[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION OF "CHICAGO TONIGHT" WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO THIS SATURDAY THE STATE'S STAY-AT-HOME ORDER BEGAN.

SO ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION BECAUSE OF THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE.

>> ONE-ON-ONE WITH MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ON LEADING AND GOVERNING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE ARE THE FRONTLINES WE ARE SEEING THIS DAY IN, DAY OUT.

>> WE VISIT A CHICAGO HOSPITAL AND LOOK AT ITS MANY TRANSFORMATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COVID CRISIS.

THE LATEST IS MEANT TO INSPIRE.

>> IT'S TO PROTECT PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL BELIEFS AND GET CHICAGO PAST COVID.

>> Dr. ALLISON ARWADY ON MOVING INTO THE VACCINATION PHASE, REOPENING THE ECONOMY AND MORE.

>> WE DID REOPEN THIS PAST SUMMER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS SO WE ARE PICKING UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF THERE.

>> THE SHOW MUST GO ON.

WE GO TO THE MOVIES AND SEE HOW THEATERS ARE PREPARING FOR THE PUBLIC'S SAFE RETURN.

>> BUSINESS OWNERS FROM ACROSS THE CITY SHARE HOW THEY ARE STAYING AFLOAT THEIR HOPES FOR RECOVERY AND A BETTER YEAR IN 2021.

>> MY FATHER DIED ON THE 16TH AND MY MOTHER ON THE 24TH.

>> FROM THE CHICK SHUTDOWN HOW SOME COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN CUT DEEPER BY THE PANDEMIC.

BUT FIRST, TODAY'S TOP STORY.

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE LONG, DARK COVID TUN MENTAL HEALTH MAY BE BRIGHTENING FOR THOSE ANXIOUS TO RECEIVE A CORONAVIRUS VACCINE.

TODAY GOVERNOR PRITZKER ANNOUNCES ALL ILLINOIS RESIDENTS AGES 16 AND OVER WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE STARTING APRIL 12TH.

THAT IS ALL RESIDENTS OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO.

THAT SAID PRITZKER WARNS A RETURN TO NORMALCY COMES WITH CAUTION.

HE HAS NO PLANS TO DROP THE STATE'S MASK MANDATE UNTIL THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION RECOMMENDS IT.

>> THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR PATIENCE.

WE HAVE VISIBILITY INTO VACCINE SUPPLIES APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS AHEAD OF THEIR ARRIVAL.

THAT ALLOWS AN INCREASING AVAILABILITY OF APPOINTMENT TIMES.

BUT IF EVERYONE TRIED TO GET VACCINATED ON THE SAME DAY, IT JUST COULDN'T BE DONE.

>> AND AS MENTIONED THIS NEW EXPANSION DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CITY OF CHICAGO WHICH RECEIVES ITS OWN VACCINE SUPPLY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE CITY ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY AN EXPANSION TO MORE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

THE GOVERNOR IS ANNOUNCING A BRIDGE PHASE FOR THE STATE'S REOPENING GUIDELINES BETWEEN THE CURRENT LEVEL OF PHASE FOUR AND PHASE FIVE WHICH IS FREE OF COVID-19 MITIGATING STRATEGIES.

THIS IN-BETWEEN PHASE WILL LOOSEN RESTRICTIONS AND INCREASE CAPACITY FOR EVENTS AND RESTAURANTS AND MEANS PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN CAPACITY COUNTS.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND A CONVERSATION WITH CHICAGO'S MAYOR.

PARIS?

>> THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO HAS TO BE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH SERIOUS ISSUES BUT LORI LIGHTFOOT COULD NOT HAVE FORESEEN MANAGING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AS PART OF THE JOB WHEN SHE RAN FOR MAYOR.

NOW ONE YEAR LATER THE CITY IS GRADUALLY BECOMING VACCINATED AND A POTENTIAL RETURN TO NORMAL IS WITHIN SIGHT.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S COVID-19 RESPONSE AND WHAT IS TO COME, IS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> THE NEWS OF THIS WEEK, YOU ANNOUNCED RESIDENTS IN THE 1C CATEGORY WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE MARCH 29.

