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* Press release…
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, alongside the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), today announced the “Protecting Chicago” framework that the City will be using to guide Chicago’s reopening process amid COVID-19. The framework – organized into five phases in alignment with the State of Illinois’ “Restore Illinois” plan – will advise Chicagoans on how to safely exit from shelter-in-place while continuing to prioritize the health of our most vulnerable residents.
“Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we have been committed to basing our decisions on the science and data related to this disease and communicating our actions to the public in an open and transparent way,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “Though we still have a way to go before we can begin reopening our city, when the time comes, that reopening will follow our thoughtful, data-driven process aimed at ensuring all our residents and businesses are informed and supported every step of the way.”
The framework lays out how the City is thinking about reopening, and the details for each phase are being informed by economic and health data, and a combination of input from industry working groups, health experts and the public. As part of the reopening strategy, the City is soliciting public input to gauge sentiment on shelter-in-place and ensure the reopening is phased in a way that eases concerns that residents may have. To provide feedback, residents can visit https://www.chicago.gov/coronavirus/reopeningsurvey to complete a short survey.
The “Protecting Chicago” framework comprises five phases, and Chicago has already transitioned from phase one (Strict Stay-at-Home) to phase two (Stay-at-Home):
PHASE ONE: STRICT STAY-AT-HOME – Limit the amount of contact with others; goal is to limit interactions to rapidly slow the spread of COVID-19
• Essential workers go to work; everyone else works from home
• Stay at home and limit going out to essential activities only
• Physically distance from anyone you do not live with, especially vulnerable friends and familyPHASE TWO: STAY-AT-HOME – Guard against unsafe interactions with others; goal is to continue flattening the curve while safely being outside
• Essential workers go to work; everyone else works from home
• Stay at home as much as possible
• Wear a face covering while outside your home
• Physically distance from anyone you do not live with, especially vulnerable friends and familyPHASE THREE: CAUTIOUSLY REOPEN – Strict physical distancing with some businesses opening; goal is to thoughtfully begin to reopen Chicago safely
• Non-essential workers begin to return to work in a phased way
• Select businesses, non-profits, city entities open with demonstrated, appropriate protections for workers and customers
• When meeting others, physically distance and wear a face covering
• Non-business, social gatherings limited to <10 persons
• Phased, limited public amenities begin to open
• Stay at home if you feel ill or have come into contact with someone with COVID-19
• Continue to physically distance from vulnerable populations
• Get tested if you have symptomsPHASE FOUR: GRADUALLY RESUME – Continued staggered reopening into a new normal; goal is to further reopen Chicago while ensuring the safety of residents
• Additional business and capacity restrictions are lifted with appropriate safeguards
• Additional public amenities open
• Continue to wear face covering and physically distance
• Continue to distance and allow vulnerable residents to shelter
• Get tested if you have symptoms or think you have had COVID-19PHASE FIVE: PROTECT – Continue to protect vulnerable populations; goal is to continue to maintain safety until COVID-19 is contained
• All businesses open
• Non-vulnerable individuals can resume working
• Most activities resume with health safety in place
• Some events can resume
• Set up screenings and tests at work or with your family
• Sign up for a vaccine on the COVID Coach web portalThe epidemiological criteria for transitioning between phases are rooted in public health guidance and will be reviewed and revisited on an ongoing basis. Health-based metrics are one of the many considerations that the City is weighing to determine the details of the City’s reopening approach and sequencing. Foremost, Chicago is monitoring answers to these four questions in order to help determine when and how the transition between phases takes place:
1. Is the rate of disease spread across the city and surrounding counties decreasing?
2. Does the city have the testing and contact-tracing capacity to track the disease and limit spread?
3. Are there enough support systems in place for vulnerable residents?
4. Can the healthcare system handle a potential future surge (including beds,
ventilators and PPE)?“While our goal is to get as many people back to work as quickly and safely as possible, we will keep data and science as the north stars of this work, as we have throughout the COVID- 19 pandemic,” said Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, Allison Arwady, M.D. “We also recognize that some populations and families are suffering more than others in this crisis, and we are taking that into consideration as we prepare for reopening as well.”
