Chicago Mayor Warns Of COVID-19 Restrictions Amid "Second Surge"
CHICAGO — Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday warned that she will reinstate strict coronavirus restrictions due to an alarming "second surge" in COVID-19 cases across the city.
"This is a warning sign. This is a call to action. This is the thing that we need to do as a community to protect ourselves," Lightfoot said "We don't want to see us have to go back to the kind of restrictive measures that were commonplace in March and April and May. But if we need to we will. I won't hesitate."
Chicago public health commissioner Dr. Alison Arwady warned that coronavirus cases are spiking across all racial and age groups citywide at a rate reminiscent of the initial spike of COVID-19 cases in the spring.
"As our first warning sign Chicago cases are now increasing sharply with a rate of increase similar to what we saw in the first wave. ... I don't want you to pay attention to the numbers as much as I want you to pay attention to the way that is rising very steeply ... just over the last week is approximately the same rate that it was rising way back in March and April," Arwady said pointing to a graph of daily cases. "Epidemiologists and public health scientists worry the most about how quickly things are changing."
As of Monday, Chicago has had a daily average of 508 new cases, a 45-percent spike compared to last week. Arwady said she expects the daily average to top 600, possibly by the end of the week and grow from there.
The spike in cases has increased across all racial and age groups, a sign the outbreak is widespread and difficult to control. Arwady said public health data shows that the number of tests it takes to find a confirmed coronavirus case has decreased as the number of cases has spiked, signaling that there is "more COVID." Also, the number of coronavirus cases requiring hospitalizations has increased by 25 percent since Sept. 22, Arwady said.
Arwady said the reason data hasn't shown a huge spike in hospitalizations yet is because of a lag time between positive cases and more serious outcomes.
Arwady stressed the importance of wearing masks and not gathering with people you don't live with.
"Do not invite anyone over to your house or apartment. This is not the time for non-essential gatherings, period," she said.
Lightfoot did not identify what restrictions she would enact if coronavirus cases continue to rise.
During the so-called Phase 3 of restrictions in-person dining at restaurants was only allowed outdoors and bars were closed.
This is a developing story check back for details.
This article originally appeared on the Chicago Patch