THAT INCLUDES FOLKS IN IT, FINANCE, LAW, MEDIA, ET CETERA.

WILL THE CITY HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLY TO MEET THAT SUBSTANTIAL DEMAND IN SHORT ORDER?

>> LOOK, I ALSO WANT TO NOTE IT INCLUDES A LOT OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS PARTICULARLY RESTAURANT WORKERS AND OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONTLINES NOW THEY WILL GET THEIR OPPORTUNITY STARTING MARCH 29TH.

THE REALITY IS WE WILL OPEN UP AS WE DID WITH 1A AND 1B AND PEOPLE WILL SIGN UP AND THERE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BETWEEN WHEN THEY SIGN UP AND THEY ARE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE BUT WE HAVE BEEN GETTING ENCOURAGING NEWS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT AN INCREASED VACCINE SUPPLY PARTICULARLY INTO APRIL AND MAY.

SO WE FEEL OPTIMISTIC BUT AS HAS BEEN THE CASE, PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO BE PATIENT.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE IMMEDIATELY ALL THE VACCINE TO FIT THAT INCREASED VOLUME AND DEMAND BUT WE WILL GET THERE AND NOW WE'VE BUILT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT'S BEEN WELL TESTED SO I FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO MEET THIS GROWING NEED.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE CITY IMPROVED THE EQUITY NUMBERS TOO, THE LATEST NUMBERS REVEAL 36% OF CHICAGOANS RECEIVING THE FIRST DOSE ARE WHITE, 30 LATINX, 24% AFRICAN-AMERICAN AN IMPROVEMENT WHERE THE NUMBERS STARTED IS THAT WHERE THE NUMBERS SHOULD BE OR SHOULD THEY IMPROVE MORE?

>> THERE'S STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT BUT THE IMPROVEMENT IS REMARKABLE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE WE STARTED.

BLACK AND LATINX CHICAGO BEING IN THE MID-TO LOW TEENS AND NOW BEING WELL OVER 50% CONSISTENTLY WEEK AFTER WEEK THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE STORY AND A STORY THAT BEGINS LAST YEAR IN APRIL WHEN WE FIRST STOOD UP THE RACIAL EQUITY RAPID RESPONSE TEAM AND A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HYPER LOCAL WORK DONE WITH PARTNERS ACROSS THE CITY NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS OUR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE CENTERS.

DISABUSING PEOPLE OF CONCERNS AND MYTHS AROUND THE VIRUS AND HELPING EDUCATE THEM, CONNECTING THEM WITH HEALTHCARE, AND THEN USING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS BUILT ALONG TO BE THE FOUNDATIONAL WORK FOR OUR VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

WE ARE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE AND PAINSTAKING WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.

BUT, YES, WE ARE IMPROVING OUR NUMBERS NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF VACCINE UPTICK BUT IN CASES THAT ARE DIMINISHING EXPONENTIALLY IN BLACK AND LATINX CHICAGO.

IT IS A REALLY GOOD NEWS STORY.

BUT... WE HAVE TO REMAIN DILIGENCE.

>> CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM.

LET'S PLAY A DELINQUENT FROM GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AMANDA VINICKY INTERVIEWED HIM.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> UPON REFLECTION, WOULD YOU HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?

>> WELL, IT'S CERTAIN IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW WE MIGHT HAVE DONE THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

AS YOU RECALL, THIS NOVEL CORONAVIRUS HIT US AND WE WERE GETTING VERY LITTLE GUIDANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> MAYOR, I INTERVIEWED HOSPITAL OFFICIALS SAYING WE WERE GOING IN BLIND.

THE DOCTORS, THAT IS.

YOU WERE FACED WITH DECISIONS THAT SEEMED TO BE CHOOSING BETWEEN BAD AND WORSE OPTIONS.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU REGRET LOOKING BACK NOW?

>> WELL, I CERTAINLY REGRET WE DIDN'T GET MORE GUIDANCE AND PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

IT WAS A TERRIBLE MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

BUT NO DOUBT RESULTED IN DEATHS OF RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BUT I LEARNED EARLY ON THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST CERTAINLY WASN'T COMPETENT ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH THE SUPPORTS THAT WE NEEDED.

