As the numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths in nursing homes climb throughout the United States, staff at some Chicago facilities describe dire work conditions and a lack of transparency about outbreaks, a WBEZ investigation has found.Workers at three different long-term care facilities describe staffing shortages, inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE), a lack of clarity around the extent of the outbreaks in those nursing homes, and conduct that violates guidelines set forth by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...…As the numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths in nursing homes climb throughout the United States, staff at some Chicago facilities describe dire work conditions and a lack of transparency about outbreaks, a WBEZ investigation has found.Workers at three different long-term care facilities describe staffing shortages, inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE), a lack of clarity around the extent of the outbreaks in those nursing homes, and conduct that violates guidelines set forth by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...WW…

In the Chicago area, teens and young adults are developing red, purple, sore and itchy toes that doctors are informally calling “COVID toes.”Dr. Amy Paller, the chair of dermatology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, said that in the past week she’s gotten more than 50 reports of new pediatric cases in the Chicago area. She said she expects many more cases as news of the condition spreads.“We don’t know for sure if it’s related to COVID-19,” she said. “But when it’s so common right now during a pandemic, and is occurring in otherwise asymptomatic or mildly affected...…In the Chicago area, teens and young adults are developing red, purple, sore and itchy toes that doctors are informally calling “COVID toes.”Dr. Amy Paller, the chair of dermatology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, said that in the past week she’s gotten more than 50 reports of new pediatric cases in the Chicago area. She said she expects many more cases as news of the condition spreads.“We don’t know for sure if it’s related to COVID-19,” she said. “But when it’s so common right now during a pandemic, and is occurring in otherwise asymptomatic or mildly affected...WW…

The state of Illinois’ highly touted new system for processing unemployment benefits claims for gig workers mistakenly “made some private information publicly available,” according to a spokeswoman for Gov. JB Pritzker.The acknowledgement from the governor’s office came late Saturday, after WBEZ reviewed a screenshot from the website of the Illinois Department of Employment Security showing the names of claimants, their Social Security numbers and other information about their cases for benefits from the state.The private information belonged to applicants for federally funded benefits to...…The state of Illinois’ highly touted new system for processing unemployment benefits claims for gig workers mistakenly “made some private information publicly available,” according to a spokeswoman for Gov. JB Pritzker.The acknowledgement from the governor’s office came late Saturday, after WBEZ reviewed a screenshot from the website of the Illinois Department of Employment Security showing the names of claimants, their Social Security numbers and other information about their cases for benefits from the state.The private information belonged to applicants for federally funded benefits to...WW…

At the end of the “Re-open Illinois” protest outside the Illinois Capitol this month, Republican state Rep. Darren Bailey led a prayer that doubled as a political speech against Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker’s stay-at-home orders.“Forgive us, father God, for being quiet too long,” in his strong country drawl, standing in front of a statue of Abraham Lincoln. “Restore us. Rescue us. Heal us. Bring justice to this property right here, father God. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”“AMEN!” the crowd of protesters answered Bailey.Bailey Read more:Polls have shown for the governor’s orders, which...…At the end of the “Re-open Illinois” protest outside the Illinois Capitol this month, Republican state Rep. Darren Bailey led a prayer that doubled as a political speech against Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker’s stay-at-home orders.“Forgive us, father God, for being quiet too long,” in his strong country drawl, standing in front of a statue of Abraham Lincoln. “Restore us. Rescue us. Heal us. Bring justice to this property right here, father God. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”“AMEN!” the crowd of protesters answered Bailey.Bailey Read more:Polls have shown for the governor’s orders, which...WW…

With Illinois several weeks from its COVID-19 apex, Gov. JB Pritzker repeatedly signaled Tuesday that he does not plan to permit an early-May reopening of businesses across the state.Doing so, the Democratic governor said, could undo the curve-flattening effects he attributes to his stay-at-home order that has shut down wide swaths of the state’s economy for more than four weeks.“It’s true it is working,” Pritzker said during his Tuesday COVID-19 briefing, referring to his stay-at-home edict that first took effect March 21 and expires on April 30. “To remove it entirely is to simply open...…With Illinois several weeks from its COVID-19 apex, Gov. JB Pritzker repeatedly signaled Tuesday that he does not plan to permit an early-May reopening of businesses across the state.Doing so, the Democratic governor said, could undo the curve-flattening effects he attributes to his stay-at-home order that has shut down wide swaths of the state’s economy for more than four weeks.“It’s true it is working,” Pritzker said during his Tuesday COVID-19 briefing, referring to his stay-at-home edict that first took effect March 21 and expires on April 30. “To remove it entirely is to simply open...WW…

