Get the latest news from around Illinois.
WBEZ: Illinois official: Infant here is first in the world to die from COVID-19
An infant in Cook County has become the first baby to die in the coronavirus pandemic, the state’s top health official said Saturday.
“Today, we have 465 new cases and 13 deaths, including the tragic death of an infant,” said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. “This is the first death of an infant associated with COVID-19 in the world.”
The Center Square: 'We should grieve today,' Pritzker says after death of infant, state employee
With cases mounting, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Illinois should grieve Saturday after the COVID-19-related deaths of a state employee and an infant.
“I know how difficult this news can be, especially about this very young child,” the governor said. “Upon hearing it, I admit I was immediately shaken. And it’s appropriate for any of us to grieve today.”
The Center Square: State makes changes to improve unemployment claim process amid surge in claims
Illinois Department of Employment Security is making changes to improve its website and the unemployment claim process to address a surge in the number of unemployment claims.
In the first three weeks of March, Illinoisans filed 130,000 unemployment benefit claims, an increase of close to 400 percent compared to the same time period in 2019. The department received close to 115,000 claims for the week of March 21 alone, an increase of nearly 1,400% compared to the same time period in 2019. The Illinois Department of Employment Security call center is fielding hundreds of calls per minute, state officials said.
Chicago Sun-Times: State education officials say school districts must start remote learning Tuesday
Illinois education officials are directing districts statewide to implement concrete remote learning plans for all schools starting Tuesday, and a new order from the governor has suspended state-mandated standardized testing.
The state’s new, more tangible education plan for the coronavirus closures came in the form of an executive order Friday from Gov. J.B. Prtizker and extensive guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education, which until now hadn’t offered specific recommendations for remote learning.
Chicago Tribune: Food-assistance agencies are gearing up for a wave of demand amid closings because of coronavirus
With nearly one-third of Chicago-area food pantries closed because of the coronavirus, those still open are changing their operations in response to an expected wave of demand and to adhere to social distancing recommendations.
The Greater Chicago Food Depository, which partners with more than 300 pantries and 400 other food services organizations, is shifting from fresh produce to nonperishable foods that keep longer and are easier to pack. The agency also is encouraging its partners to give prepackaged boxes and bags of food instead of letting families they serve walk into a pantry to take what they need.
The Center Square: Schools won't have to make up missed days for COVID-19
Illinois schools won’t have to make up days missed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but will have to implement remote learning starting Tuesday, the Illinois State Board of Education announced.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker closed public and private schools statewide from March 17 through at least April 7. Through Monday, those days were declared “act of God” days. Starting Tuesday, schools will be required to use remote learning.
Chicago Tribune: McCormick Place set to be converted into Illinois’ first field hospital for 3,000 coronavirus patients by April 24
McCormick Place will be converted into Illinois’ first field hospital to handle 3,000 coronavirus patients as the state braces for a possible surge in cases in the coming weeks, officials said.
“We’re not waiting for the worst. We’re preparing ourselves for the worst,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Saturday at his daily briefing.
Chicago Sun-Times: Sheriff announces 51 new coronavirus cases at Cook County Jail, raising total to 89
The Cook County sheriff’s office announced Saturday that 89 detainees at the Cook County Jail have tested positive for COVID-19, an increase of 51 cases from the day before.
Additionally, 12 sheriff’s office employees have tested positive for the coronavirus.