CERTAINLY THAT IS A TERRIBLE REGRET AND IT'S NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW.

THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION HAS -- THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS COME IN AND BEEN INCREDIBLE PARTNERS FOR US IN THE CITY.

>> AND THEY'VE HELPED WITH THE UNITED CENTER SUPER SITE AND THE STIMULUS ACT THE CITY IS GOING TO GET $1.8 BILLION ALDERMEN WERE CRITICAL HOW YOU SPENT THE CARES ACT MONEY.

HOW CAN YOU SAY HOW THIS POT OF MONEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO BE SPENT.

>> LOOK, THERE'S ALWAYS CRITICS.

BUT WHAT WE DID IN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE PRESENTED, I HAVE NO REGRETS ABOUT THAT.

WE SPENT MONEY TO BUILDUP OUR HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE SPENT MONEY TO SUPPORT TESTING, TO HELP THE HOMELESS, TO HELP MENTAL HEALTH, OTHER HOUSING INSECURITY ISSUES ACROSS OUR CITY TO HELP RENTERS, TO HELP LANDLORDS, TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES.

IF YOU LOOK THE THE TOTALITY HOW WE USED THE VARIOUS MONIES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IT IS A GOOD NEWS STORY OF INVESTING IN CHICAGO AND PARTICULARLY INVESTING IN THOSE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES THAT WERE MOST HARD HIT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE CRITICISM HAS COME BECAUSE WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO REIMBURSE EXPENSES DURING THE PANDEMIC THROUGH THE CARES ACT FUNDING.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FOOLISH FOR US NOT TO MAKE THAT CHOICE BECAUSE THE CHOICES WAS EITHER TAKE THE MONIES OUT OF OUR CORPORATE FUNDS OR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GAVE US: AND OF COURSE WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE NEW POT OF MONEY?

THE BUDGET IS BALANCED ON SCOOP AND TOSS A BILLION SEVEN OF SCOOP AND TOSS DEBT.

HOW ABOUT PAYING DOWN THE DEBT?

>> OF COURSE WE WILL USE SOME OF THE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE LONG-TERM DEBT THAT WE ENTERED INTO AND PLANNED FOR BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, WE HAD NO NOTION WE ARE GOING TO GET MONEYS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT WE'RE SORTING THROUGH THE VARIOUS STREAMS OF MONEY COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

MOST OF WHICH HAVE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT STRINGS ATTACHED BECAUSE THEY COME THROUGH GRANTS AND THOSE GRANTS HAVE REQUIREMENTS HOW THE MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT.

BUT WE DO HAVE SOME DISCRETIONARY FUNDS AND WE NEED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS BUT DOES IT IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY.

WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS REPEAT THE LESSONS OF THE PAST WHICH IS WE BURN THROUGH THE MONEY VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

AND THEN FOUND OURSELVES WITH ANOTHER GAPING HOLE IN OUR FINANCES THAT WAS FILLED BY THINGS LIKE THE PARKING METER DEAL.

I WANT NO PARTS OF THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO BE SMART.

WE ARE GOING TO BE FORWARD FOCUSED AND LOOKING AT THOSE AREAS OF OUR CITY THAT NEED AN ADDITIONAL BOOST.

BUT WE WILL DO THAT IN A WAY THAT IS TRUE TO OUR TAXPAYERS AND NOT BUILD A LOT OF ONE-TIMERS THAT PUT US IN A WORSE ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCE.

WE HAVE TO USE THE MONEY TRULY AS A STIMULUS AND TO HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST IN NEED.

>> MAYOR, C.P.S.

ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT IT'S TARGETING APRIL 19TH AS A RETURN DATE FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS.

YOU SAW C.T.U.

ON TUESDAY ARGUE WE DON'T HAVE A DEAL WE HAVE TO GO NEGOTIATE THIS.

WILL C.P.S.

HAVE TO NEGOTIATE A RETURN WITH THE UNION?

>> WE HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING.

AS PART OF THE REOPENING FOR PRE-K AND K-8 WE MADE A COMMITMENT WE WOULD BE AT THE TABLE WITH C.T.U.

