Daywatch: Schools aim to be source for teens’ COVID vaccines, Cook County Jail’s role in early virus spread and looking ahead to Bears’ schedule release

Chicago Tribune staff, Chicago Tribune
·3 min read

Good morning, Chicago. Illinois public health officials on Tuesday reported 1,562 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois and 26 additional deaths. The state also passed 10 million COVID-19 vaccines administered, with 58,709 doses given on Monday.

Meanwhile, with the state on the cusp of the bridge phase — a set of loosened COVID-19 restrictions — Illinois health officials are tracking statewide metrics to make sure the outbreak is held in check. Here’s where the state stands, and what the bridge phase will mean for sports and entertainment.

Here’s more coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.

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COVID-19 vaccines for kids 12 to 15 begin at Chicago city-run sites Thursday; no appointment needed

Chicago’s city-operated COVID-19 vaccine sites will begin offering the Pfizer vaccine to kids 12 to 15 starting Thursday, Chicago public health officials said Tuesday while touting the two-dose shot as the strongest guarantee those children can safely celebrate the summer after a trying year of coronavirus-related closures.

Here is a list of sites that are accepting 12 and up.

Ambassador Rahm Emanuel: Former Chicago mayor reportedly President Joe Biden’s pick for Japan

President Joe Biden is expected to select former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel as his ambassador to Japan, according to multiple reports Tuesday.

The move would give Biden a deeply experienced government tactician and political veteran in a prominent foreign post, but the choice is also certain to receive criticism from some in the Democratic Party’s progressive wing who have been critical of Emanuel’s eight-year tenure as mayor.

Study links short stays at Cook County Jail early in the pandemic to the spread of COVID-19 after inmates’ release into Black and Latino neighborhoods

Relatively brief stays at the Cook County Jail — many lasting only hours or days — were strongly associated with the early spread of COVID-19 in Chicago, according to a study published Monday.

The study found that for each inmate released in March 2020, about five additional cases of COVID appeared in the inmate’s ZIP code of residence.

Chicago Archdiocese announces Catholic parish mergers for Northwest, Southwest sides

Several Catholic parishes on the Northwest and Southwest sides will consolidate as part of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s restructuring efforts, officials announced late Monday.

No church buildings are being closed, but certain parishes in the Wicker Square and Greater Ashburn groupings will merge to form new, united parishes, the archdiocese said. Other parishes and schools in these areas will continue operating as they are.

The Bears will release their schedule tonight. Here’s the latest on who they play and if fans will be in attendance.

Fans already know which teams the Bears will play in 2021 as well as where. And on Wednesday they’ll see the complete schedule when the NFL releases it at 6:45 p.m. As for who will start at quarterback for the Bears when the season begins, well, that’s still unclear.