Update: This story was updated at 1:35 p.m. Friday, March 13, 2020 to state that the Illinois Department of Corrections is not currently testing individuals in the prison system for COVID-19. URBANA – A group of educators who work inside Illinois’ prison system are urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to release elderly and sick inmates from
Champaign Mayor Declares Emergency, Ebert Fest Canceled CHAMPAIGN – On Thursday, Champaign mayor Deborah Frank Feinen issued an Executive Order related to the COVID-19 virus. The action will give the city increased flexibility to operate during emergency operations. On Friday, the city council will hold a special emergency meeting to consider passing an ordinance related
It’s official: The World Health Organization says COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, is a pandemic . Government and industry leaders are…
Illinois Colleges Suspend In-Person Classes Due To COVID-19 CHICAGO — Illinois, DePaul, Northwestern and Illinois State universities have decided to suspend in-person classes due to coronavirus fears. The schools on Wednesday joined colleges and universities around the U.S. that have announced a halt to face-to-face instruction. None of the universities are reporting cases of COVID-19
URBANA – The University of Illinois System said on Wednesday night that courses will “immediately” migrate from in-person to online to help limit transmission of the coronavirus. [perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Click here for more stories & resources from the Coronavirus Information Center[/perfectpullquote] In a memo to all students, faculty and staff,
Alissa Xiao is confined to a bedroom in her parents home in the East Bay region of California. Xiao, 20, is a junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She was forced to return home last week from a study abroad program in Italy because of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. “It’s very
Coronavirus cases are rising and we found many of you — our listeners and readers — have questions that go beyond the number of people infected with…
Lawmakers Pushing For Privacy Protections From Smart Speakers SPRINGFIELD – A pair of Illinois lawmakers want privacy protections for data from smart appliances and virtual home assistants. State Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) says the information collected by those devices deserves the same protection as everything else in a home. The legislation would require police to get a
CHICAGO – Illinois now has 11 confirmed cases of COVID-19. On Monday afternoon, Governor JB Pritzker announced four new cases of the coronavirus in the state. He also formally declared a disaster proclamation. That opens up pathways to federal and state resources, including money and medical expertise. While the risk of getting coronavirus remains low, Pritzker
URBANA – Health care providers in east-central Illinois say they’re prepared for the possibility of coronavirus coming to central Illinois. If someone’s sick enough — if they have a really high fever, if they have a really bad cough or chest pain — we’ll instruct them where to come. – Dr. Robert Healy OSF HealthCare’s
URBANA – Starting this week, some patients who present to the emergency department at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana with flu-like symptoms will be tested for the coronavirus. Sample collection will be done at Carle, and testing will be conducted by the Illinois Department of Public Health, which is able to provide in-state testing for
SPRINGFIELD — With evidence that the coronavirus disease COVID-19 is spreading in several countries around the world, the Illinois Department of Public Health said it’s taking steps to limit any possible spread here. The virus is not spreading in communities in Illinois or the U.S. But CDC officials warned this week that Americans should prepare