The Spin: Pritzker can't help but mull reinstating COVID-19 restrictions | Arne Duncan says Trump 'doesn't care whether you live or die' | White Sox fan Lightfoot OK with Cubs playing under Friday night lights
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said today, “I will not hesitate to reimpose some mitigations if we see our numbers moving upward” as California announced it would do yesterday amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.
But Pritzker swerved from specific questions about whether he’d shut down bars and restaurants again -- though he hinted strongly that those moves, among others, are clearly on his mind.
While the daily tally of newly diagnosed cases in Illinois declined for a third straight day, the seven-day average has climbed above 1,000, something state officials are keeping an eye on. For her part, Mayor Lori Lightfoot says she’s concerned cases have been inching up in the 18-29 age group.
Days after President Donald Trump threatened to cut funding to elementary and secondary schools that don’t open their doors for in-person classes this fall, former Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan said the president can’t unilaterally do that and offered some advice to parents. The former education secretary under President Barack Obama also offered a brutal assessment of Trump: “Do not pay attention to Trump, don’t be scared of his bluffs,” Duncan said on MSNBC yesterday. “He does not care whether you live or die. Pay attention to those local people who live in your community, please listen to them.”
And now for some good news: Illinois’ $52.8 million take on weed sales is, well, higher than projected – “a bright spot among the state’s pandemic-scarred finances,” my Tribune colleague Ally Marotti writes in a new dispatch.
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Pritzker focuses on bars as potential COVID-19 transmission hot spots when asked about possible reopening rollback
Gov. Pritzker made plain today that his administration is mulling what it would look like if Illinois saw a surge in cases and had to reverse course on indoor drinking and dining at bars and restaurants. California has done that, while Oregon has announced it’s limiting gatherings to 10 people -- right now that number is at 50 and under in Illinois.
During a news conference in Chicago, NBC5 political reporter Mary Ann Ahern pressed the governor about what kind of surge he’d need to see to put the proverbial car not just in reverse, but back it into the garage. Asked about reversing course on indoor dining and drinking, which the state just began phasing back in, he said, “it’s one of the things we look at.”
As my Tribune colleague Dan Petrella notes: Pritzker said he and health officials are watching the Southern and Western states where the virus is surging ‘and wondering, where could we or should we … turn the dimmer switch, as they say, on some of these items?‘” Read Petrella’s full story here.
Eating and drinking: “It was not known earlier on that ... (not just) indoor bars in particular, but bars at restaurants, too, can be places where if (the crowd’s) not managed properly there can be significant transmission. That was not well known early on. We had an idea, we imposed restrictions, but we didn’t have really enough data,” Pritzker said today. Now “the data is in,” he said.
Data point 1: “Long conversations in close contact are believed to play an important role in transmission of many viruses, including the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19,” The New York Times reported last month. “Research shows that we can release up to 10 times more particles through speech than a cough.”
Data point 2: A nifty graphic on WBEZ-91.9 FM’s website offers a quick reminder about Pritzker’s multiphase “Restore Illinois” plan and the bench marks to lift or enact stronger coronavirus-related restrictions: “Testing positivity rates -- the percentage of tests returned positive on any given day -- are one of several metrics the state is watching to determine phase changes. If the positivity rate’s rolling 7-day average moves above 20%, or increases more than 10 percentage points over two weeks, a region may move back a phase in the reopening plan.” The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total tests from July 7-July 13 is 3.0%.
Personal point: “We’re watching these numbers, very, very closely,” Pritzker said of Illinois COVID-19 numbers, stressing his own concern: “I don’t wake up on any day, and not look at those numbers, first thing.”
Gov. Pritzker made plain today that his administration is mulling what it would look like if Illinois saw a surge in cases and had to reverse course on indoor drinking and dining at bars and restaurants. California has done that, while Oregon has announced it’s limiting gatherings to 10 people -- right now that number is at 50 and under in Illinois.
During a news conference in Chicago, NBC5 political reporter Mary Ann Ahern pressed the governor about what kind of surge he’d need to see to put the proverbial car not just in reverse, but back it into the garage. Asked about reversing course on indoor dining and drinking, which the state just began phasing back in, he said, “it’s one of the things we look at.”
As my Tribune colleague Dan Petrella notes: Pritzker said he and health officials are watching the Southern and Western states where the virus is surging ‘and wondering, where could we or should we … turn the dimmer switch, as they say, on some of these items?‘” Read Petrella’s full story here.
