[VIDEO] Sometimes I really do relish the idea of a blog as a time capsule. This year I share with you a story from WGN today showing what's going on this holiday season during such unprecedented times.
Authorities are asking us to celebrate this holiday season much differently than we had just a year ago during a pandemic. Especially to use technology to connect with loved ones. Very different and whether any of us likes it or not its simply the times we're in at this point in 2020.
This tweet from over the weekend from Mayor Lori Lightfoot showed up on Instapundit. And I see a number of tweets on twitter that took her well intended post in a bad way.
It's called a pandemic, people. This reckless behavior on Montrose Beach is what will cause us to shut down the parks and lakefront. Don't make us take steps backwards. pic.twitter.com/FHxeYfH7Wf
CWB Chicago shared this image of the Mayor at Montrose Beach crashing the so-called party along with her photographer on fb
Furthermore Ed Driscoll at Instapundit noted: "Curiously, none of the articles this weekend by the Chicago Sun Times, ABC’s Chicago affiliate, CBS’s Chicago affiliate, and NBC’s Chicago affiliate mention the July protests or Lightfoot’s blessings."
I admitted to an out of state friend that I miss Rahm Emanuel. He was unpopular as time went on but some of what's been going on in the city it wouldn't have been tolerated with him as mayor. However, the crisis going on he wouldn't let go to waste.
In addition, 2nd City Cop has an interesting post if you go to the bottom of the post about the various machines that exists in Chicago. In a fit of perhaps disrespect they refer to the mayor as Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy, perhaps the Mayor will only have one term. We have a while before '23.
One of the things I'd like to do for this blog is pay a visit to Springfield, Illinois. It was something of a goal to see Illinois state government in action. Although to be fair I've never had the chance to look at a government that actually does affect me which is Chicago city government. The only thing I've been able to do in Springfield so far is pass through.
I already announced in March that any potential plans to visit Springfield has been put on hold due to the coronavirus. Thankfully we're at a point now where restrictions have been eased to the point where people can dine outdoors for example. I want to note that instead of this ongoing pandemic the headless has been dominated by the unrest due to issues involved police brutality and misconduct towards minority citizens.
This has only served to strengthen my resolve to see some aspects of how at the very least state government works in Illinois. As was my plan even back in March, in the near future my goal is to visit Springfield, IL and document my experiences on the YouTube channel for The Sixth Ward.
On another note another thing I'd like to do in Springfield is to visit the Illinois State Fair. Although Chicago politically dominates Illinois, the rest of the state is largely agricultural. Unfortunately due to the ongoing concerns by state government with regards to the coronavirus, any state fairs have been cancelled for this year.
It's probably a blow to both parties since well in an election year this is a major event for this state's political establishment. However, because we're still within the limits of a pandemic regardless of where the numbers are as far as infections or deaths this unprecedented crisis has caused plenty of plans to change.
We’ve continued to listen to our epidemiologists and follow the data. Illinois is on the right track because all of you are #AllInIllinois. Let's keep it up!
[VIDEO] By the time this post is published the press conference you see above will be in progress!
Since this pandemic became a major issue last month IL Governor J.B. Pritzker has held daily press conference since then. Usually he may have the Mayor of Chicago with him in addition to other officials especially his Director of Public Health for this state. Often during these press conferences he announces actions such as closing all schools in the state or the current stay-at-home order set to expire on April 30, 2020 which is next week!
Also during these press conferences which often lasts from half and hour to an hour he would announce the daily count of coronavirus and deaths. There is some guidance provided from Washington, DC as far as when states can reopen their societies (or economies) it has often been stated in press conferences such as these recently that Illinois is a long way from meeting the criteria necessary to open up.
While the governor has often stated that he may make adjustments to the stay-at-home order at some point it seems Mayor Lori Lightfoot predicts the stay-at-home order will go on through June. I'd rather hope wee'd be closer to a gradual reopening in IL as opposed to extending the stay-at-home order for the next two months.
[VIDEO] Gov. JB Pritzker noted this yesterday in his usual daily press conferences regarding Illinois' response to coronavirus and now Mayor Lori Lightfoot is noting that Chicago is finally bending the curve with this coronavirus as you see abov. Hearing about both is great news though I realize it'll be some time before the world gets back to normal.