TO NEGOTIATE REOPENING FOR HIGH SCHOOLS AND WE HAVE BEEN AT THE TABLE NOW FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING.

BUT WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL GET A DEAL AND WE WILL OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COME BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS BOTH PEOPLE THAT ARE FRIENDS WITH MY NETWORK AND RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY.

THEY WANT TO HAVE THE OPTION TO HAVE THEIR STUDENTS BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL AND PARTICULARLY FOR OUR SENIORS.

I'M HEARING FROM PARENTS THAT ARE PLEADING WITH US TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY SO THEY CAN HAVE SOME SEMBLANCE OF A SENIOR YEAR AND WALK ACROSS THE STAGE AT GRADUATION WITH MEMORIES OF THEIR HIGH SCHOOL THAT IS NOT JUST AROUND LOOKING INTO A SCREEN AT THEIR CLASSMATES AND THEIR TEACHERS.

>> A LOT TO WEIGH WITH PARENTS AND STUDENTS.

MAYOR, YOU SAID LAST WEEK OR COUPLE WEEKS AGO THAT TASTE OF CHICAGO WAS A POSSIBILITY, AIR AND WATER SHOW IS A POSSIBILITY.

WRIGLEY FIELD ANNOUNCED THEY WILL START CONCERTS IN JULY.

IS IT WISHFUL THINKING THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HOST THOSE AT CAPACITY CROWDS?

>> LOOK, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS AND PRUDENT BUT I SAID THIS BEFORE AND I WILL REPEAT THAT I BELIEVE THAT THE SUMMER OF 2021 IS GOING TO LOOK MORE LIKE 2019 AND LESS LIKE 2020 BUT WE'VE GOT TO BE CAUTIOUS AND NOT IGNORE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THIS REALLY LONG, HARD YEAR THAT HAVE GOT US TO THIS POINT WHERE WE CAN THINK ABOUT OUR SUMMER OF MUSIC AND ARTS AND CULTURE.

AND JUST BEING ABLE TO COME TOGETHER.

THE PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID IT WELL.

IF WE CONTINUE ON THE PATH THAT WE ARE, IF WE CONTINUE TO BE DILIGENT AND GET VACCINES INTO ARMS, FOURTH OF JULY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOURTH OF JULY'S OF OLD.

BUT WE HAVE TO REMAIN DILIGENT AND THERE IS A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

WE ARE LOOKING WITH CAUTION AND CONCERN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN EUROPE WHERE WE'RE SEEING A SURGE THAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THE EDGES.

WE'VE GOT TO BE DILL VENT.

WE ARE NOT -- DILIGENT.

WE NEED TO GET OUR DAILY CASE RATES UNDER 200 AND WE ARE TOUCHING 300 WITH A SLIGHT UPTICK.

CAUTION IT HAS TO REMAIN THE WORD OF THE DAY.

>> SO THE CASES HAVE GONE DOWN BUT THEY'VE LEVELED OFF.

MAYOR WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE, PARIS.

TAKE CARE.

>> YOU, TOO.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS HAVE BEEN FRONT ROW WITNESSES TO TRAGEDY AS THEY'VE SEEN PATIENTS GET SICK AND DIE FROM COVID-19.

BUT ALSO HOPE.

AS THEY HELP PATIENTS TO RECOVER AND NOW, OF COURSE, THE VACCINE.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF THAT TREATMENT LOOK LIKE?

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW FROM OUTSIDE OF RUSH HOSPITAL.

AMANDA?

>> BRANDIS THERE IS A REASON I'M AT RUSH AND THAT IS BECAUSE A YEAR AGO NEARLY TO THE DAY I WAS HERE REPORTING ON COVID.

AT THE TIME RUSH AND AREA HOSPITALS WERE BUSY RECONFIGURING TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE ANTICIPATED HOARD OF PATIENTS THEY WERE CANCELING ELECTIVE SURGERIES AND ENCOURAGING TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS.

>> I REMEMBER BEING AWAKE 24-7 AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THE MEDICAL CENTER READY FOR THE TSUNAMI ON ITS WAY.