Eating and drinking: “It was not known earlier on that ... (not just) indoor bars in particular, but bars at restaurants, too, can be places where if (the crowd’s) not managed properly there can be significant transmission. That was not well known early on. We had an idea, we imposed restrictions, but we didn’t have really enough data,” Pritzker said today. Now “the data is in,” he said.
Data point 1: “Long conversations in close contact are believed to play an important role in transmission of many viruses, including the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19,” The New York Times reported last month. “Research shows that we can release up to 10 times more particles through speech than a cough.”
Data point 2: A nifty graphic on WBEZ-91.9 FM’s website offers a quick reminder about Pritzker’s multiphase “Restore Illinois” plan and the bench marks to lift or enact stronger coronavirus-related restrictions: “Testing positivity rates -- the percentage of tests returned positive on any given day -- are one of several metrics the state is watching to determine phase changes. If the positivity rate’s rolling 7-day average moves above 20%, or increases more than 10 percentage points over two weeks, a region may move back a phase in the reopening plan.” The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total tests from July 7-July 13 is 3.0%.
Personal point: “We’re watching these numbers, very, very closely,” Pritzker said of Illinois COVID-19 numbers, stressing his own concern: “I don’t wake up on any day, and not look at those numbers, first thing.”
For her part, Lightfoot said she’s concerned about what a rise in cases in the 18-29 age group. During an interview today on MSNBC, the mayor suggested some kind of public health marketing effort aimed at young adults is in the works.
The mayor’s office is “thinking creatively to bring new messaging through credible messengers to reach this group,” Lightfoot said, adding at another point in the interview: “We’re going to be rolling out a few things in the coming days that are focused on that age group and different demographics.”
Beyond that, “we’re not going to hesitate if we need to take some steps back because we’ve got to keep being diligent on keeping safe,” the mayor said.
Data point: WTTW-Ch. 11 reporter Heather Cherone reports that “between June 15 and July 7, nearly 30% of all of the confirmed coronavirus cases were in young adults, according to data provided by the Chicago Department of Public Health.”
White Sox fan Lightfoot OK with Cubs playing Friday, Saturday nights amid pandemic
The Tribune’s John Byrne writes: “The Cubs will play a handful of rare Friday and Saturday night home games this season, which isn’t expected to cause the usual hand-wringing and political fights because the COVID-19 pandemic will stop fans with tickets from flooding into Wrigleyville to snarl traffic around the historic ballpark.”
Mayor Lightfoot, a die-hard White Sox fan, “has introduced an ordinance to allow the six Friday night games, starting with the July 24 home opener against the rival Milwaukee Brewers” Byrne writes. The matter will be taken up by the licensing committee this week. There are six Saturday night home games on the schedule too.
Byrne writes in part “(E)ven without fans in the stands, Wrigleyville has been in the news lately as maskless young people pack into bars there to drink. The Cubs playing will offer another reason for crowds to descend on the entertainment district even if they aren’t allowed into the stadium.”
Your near daily reminder: Mayor Lightfoot says, ‘I’m not confident that we’re going to open the beaches anytime soon’ -- Yes, there is evidence that transmission of COVID-19 is less likely outdoors, but the mayor reiterated again today that she’s concerned about people packing the beaches and not adhering to social distancing that is also part of preventing the spread of the virus.
“As I mentioned, we’re starting to see a slight uptick in cases,” the mayor said during an unrelated news conference. “So the beaches conversation is one that’s going to have to come down the road.”
Whiting’s Whihala Beach to close starting Wednesday due to crowds, mayor says: With beach erosion taking a toll along that Indiana stretch of Lake Michigan, it’s difficult for beachgoers to keep a healthy distance amid the pandemic, the Post-Tribune’s Meredith Colias-Pete reports.
Chicago’s City Colleges will wipe out debt of students who return – Mayor Lightfoot says it’s all part of the post-COVID recovery. Read the story here.
Mayor’s tenant notice measure advances – The Tribune’s John Byrne has the story here.
Lightfoot adds neighbor Iowa to Chicago’s quarantine list, won’t rule out Wisconsin.
The mayor today added Iowa and Oklahoma to the list of states from which people entering Chicago need to quarantine themselves for two weeks because of rising coronavirus levels, the Tribune’s John Byrne reports. She wouldn’t rule out eventually adding Wisconsin to the list if warranted. “The mayor acknowledged it’s largely an honor system proposition, but said she thinks people are adhering to the rules,” Byrne writes. Read the full story here.
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Arne Duncan: ‘Trump does not care whether you live or die'
Former CPS CEO and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan went on MSNBC yesterday and told parents nervously awaiting what a new school year might look like amid a pandemic, and gave them a road map: Listen to local officials, not President Trump.