It's encouraging to hear that Gov. Pritzker might be talking about adjustments to his stay-at-home order which is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2020. I look forward to a gradual restart to the economy as I know some many people have suffered financially since there are a lot of people who aren't working. I would say let's gradually get back to normal.
Over at the CapFax the question of the day is whether or not it should be mandated by government that people should have to wear masks in public. I rather hope that we don't do anything that drastic and I already know it's already not very easy to wear a mask all day especially while working. At the same time we want to stop the spread of this virus.
While following the daily number of cases and fatalities with regards to coronavirus Ive mostly been following the information provided by the Illinois Dept. of Public Health. I don't always focus on whatever numbers provided by the Chicago Dept. of Public Health. I often focus on the daily numbers provided by the state. Indeed, check out this page to see all data provided by the city.
Mayor Lightfoot stated in the video above that during March 2020 cases were doubling every two or three days. According to this graph we've arrived at cases doubling every 12 days and its in part thanks to people staying at home.
The latest update by the Chicago Dept. of Public Health which was yesterday there are 9,666 confirmed cases of infections with 347 deaths. Throughout Illinois there are 23,247 cases of infection with 868 deaths and those numbers are also current as of yesterday April 14, 2020.
[VIDEO] Since I shared Amtrak's response, what about the response from the Chicago Transit Authority. Unfortunately many Chicagoans have a love hate relationship with their public transportation provider.
I don't often see CTA workers giving the "spit-shine" to at the very least the CTA trains especially when they get into their respective terminals. To be honest it's probably hard to do when say a train get into its final destination and it has to go right out and you have passengers coming around and taking their seats.
Another thing I've noticed on trains during the heat of this pandemic is that increasingly you see homeless people riding the trains. Unfortunately they're just as vulnerable to the coronavirus and I get the idea less likely to seek out medical help for this very dangerous illness. So unfortunately there's that the content with on CTA at all hours.
It's great to see this b-roll footage of CTA workers sanitizing even train stations from handrails to Ventra card machines. It's great to see workers get on the buses and deep clean once their in their respective garages. Indeed, this is also occurring to CTA trains once they're in the yard.
There could be more CTA could do to insure passengers are in a very clean and safe environment on public transportation during this pandemic. Perhaps make more of an effort to keep the homeless from using CTA as a shelter for example - although granted I hear a lot of the shelters are crowded right now.
Another odd thing that has been going on with CTA right now is their attempt to protect their employees, especially bus drivers. CTA riders will have to board the back of the bus now.
To help #KeepTheDistance and better protect you and our frontline workers, beginning today, we’re implementing rear-door boarding on all buses and allowing some buses to run as “drop-off, only” to avoid crowding.
While this had in my mind conjured up images of the Montgomery Bus Boycott - and its not really something I've seen discussed in the media - I realize these are not those times. There are reports of CTA bus drivers being diagnosed with coronavirus and have little issue with ensuring their safety. Getting on the bus through the back doors are something we have to get used to for now for the safety of the transit workers.
Not that I advocate for this, however, at least until we get back to normal if you pay cash fare to board a bus CTA isn't collecting your fare. Reportedly, however, they plan to place Ventra card readers at the back of the bus though so far most buses don't use this feature yet.
[VIDEO] I haven't used this blog to maintain any consistent updates to the coronavirus. Lately we're seeing the numbers as far as hospitalizations, ICU hospitalizations, deaths, and other factors go in the right direction. I appears through many efforts including social distancing and sheltering in place orders that gov't officials can finally say we're beginning to flatten the curve.
I'm an Amtrak fan and often enjoy traveling the country via railroad. And before all these shelter in place orders around the nation there was unfortunately one report of an Amtrak passenger - a student who came home from study abroad in Italy one hotspot for this contagion - was found to be sick when she took the train from Chicago to St. Louis.
I'm sure in light of that story at least we see this video posted on Amtrak's YouTube account showing cleaning procedures on their trains. Perhaps this will keep Amtrak's customers base assured that America's passenger railroad will do their part to keep their vehicles clean.