New data released by Illinois health officials on Friday show that COVID-19’s toll on the state’s nursing homes continues unabated, with a reported 625 deaths, more than double the 286 last week.That means coronavirus deaths in nursing homes make up more than a third of Illinois’ 1,795 deaths as of Friday, according to a WBEZ analysis of state health data.The latest data also show that the number of reported nursing home cases of coronavirus more than doubled from 1,860 cases last week to nearly 4,300 this week. Those numbers include both nursing home residents and staff.Map: Nursing Home...…New data released by Illinois health officials on Friday show that COVID-19’s toll on the state’s nursing homes continues unabated, with a reported 625 deaths, more than double the 286 last week.That means coronavirus deaths in nursing homes make up more than a third of Illinois’ 1,795 deaths as of Friday, according to a WBEZ analysis of state health data.The latest data also show that the number of reported nursing home cases of coronavirus more than doubled from 1,860 cases last week to nearly 4,300 this week. Those numbers include both nursing home residents and staff.Map: Nursing Home...WW…

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information.to stay up to date on the stories that matter.In Chicago, which voted overwhelmingly Democratic in this year’s presidential race, the reaction to Joe Biden’s victory was swift and loud: horns honking, cheering and hollering and, of course, the clanking of cow bells. As news trickled out that Democrat Joe Biden had defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States, Chicagoans took to the streets — in neighborhoods and at Trump Tower, 401 N. Wabash Ave. At Union Park, where a prescheduled rally kicked off at 1...…WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information.to stay up to date on the stories that matter.In Chicago, which voted overwhelmingly Democratic in this year’s presidential race, the reaction to Joe Biden’s victory was swift and loud: horns honking, cheering and hollering and, of course, the clanking of cow bells. As news trickled out that Democrat Joe Biden had defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States, Chicagoans took to the streets — in neighborhoods and at Trump Tower, 401 N. Wabash Ave. At Union Park, where a prescheduled rally kicked off at 1...WW…

In Illinois, the statewide “stay-at-home” order took effect on March 21, 2020. Manuel Martinez, a visual journalist at WBEZ, flew a drone on four days between March 25 and April 16 to capture aerial footage of Chicago in retreat.Martinez took advantage of sunny days to fly the station’s drone, carrying a 4K camera, over familiar spots in downtown Chicago, Lincoln Park and Lake View. He even managed to film landmarks — Wrigley Field, Cloud Gate directly from above — that are ordinarily too crowded for aerial video capture at close range.“As journalists, we see cities at their greatest — and...…In Illinois, the statewide “stay-at-home” order took effect on March 21, 2020. Manuel Martinez, a visual journalist at WBEZ, flew a drone on four days between March 25 and April 16 to capture aerial footage of Chicago in retreat.Martinez took advantage of sunny days to fly the station’s drone, carrying a 4K camera, over familiar spots in downtown Chicago, Lincoln Park and Lake View. He even managed to film landmarks — Wrigley Field, Cloud Gate directly from above — that are ordinarily too crowded for aerial video capture at close range.“As journalists, we see cities at their greatest — and...WW…

Chicago nurse Dominique Pirotte recently lost two patients to COVID-19 in less than an hour. The experience devastated her.After what she considers her worst day ever as a nurse, she of herself — her face lined with welts from her N95 mask — saying “my face hurts, but my heart hurts worse.”“It was just a very overwhelming day,” she says.Pirotte, who has been a nurse for nine years, ended up in a hospital in Chicago after signing up for , a relief corps effort by the state to gather medical professionals during a public health emergency such as the coronavirus pandemic. She volunteered...…Chicago nurse Dominique Pirotte recently lost two patients to COVID-19 in less than an hour. The experience devastated her.After what she considers her worst day ever as a nurse, she of herself — her face lined with welts from her N95 mask — saying “my face hurts, but my heart hurts worse.”“It was just a very overwhelming day,” she says.Pirotte, who has been a nurse for nine years, ended up in a hospital in Chicago after signing up for , a relief corps effort by the state to gather medical professionals during a public health emergency such as the coronavirus pandemic. She volunteered...WW…

Chicago’s largest food bank is expanding with pop-ups on the South and West Sides — areas hit hardest by COVID-19.Starting Monday the Greater Chicago Food Depository is partnering with seven black and Latino community groups. “These pop-up markets are a rapid response to the newly furloughed, newly unemployed individuals who may not be connected to a traditional pantry network,” said Nicole Robinson, vice president of community impact for GCDF.The free food boxes, weighing between 20 and 30 pounds, will have fresh produce, meat and non-perishable items.GCDF did already provide food in black...…Chicago’s largest food bank is expanding with pop-ups on the South and West Sides — areas hit hardest by COVID-19.Starting Monday the Greater Chicago Food Depository is partnering with seven black and Latino community groups. “These pop-up markets are a rapid response to the newly furloughed, newly unemployed individuals who may not be connected to a traditional pantry network,” said Nicole Robinson, vice president of community impact for GCDF.The free food boxes, weighing between 20 and 30 pounds, will have fresh produce, meat and non-perishable items.GCDF did already provide food in black...WW…