New ‘advisory’ measures come to Chicago as the city reaches a critical point.
A new stay-at-home advisory for Chicago and suburban Cook County is now in effect and will last for at least 30 days. The official advisory came into effect at 6 am on the morning of Monday, November 16, and advises all
residents of Chicago to stay at home in order to control the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the city. While nobody is forced to stay-at-home, the announcement came with shocking new statistics and added restrictions that highlight the severity of this second wave of coronavirus. According to Mayor Lori Lightfoot, as of November 13, 1 in 18 Chicagoans are now infected with COVID-19. Lightfoot has consequently urged people to cancel all in-person Thanksgiving dinners and any festive plans as a huge loss of life hangs in the balance.
1 in 18 Chicagoans have active COVID-19 infections as of Nov. 13.
Wear your masks. Wash your hands. Watch your distance.
— Archived: Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@mayorlightfoot) November 16, 2020
The news follows new Illinois mitigation measures and a color-coded travel order that requires travelers to quarantine if they’re arriving from certain states. This week Lori Lightfoot took the next step and all but implemented another lockdown. The Stay-at-Home advisory asks Chicagoans to only leave their homes for work and school. Traveling should be avoided and residents are ‘strongly advised’ to cancel all Thanksgiving celebrations and not have guests around whether they are family, friends, or for any other purpose.
EFFECTIVE MONDAY: I'm issuing a Stay-at-Home Advisory asking all Chicagoans to only leave their homes for essential needs, including work and school. More info ➡️ https://t.co/zDpEmEUk6c. #ProtectChicago pic.twitter.com/DAjuqfuRPP
— Archived: Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@mayorlightfoot) November 12, 2020
Dr. Allison Arwady, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, warned that Chicago is in “unchartered territory” and is “headed for catastrophe if the advisory is not adhered to”. Daily infections, hospitalizations, ICU patients, and deaths have all tripled and with both Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching the temptations to gather in groups must be resisted.
Here’s what’s included in the new official stay-at-home advisory:
- Residents should only leave their homes to go to work, school, the grocery store, the pharmacy, or for medical care.
- Residents are strongly advised to avoid gatherings with anybody other than essential health care staff.
- Holiday’s such as Thanksgiving should be celebrated virtually via video chats instead of in-person family gatherings.
- Residents should avoid all non-essential, out-of-state travel and should see the new Illinois travel order and quarantine rules.
- Non-essential businesses are to close at 11 p.m., face coverings are mandatory and all residents must practice social distancing.
The Official Advisory from the Mayor of the City of Chicago can be viewed here.