Dear Chicago Residents and Partners,
The City of Chicago is committed to providing leadership and help throughout the evolving COVID-19 crisis. As this situation develops, we will continue to offer resources and support to people across the city. In her primetime address on Wednesday night, Mayor Lightfoot announced several measures the City of Chicago is taking to combat the COVID-19 outbreak and support families, students and small businesses during this difficult time.
To help stem the further spread of the virus the City of Chicago issued a Public Health order requiring all residents with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or who are exhibiting symptoms to not leave their place of residence, go to work or any group settings.
Additionally, Mayor Lightfoot announced the extension of Chicago Public School (CPS) closures through April 20, 2020. Investments from partners at Citadel and Citadel Securities will be used to combat food insecurity amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The initiative includes $1 million in aid to sustain the food distribution locations at more than 500 schools to make meals available to all 355,000 CPS students. The remaining $1.5 million will go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository to support the Citywide Emergency Food Distribution Plan to serve other vulnerable Chicagoans.
In her primetime address to Chicagoans, Mayor Lightfoot also announced a new $100 million economic relief package to support Chicago’s small businesses that are experiencing a temporary loss of revenue as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. In partnership with the Catalyst Fund, the new Chicago Small Business Resiliency Loan Fund will provide more than $100 million in low-interest loans to severely impacted small businesses over the coming months, targeting historically under-resourced communities. The Mayor’s economic relief package also includes extended due dates for business-related tax payments until April 30, 2020.
Please continue to share information with your friends, neighbors and colleagues to ensure everyone is safe and receiving the help they need. You can access local, up-to-date information about COVID-19 on the CDPH website, chicago.gov/coronavirus.
What’s New
Testing: We know that you have a lot of questions about testing! Here’s what you need to know:
- If you don’t have any symptoms, you do NOT need to be tested for COVID-19.
- If you do NOT have a high-risk condition and your symptoms are mild, you do NOT need to be evaluated in person and do NOT need to be tested for COVID-19. There is no special medicine available for treating COVID-19 and you will receive the same advice whether or not you have a test. Most importantly – stay home away from others and help prevent COVID-19 from spreading to other people in our homes and communities.
- If you’re at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 – call your physician’s office and ask if you need to be evaluated in person, even if your illness is mild. They may want to monitor your health more closely or test you for COVID-19.
Discontinuing Home Isolation: If you are sick, you must stay home away from others for:
- at least 7 days since your symptoms first appeared; and
- at least 3 days (72 hours) with no fever (without using fever-reducing medications) and improving symptoms.
Latest Guidance
- Individuals and Households
- Older Adults and Other People at Higher Risk
- Food Service – New!
- Event Organizers
- Travelers
- Pregnant Women and Children
- Childcare Programs(Spanish)
- Schools and Institutions of Higher Education
- Businesses and Employers – Updated!
- Community- and Faith-based Organizations
- Healthcare Professionals
- First Responders
- City of Chicago Employees – New!
Additional Resources:
- Get the Facts: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (English, Spanish)
- What to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms – New!
- What to do if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 – New!
- What to do if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 – New!
- What to do if you don’t have health insurance – New!
- Tips on Managing Anxiety about COVID-19
Tips For Keeping Chicago Healthy
- Stay home as much as possible.
- If gatherings are necessary, limit the number of people to 10.
- Call to check on family, neighbors, and older adults instead of visiting.
- Check with your doctor about telehealth options.
In the News
- On Thursday, March 19, the City of Chicago ordered all residents with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness or who are exhibiting symptoms of the illness to stay home to help stem the further spread of the virus. Sick residents will be permitted to seek only essential services, including necessary clinical care or evaluation, and life sustaining needs, such as obtaining medicine or food.
- On Thursday, March 19, Mayor Lightfoot announced that Chicago Public Schools will be closed through April 20 with students returning on Tuesday, April 21, 2020. Students and families can continue to pick up meals at their neighborhood schools.
- On Thursday, March 19, the partners at Citadel and Citadel Securities mobilized $2.5 million in aid to help Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Greater Chicago Food Depository combat food insecurity amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
- On Thursday, March 19, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced a new $100 million economic relief package to support Chicago’s small businesses that are experiencing a temporary loss of revenue as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
- On Tuesday, March 17 officials announced the first Chicago COVID-19 death, a woman in her 60s with underlying health conditions and known contact with a COVID-19 case.