A set of epidemiological factors has been established to guide the next transition from phase two (Stay-at-Home) to phase three (Cautiously Reopen), including:
• COVID-19 Case Rate (over 14 days, as a rolling average):
o Declining rate of new cases, based on incidence and/or percent positivity• Severe Outcome Rate (over 14 days, as a rolling average):
o Stable or declining rates of cases resulting in hospitalization, ICU admission, and/or death• Hospital Capacity Citywide (over 14 days, as a rolling average):
o Hospital beds: <1800 COVID patients o ICU beds: <600 COVID patients
o Ventilators: <450 COVID patients• Testing Capacity:
o Test at least 5% of Chicago residents per month• Testing Percent Positivity Rates (over 14 days, as a rolling average):
o Congregate: <30% positive tests
o Community: <15% positive tests• Syndromic Surveillance (over 14 days, as a rolling average):
o Declining emergency department visits for influenza-like illness and/or
COVID-like illness• Case Investigation & Contact Tracing:
o Expanded system in place for congregate and community investigations and contact tracingThe specific health criteria for transition between the latter phases will be established and released over the coming weeks to ensure the City is open and responsive to new data and information as it arises. In addition to determining the health-based metrics to move from one phase to the next, the City is actively determining the appropriate sequencing of reopening businesses and public services – taking into consideration both economic enablers such as transportation and childcare concerns, as well as keeping an eye towards economically disadvantaged populations.
Those guidelines for moving forward are different than the governor’s plan. Should be interesting to hear what he says at his own presser today.
…Adding… From the presser…
"distance even as we gradually open up and come back together? How do we take care of and safeguard our most vulnerable residents?"
— Kelly Bauer (@BauerJournalism) May 8, 2020
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:30 pm
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In survival adaptability is key. The governor and everyone else have to be flexible enough to accept new data and alter or drop plans when possible and as needed.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:39 pm
Um.. Why doesn’t the interpreter have a mask? Just asking.
Comment by Fighter of Foo Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:43 pm
Fighter- because people are reading his lips.
Comment by Wizzard of Ozzie Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:45 pm
DUH ME
Comment by Fighter of Foo Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:45 pm
Chicago doesn’t open until a vaccine essentially?
Comment by Fighter of Foo Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:47 pm
At this point, I’m for the plan that gets Barry Wood out of my text chains the quickest.
Comment by dirksen Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:50 pm
This sounds like a better explained cousin of the state plan for the most part so far
Comment by In 630 Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:54 pm
Vaccine isn’t expected until 2021
What if there is no vaccine- ever?
The flu shot does not make it impossible to get the flu, some years the effectiveness is better than others but it is not a cure for the flu.
Why does the Mayor believe a vaccine for COVID is a fait accompli?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:16 pm
And yet every City employee continues to be paid
Comment by Sue Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:21 pm
=== And yet every City employee continues to be paid===
Which service should stop?
Electricity
Sewer and Water
Streets and Sanitation
Police
Fire
City clerk
City treasurer
You pick.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:24 pm
Here is an easy one- Librarians
Comment by Sue Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:25 pm
=== Librarians===
Do you even live in Chicago?
How much of a savings is that?
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:27 pm
Maybe I’m being nit picky, but the instructions in the Phases don’t seem to build on each other properly—“get tested’ is only in 3 & 4, and are even with different standards in those two? Doesn’t make sense to me.
May be partly due to giving phase 1 short shrift bc we are in Phase 2?
Comment by Chris Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:28 pm
Sue’s not that wrong. you have to pick things that are not absolutely necessary. But this plan seems very unclear. there will have to be lots of explaining.
Comment by Amalia Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:30 pm
OW- my point being that many public employee functions have been curtailed or eliminated during this crisis yet they are all still getting paid while their counterparts in the private sector are not.
Comment by Sue Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:31 pm
=== Sue’s not that wrong.===
… and I’m not being argumentative.
What savings are we talking about?
As we wind down things, fine, let’s see the savings vs. shortfall.
Nothing more.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:32 pm
MLL’s blind spot that outdoor activity done solo (actual activity, not sitting around in parks or beaches) is broadly seen as a very low risk activity and is actively encouraged continues to be so odd
Comment by In 630 Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:32 pm
I can appreciate and see the need for plans which take into account regional differences. But wiht multiple plans being offered up it does start to get a bit confusing. Criteria, measurements and dates differ to the point that it becomes very difficult to follow. What would be useful is if we could work off of one set of guidelines, perhaps federal, and know when state and local plans are the same, more or less restrictive.
