Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Here’s what’s happening Friday with COVID-19 as Chicago area, rest of state go under Tier 3 restrictions because of virus surge

Illinois moved back into more strict coronavirus restrictions Friday, entering Tier 3 mitigation levels designed to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The measures close most businesses and public places designed for people to congregate, such as theaters, museums and banquet halls, as well as banning indoor dining and closing bars except for outdoor service. The rules limit at-home gatherings to household members, decrease legal capacity at retail stores, personal care service businesses like salons and health and fitness centers.

The crackdown comes as the state continues to see an explosion in COVID-19 cases and a return to high numbers of deaths, coming close to numbers seen in the spring.

Illinois health officials on Thursday announced 14,612 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 168 additional confirmed fatalities, bringing the total number of known infections in Illinois to 621,383 and the statewide death toll to 11,178 since the start of the pandemic.

COVID-19 in Illinois by the numbers: Here’s a daily update on key metrics in your area

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COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood

Chicago, Cook County COVID-19 stay-home advisories: Here’s what you need to know

New coronavirus restrictions: What will be open, closed, different in Illinois starting Nov. 20

Running list of Chicago-area closings and cancellations

Here’s what’s happening Friday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:

7 a.m.: Illinois under Tier 3 mitigation as COVID-19 cases continue surge

The recent surge in coronavirus cases statewide has caused Illinois to move back into harsher coronavirus restrictions Friday.

The state now is under Tier 3 mitigation regulations designed to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The measures close most businesses and public places designed for people to congregate, such as theaters, museums and banquet halls, as well as banning indoor dining and closing bars except for outdoor service. The rules limit at-home gatherings to household members, decrease legal capacity at retail stores, personal care service businesses like salons and health and fitness centers.

The crackdown comes as the country sees an explosion in COVID-19 cases and a return to high numbers of deaths, with Illinois well above the number of daily known cases seen in the spring and coming close to the number of daily deaths seen in the pandemic’s first wave.

—Chicago Tribune staff

6:15 a.m.: Pfizer seeking emergency use of COVID-19 vaccine, which could bring first batch of shots to public by December

Pfizer said Friday it is asking U.S. regulators to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine, starting the clock on a process that could bring limited first shots as early as next month and eventually an end to the pandemic — but not until after a long, hard winter.

The action comes days after Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech announced that its vaccine appears 95% effective at preventing mild to severe COVID-19 disease in a large and ongoing study.

The companies said that protection plus a good safety record means the vaccine should qualify for emergency use authorization, something the Food and Drug Administration can grant before the final testing is fully complete. In addition to Friday’s FDA submission, they have already started “rolling” applications in Europe and the U.K. and intend to submit similar information soon.

“Our work to deliver a safe and effective vaccine has never been more urgent,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement. Read the full story here. — Associated Press

In case you missed it

Here are some recent stories related to COVID-19.

A Q&A with Dr. Anthony Fauci on his hierarchy of safety during COVID-19.

Rather than battle through a winter of COVID-19, some Chicago restaurants make a simpler calculation: Close until spring.

The Chicago Marathon is preparing for 2021 after last year’s race was canceled because of COVID-19.

For Chicago’s movie theaters, particularly the Music Box Theatre, “the gloom and doom has returned.”

Column: How did you get it? And what good are masks if they didn’t protect you? Answers to common reader questions about my COVID-19 ordeal.

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