; that was missed out on with these restrictions. -
The 3 W's
Getting ready for the holiday season, Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines include following the 3 W's - Wash your hands. Watch your distance. Wear your mask. This was important because it was a reminder to citizens to stay safe and keep the spread under control, even if the holiday season was approaching. -
First COVID-19 Vaccines
First COVID-19 vaccines administered in Illinois. This was important because it was a huge preventative measure for the future. -
IL Works With Pharmacies to Provide Vaccines
The State of Illinois starts to partner with Hy-Vee pharmacies across Illinois to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible individuals providing up to 200 vaccinations each day. This was important because it made the main preventative measure more accessible to those who wanted it. -
Children Receive Food Benefits
Governor JB Pritzker announced that the next month, about 1 million children across Illinois will receive federally funded food benefits. This is to help those families who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 or whose families would otherwise depend on school meals. This was important because many families needed support feeding their children with the lack of income that COVID enforced upon them. -
Law to Protect First Responders
Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 4276 into law to protect Illinois' first responders and frontline essential workers. The legislation extended worker compensation benefits until June 30, 2021, for first responders and frontline essential workers who were exposed to COVID-19 through their job. This was important because first responders came in contact with many people and were the reason those in high emergency situations had a chance. -
Funding For Students Returning to School
Governor Pritzker announced Illinois K-12 school districts have received $7 billion in federal funding to support students returning to the classroom after distance and hybrid learning due to COVID-19. This was important because the switch from online to in-person school was major and took place a year later, so the reinstatement cost must have been quite high. -
Launch of Pilot Program to Protect Children
Illinois announced the launch of a pilot program to protect school children from COVID-19 and decrease the level of spread through classrooms by researching school wastewater for the virus. This was important because it prioritized the youths' health and made sure they were in the best possible conditions. -
OTC COVID Test Availability
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced they are distributing 1 million free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests to people in lesser areas outside of Chicago by partnering with the Rockefeller Foundation’s public charity, RF Catalytic Capital and its Project ACT (Access COVID Tests) program. This was important because citizens could check to see if they carried the virus with the test which increased certainty and decreased spread. -
Tracking COVID in Wastewater
The Discovery Partners Institute and the Illinois Department of Public Health announced a new website that tracks the levels of COVID-19 in wastewater samples in the cities of Illinois. This website builds on the statistics posted on the CDC's COVID Data Tracker website and gives more data specific to Illinois that is easily understood. This was important because it allowed response adaptation according to the current data of the state. -
Emergency End Date Announced
Governor JB Pritzker announced the state’s public health emergency will end on May 11, 2023, the state will comply with the federal government’s decision to end the national public health emergency. This was important because it put peace into the state's mind again after almost 3 years. -
End of Emergency
Public Health emergency ends. This was important because it marked the beginning of the norms being put back into place, and though it put peace into the state's mind, it also took the pressure off of COVID and thus people were less afraid of it. -
Low Level of COVID Hospital Admissions
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced that the CDC is reporting that all of Illinois counties stayed at a low level for COVID-19 hospital admissions after the state Public Health Emergency ending on May 11. This was important because it provided data to support the act of ending the PH emergency and meant the state was starting to become more and more normal again. -
Holiday Awareness Campaign
The Illinois Department of Public Health launched an awareness campaign called ’Tis The Sneezin’ to nudge residents to vaccinate against the triple threat: the flu, COVID and RSV. This was important because it made sure citizens were still aware of the risks and kept precautions/preventatives in mind when necessary.