Comment by Pundent Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:35 pm
I can’t believe that people who bought into “flatten the curve” will just wait for a vaccine? There is moving goal posts and there is purposefully driving us into oblivion. That is incredibly naive to see other states opening and we are waiting for a vaccine. Where is the Aids vaccine?
Comment by Fighter of Foo Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:42 pm
==OW- my point being that many public employee functions have been curtailed or eliminated during this crisis yet they are all still getting paid while their counterparts in the private sector are not.===
Probably should have better/any union representation.
Comment by njt Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:43 pm
every government leader needs to start talking cuts and Chicago is no different. some of it will be from the natural evolution of business. for example, elections. do we really need in precinct voting especially given that vote by mail will be a standard? keep one per ward or township as for early voting, encourage mail, and change the dynamic, shift, downsize costs. the same is true of libraries. while its fun to get the story time, books are available electronically, or a pickup and delivery system could be developed. while we’re at it, Chicago has how many police districts? could services be delivered from fewer buildings?
Comment by Amalia Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:44 pm
=== my point being that many public employee functions have been curtailed or eliminated during this crisis yet they are all still getting paid while their counterparts in the private sector are not.===
Some in the private sector are getting paid too. Not every private sector worker is not getting paid.
You want more families to do without?
Deciding to make this a dividing thing isn’t being a helper in a pandemic.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:48 pm
“And yet every City employee continues to be paid”
Lots of people not working are getting paid through unemployment benefits. Who would really stew about that but the usual public employee union haters?
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:48 pm
==I can’t believe that people who bought into “flatten the curve” will just wait for a vaccine?==
Literally no one says that. Any good plan requires expanded testing and a contact tracing system. You know, the things that countries that have been able to “reopen” to any degree have done. And things you need to have for “reopening” to mean anything in terms of any business having actual customers in any numbers.
Comment by In 630 Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:54 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if some downstate regions could already be in phase 3 if they adopted the same plan as Chicago.
Comment by Phenomynous Friday, May 8, 20 @ 3:03 pm
All the private sector people in my family and friends are working from home. Some of them work for industries that are doing better than before this pandemic, given their products are vital. So, where does anyone get the idea that only public workers are working? Inflammatory intentions I believe.
As far as the vaccine goes, even with the flu vaccine there are up to 60,000+ deaths per year. We’ve seen almost 80,000 from covid in a few months. So, even if the vaccine can’t prevent all deaths, I’d still prefer it over nothing.
Comment by Ano Friday, May 8, 20 @ 3:08 pm
The library has its own board of directors, not sure it would be the mayor’s call with respect to who gets paid or not in the library system.
Comment by burbanite Friday, May 8, 20 @ 3:22 pm
@Burbanite:
Chicago mayors appoint library commissioners and library board members. So CPL is about as independent from the city as CPS.
Comment by Strannik Friday, May 8, 20 @ 3:39 pm
In 630- Lightfoot: Vaccine isn’t expected until 2021, though “we don’t know when it’s coming.” This framework will be in place until there’s a vaccine.
Basically,all states, including new york, the epicenter will be open before us. Meanwhile, neighboring states and others are already open for business. How long until people leave that have no jobs or the ability to work remote to an open state? Do we really believe that the tax situation before this that drove those capable of leaving will stay like this? That’s fantasy.
Comment by Fighter of Foo Friday, May 8, 20 @ 4:32 pm
=== Basically,all states, including new york, the epicenter will be open before us.===
While you’re at it, what are the lottery numbers.
See any second waves in this future of Illinois left behind… given there’s no vaccine and even Texas’ Governor believes opening Texas will possibly bring far more infections, he feared, not cheered.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 8, 20 @ 4:39 pm
“those capable of leaving will stay like this?“
Most people don’t feel this way and probably are concerned that they could contract the virus themselves and spread it to those more vulnerable. That’s one reason why polling is strong for the stay at home order. Most want to emerge carefully.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, May 8, 20 @ 4:39 pm