The president has threatened via social media to cut the funding of elementary and secondary schools in the nation that don’t reopen their doors for in-class learning this fall.
In one Twitter post, he wrote: “Not even close! Schools must be open in the Fall. If not open, why would the Federal Government give Funding? It won’t!!!” he wrote.
Duncan, who served as education secretary under former President Barack Obama, disputes the president has that kind of authority and said, “What I really urge parents -- I just want to speak directly to them, and I’m a parent -- we have to listen to our local officials, I’m talking to the local superintendents on basically a daily basis. I talked to an amazing superintendent in Florida, today. They are thinking so carefully about what they need to do, yes to keep education going, whether that’s physically or virtually or a hybrid. But first and foremost, how to keep our teachers, our principals, our custodians our bus drivers safe, keep our children safe and keep their parents and grandparents, safe.
“So, do not pay attention to Trump, don’t be scared of his bluffs,” Duncan, who runs the nonprofit Chicago CRED (Creating Real Economic Destiny), which helps at-risk youth. “He does not care whether you live or die, pay attention to those local people who live in your community, please listen to them.” Watch the interview here.
In a tempered response to Duncan’s comments, White House spokesman Judd Deere wrote in an email to The Spin: “During last week’s White House Dialogue on Safely Reopening America’s schools, there was a shared commitment from President Trump, health professionals, educators, administrators, parents, and students that the ideal scenario for holistic health and ideal learning is to have students in school. We are encouraged by local leadership and that the vast majority of school districts are on a trajectory to open with students in person.”
Washington Post: President Trump can’t unilaterally cut funding to school districts, but here’s what he can do: Education reporter Valerie Strauss breaks it down here.
After Trump retweets game show host saying CDC and doctors are lying, coronavirus task force pushes back: ‘None of us lie’ -- Read The Associated Press story here.
After Chicago region sees stretch of hazardous air days, Trump EPA brushes aside public health experts, fails to tighten national standard for lung-damaging smog
The Tribune’s Michael Hawthorne writes: “Despite evidence that dirty air still endangers millions of Americans with asthma and other respiratory diseases, the Trump administration on Monday declined to tighten national standards for lung-damaging smog.
“The decision to retain an Obama-era regulation came less than a week after the Chicago area suffered its longest streak of bad air days in more than a decade.
“Business groups lobbied the administration for months to keep in place the latest federal limit on smog concentrations -- after saying just five years ago it would bankrupt the U.S. economy.
“Current scientific information continues to support the conclusion that the primary standard established in 2015 protects public health,” Andrew Wheeler, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said during a brief conference call with reporters.
The announcement marked the second time this year that Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist, “rejected pleas from public health experts to redouble the nation’s fight against air pollution,” Hawthorne notes.
On 25th anniversary of Chicago heat wave, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle vows 100% renewable energy in county facilities by 2030: Alice Yin has the story here.
Illinois House Republican leader says he won’t go to GOP convention in Florida: ‘It’s not going to be a safe environment’
From the Tribune’s Dan Petrella: “One of Illinois’ top Republican officials said Tuesday he’s skipping the GOP’s national convention celebration in Jacksonville, Florida, next month over concerns about the coronavirus.”
Illinois House Majority Leader Jim Durkin, of Western Springs, is bowing out, saying an in-person nomination convention amid a pandemic is “not going to be a safe environment.” He is not a delegate to the convention, but high-ranking party officials often attend anyway, Petrella notes.
Petrella also writes: At the behest of Trump, “Republicans moved most of the high-profile portions of their quadrennial gathering from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Jacksonville after Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper refused to let the convention go on without having social distancing measures in place.” Read the full story here.
Other news: Black Gary state Senator allege racial profiling by Indiana Capitol Police at Statehouse rally in Indianapolis – The Post-Tribune’s Carole Carlson has the details here.
Cook County opioid deaths on track to double from last year: The Tribune’s Alice Yin has the details here.
Cook Co. State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s new online complaint portal about police misconduct dubbed ‘political stunt’ by GOP rival: The Tribune’s Megan Crepeau reports that prosecutors with the office’s Law Enforcement Accountability Division will vet citizen complaints filed online and determine whether to bring charges, the office said.
Crepeau writes: “In a pointed response, Foxx’s Republican challenger for state’s attorney in the November election, Pat O’Brien, on Sunday called the portal’s launch a ‘political stunt’ -- and then launched a website of his own, through which Cook County residents can make complaints of misconduct against Foxx herself.” Read the full story here.
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