Regardless with these measures put in place I hardly see anyone traveling. I like to watch the webcams of Virtual Railfan through their YouTube channel and although I often focus on one location - a live camera in LaPlata, Missouri a stop of Amtrak's Southwest Chief - I see there arent as many passengers getting on or off trains there. On a normal train there would be a decent crowd getting on or off the train there. Also note this location has become a popular one and is said to be world famous and imagine that in a small town in Missouri.
I'd say right now it's hard to want to go somewhere right now regardless of the mode of transport. One dream of mine had been to go to WrestleMania and although I let time fly on going to this year's event - which in light of this pandemic was moved to a closed set with no fans and pre-recorded instead of the expected venue in Tampa Bay, Florida in front of 70,000 spectators. Still, once it became apparent that the coronavirus was really going to be a problem this year became the year I wouldn't have achieved my dream. At least there's L.A. for next year's WrestleMania.
[VIDEO] The purpose of social distancing is to flatten the curve and to help out our hospitals. It's to insure that our hospitals won't get overwhelmed with many cases of coronavirus, especially serious cases. Another aspect of this is to slow down the spread of this virus and many sporting events have been suspended or otherwise delayed until later.
Think about these events will be delayed or canceled
NBA Playoffs (Regular Season Suspended)
NHL Playoffs (Regular season suspended)
NCAA March Madness (Canceled)
2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games (Postponed)
MLB season (Postponed indefinitely)
Indianapolis 500 (Postponed until September)
Kentucky Derby (Postponed until September)
Also noted in this video are the stay-at-home orders. It appears indefinitely in states like New York & California. In Illinois it's schedule to end April 7, 2020. Of course other states have enacted stay-at-home orders since then.
Whatever the medical professionals are trying to stem this pandemic, I hope social distancing and other efforts will make this coronavirus a memory.
[VIDEO] Over at The Sixth Ward blog, I've been pretty heavy with the updates regarding the coronavirus here in Illinois and certainly in the city. Sometimes it pays to take the load off, and especially if many of us are at home adhering to this stay-at-home order to keep people safe from a contagion.
Yes we have streaming services whether Netflix, CBS All Access (which airs my latest favorite Star Trek series ST: Picard) and another favorite of mine the WWE Network. Meanwhile we can always take our Daily Dose of Internet which are often live on Monday's and Thursday's every week. Many of these vids are of an entertainment, informative, topical, or scientific interest.
It's one reason I enjoy sharing those videos here. Hopefully you've learned something new when you see them here.
[VIDEO] I wanted share this with you yesterday. Dan Mace is a filmmaker you might see in some of the videos by YouTuber Casey Neistat. He was the 67th case of the coronavirus in his native South Africa. Check out his experience.
[VIDEO] I found this video via WBBM-AM's website. It shows a city in shutdown, especially since life had changed in light of the coronavirus. Social distancing has become the normal in addition to business shutting down for the protection of customers and workers.
Will the city be back to normal after that stay-at-home order is scheduled to be lifted after April 7, 2020?
[VIDEO] Artistmac checks out the semi-empty streets of Chicago and probably not long before Gov. J.B. Pritzker's stay-at-home order announced on Friday to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Since schools have been closed and restaurants shutdown for dine-in there isn't as much activity out there and especially downtown.
And having been through downtown this past weekend it's eerie to see that there is little activity around downtown Chicago since a lot of non-essential businesses are closed- save for grocery stores and pharmacies they remain essential and open for business.
I can't wait to see the city get back to normal, and who knows how long that will be. Hopefully when this order expires on April 7, 2020.
[VIDEO] Mayor Lori Lightfoot addresses Chicagoans on Thursday with regards to the coronavirus outbreak. She announced here that CPS schools will remain closed until April 20, 2020 in order to help slow the spread of the virus.
If you want to read a statement by CPS click here. Since Gov. Pritzker ordered all the state's schools closed last week CPS schools have become food distribution facilities for families with school age children. With that statement that policy will continue during the extension of the schools' closure during this very unprecedented period.
