Daywatch: Chicago won’t require vaccine passports for now, CDC issues new eviction ban and our updated Takeout 100 guide

Chicago Tribune staff, Chicago Tribune
·4 min read
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Good morning, Chicago.

Yesterday, Illinois recorded its highest seven-day average of COVID-19 cases since early May. There were 2,682 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases yesterday, which brought the weekly average to just over 2,000. My colleague Dan Petrella also reported that there has been a dramatic rise in the number of people in Illinois with severe cases.

Meanwhile, in Chicago, officials updated the travel advisory yesterday, with 19 states and two territories now on the list. The move came amid rising numbers for the city, with 234 cases recorded yesterday, and the positivity rate jumping up to 3.3%.

And in Tokyo, track and field records continue to fall, and the U.S. women’s basketball team took care of business in the quarterfinals in their quest for a 7th straight gold. And in “look at this photo” news, a sumo statue is scaring horses during the equestrian competition. See who has won medals for Team USA so far, keep tabs on our 60-plus local Olympians and stay current with Day 12 events here.

Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.

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Chicago won’t require vaccine passports like New York for now, but ‘we’ll be watching to see how this plays out,’ health commissioner says

Despite rising COVID-19 cases, Chicago’s public health commissioner said Tuesday the city is not at this point mandating vaccination proof for indoor bars, restaurants and gyms, as New York City mayor has announced will be required in that city.

Dr. Allison Arwady called New York’s move “appropriate” and praised Chicago businesses who independently implemented such a practice. But New York City was a lot less resistant to the idea of a vaccine passport than Chicago has been, she said.

CDC issues new eviction ban for most of US through Oct. 3 due to COVID spread

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new eviction moratorium that would last until Oct. 3, as the Biden administration sought to quell intensifying criticism from progressives that it was allowing vulnerable renters to lose their homes during a pandemic.

The ban announced Tuesday could help keep millions in their homes as the coronavirus’ delta variant has spread and states have been slow to release federal rental aid. It would temporarily halt evictions in counties with “substantial and high levels” of virus transmissions and would cover areas where 90% of the U.S. population lives.

New cannabis licensees in Illinois face David vs. Goliath fight against industry giants

As Illinois begins to award much-delayed cannabis business licenses, the new business owners will face a long uphill climb. They’ll be pitting mom-and-pop startups against giant companies that have had a five-year head start to take control of the market.

After Anthony Rizzo sounds off on the ‘bad breakup’ between the Chicago Cubs and the ‘Big 3,’ Jed Hoyer says he regrets comment about making fair contract offers

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo compared the departures of the Chicago Cubs core to a “bad breakup” and disputed the team’s assessment that all were offered fair market extensions.

Rizzo didn’t get into specifics but implied the Cubs wanted hometown discounts on the “Big 3″ instead of market value.

13 newcomers to the Takeout 100 feature virtual restaurants, some of Chicago’s best barbecue and superb deep-dish pizza

We don’t eat like we used to. And perhaps that’s a good thing. If there’s any pandemic silver lining we can suss out, it’s the explosion of creativity within the dining industry.

So the Tribune’s dining team dusted off the Takeout 100 list — which was first published in January — and made a few changes. Some places closed over the past seven months or stopped offering takeout altogether, leaving room to introduce 13 newcomers. Learn about each of the new spots here.