Newest coronavirus information for April 19, 2021: Stay updates

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Some Chicago highschool college students head again to their lecture rooms

Monday marked the beginning of the fourth tutorial quarter and for the primary time in 11 months all 515 of Chicago’s non-charter colleges — together with excessive colleges — had been open for in-person studying.

With 36% of excessive schoolers and almost half of elementary college college students planning to return, Chicago Public Faculties may have as much as 44% of its 279,000 college students at non-charter colleges in lecture rooms this week. These 122,000 college students can be by far probably the most for the reason that begin of the pandemic, though the 157,000 persevering with remotely nonetheless represents a quantity bigger than all however 15 districts within the nation.

About 26,000 highschool college students opted to return to in-person studying. Solely three colleges — all selective enrollment — will see a majority return, whereas half of the district’s 93 colleges will welcome about one-third of scholars.

William Kingsbury is a senior, however he mentioned it felt like his very first day as he stepped onto the huge Lane Tech School Prep campus Monday morning. Kingsbury, 17, mentioned he had no concept what to anticipate.

“I bear in mind the primary week (of lockdown). No person thought it was going to final this lengthy,” he mentioned. “Then a yr later, right here we’re.”

He mentioned he felt slightly bit cheated. Earlier than lockdown, he and different members of the robotics group had simply completed their undertaking and had been on the point of enter it into a contest. The pandemic killed that dream.

“It’s what it’s,” he mentioned. “Nobody can management it.”

He unzipped his jacket to disclose a freshly laundered shirt.

“There are solely 18 days of college,” he mentioned, with smiling eyes. “I’m going to attempt to verify I look good for each a kind of days.”

Learn Stefano Esposito’s full story on the primary day again to highschool for a lot of Chicago college students right here.

Information

8:33 a.m. Chicago set to increase COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all adults Monday

All Illinois residents 16 or older have been eligible for the coronavirus vaccine since final week, aside from Chicago. Metropolis suppliers are set to increase eligibility to all adults, starting Monday.

“I’m inspired by our elevated vaccination charges, however we additionally proceed to see a sluggish and protracted improve in COVID-19 case counts, particularly amongst youthful Chicagoans,” Chicago public well being Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady mentioned in a press release. “As we increase eligibility, we will improve vaccination for youthful populations to sluggish the unfold of the virus. Hopefully, our vaccine provide from the federal authorities will improve.”

Chicagoans can e book appointments at zocdoc.com/vaccine or by calling (312) 746-4835. Residents may also use the town’s COVID-19 Vaccine Finder to establish extra vaccine suppliers, together with Costco Pharmacies, CVS, Jewel Osco, Mariano’s and Walgreens, who deal with their very own scheduling.

For added assist discovering an appointment, go to coronavirus.illinois.gov or name (833) 621-1284.

Learn Madeline Kenney’s full story right here.

New circumstances and vaccination numbers

• Greater than 8 million COVID-19 vaccine pictures have now gone into the arms of Illinoisans, state well being officers introduced Sunday. Since mid-December, Illinois has doled out 8,054,634 coronavirus vaccines, together with one other 115,330 doses Saturday.
• State well being officers on Sunday reported 2,666 new coronavirus circumstances had been identified among the many 70,106 checks processed by the Illinois Division of Public Well being within the final day. That lowered the statewide seven-day positivity fee to 4%, a hopeful signal the virus’ unfold is as soon as once more beginning to sluggish in Illinois.
• Statewide, coronavirus hospitalizations have elevated almost 90% over the past month. As of Saturday evening, 2,127 beds had been occupied by COVID-19 sufferers, with 409 of these sufferers in intensive care items and 173 on ventilators, officers mentioned.
• The virus remains to be claiming a mean of about 20 lives per day this month. State well being officers reported a further 10 virus-related deaths Sunday — half of which had been recorded within the Chicago space.