>> Dr. PAUL CASEY SAYS HE PARTICULARLY REMEMBERS PHOTOS OF PATIENTS LYING ON THE FLOOR IN HOSPITALS IN ITALY AND NEW YORK.

AND THAT IS THE SORT OF THING THAT RUSH WAS PREPARING FOR.

THANKFULLY IT NEVER CAME TO THAT.

RUSH HAS SEEN ITS SHARE OF COVID PATIENTS, 3700 HOSPITALIZED AND DISCHARGED THIS PAST YEAR.

THE PAVILION IS A DEMONSTRATION OF THE ROLLERCOASTER THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN ON THE HEALTHCARE SIDE OF THINGS.

WHEN PAUL CASEY AND I TALKED A YEAR AGO, THE PAVILION WAS A LOBBY WHICH LIKE THE VIRUS HAS THE ABILITY TO MUTATE.

>> SOON THERE AFTER BECAME A PATIENT CARE AREA.

WE HAD PATIENTS FROM THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FROM WHEN THEY WERE WALKED INTO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WE WERE DOING A SPLIT FLOW TRIAGE AND SETUP TREATMENT FOR THOSE WITH POSSIBLE COVID SYMPTOMS.

WE WERE SEEING THE PATIENTS, TESTING AND TREATING THE LOWER PATIENTS HERE IN THE PAVILION.

>> AND NOW, THE PAVILION IS FUNCTIONING AS A PLACE THAT MAKES Dr. CASEY FEEL CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.

YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS AN ENTRY WAY TO THE END OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> WHEN YOU AND I MET A YEAR AGO, I WOULD HAVE BEEN EXSTATUS ECSTATIC TO SEE TODAY.

THE VACCINATION CLINIC AS PEOPLE ARE GETTING PROTECTION AND WE NEED TO GET THE VACCINE IN AS MANY ARMS AS POSSIBLE BEFORE THERE IS A WAVE THAT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SIGNALS IN EUROPE.

>> EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT Dr. MICHAEL GOTTLIEB SAYS BEING ON THE FRONTLINES TREATING COVID PATIENTS DAILY HAS HAD ITS CHALLENGES.

>> WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF JUST REALLY TOUGH CASES, PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS FOR POSSIBLY THE LAST TIME.

BUT WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE RECOVERED AND ARE FEELING BETTER.

>> THESE DAYS, GOTTLIEB IS PART OF AN EFFORT THAT IS FOCUSED ON COVID PATIENTS WHO ARE IN-BETWEEN LONG-HAULERS.

USUALLY ONCE YOU'VE RECOVERED FROM A VIRUS YOU ARE RECOVERED FROM THE I WILL ANDS.

BUT ROUGHLY 30% OF COVID PATIENTS LOSE THEIR SENSE OF SMELL OR TASTE AFTER RECOVERY OR STILL EASILY FATIGUES OR FEEL FOGGY IN THE HEAD AND HAVE TROUBLE THINKING.

GOTTLIEB SAYS IT'S BECOME KNOWN AS FUZZY COVID.

RUSH IS PART OF A NATIONAL STUDY CALLED INSPIRE FOR INNOVATIVE SUPPORT FOR PATIENTS WITH SARS, VOV2 REGISTRATION.

PATIENTS FILL OUT ON AN ON-LINE SURVEY ONE OF THREE MONTHS AND ON HOW THEY ARE FEELING AND TAKE A COGNITIVE TEST.

>> SO WE CAN YOU HAD WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING ON A DAILY BASIS.

HOW IS IT IMPACTING THEM TO HELP US TO FIRST START TO PREDICT WHEN THIS MAY HAPPEN.

IDENTIFY THE CASES START TO BETTER UNDERSTAND IT AND HOW COMMON IS IT AND HOPELY GUIDE TREATMENT.

>> GOTTLIEB SAYS IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST DATA DRIVEN STUDIES IN THE U.S. >> THIS IS INCREDIBLY NOVEL.

ONE OF THE AMAZING THINGS IS WE HAVE THE ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS THAT CAN PROVIDE US WITH DATA AND WE ARE ABLE TO COMBINE THESE ACROSS HEALTH SYSTEMS THAT WOULDN'T NORMALLY COMMUNICATE AND ACCESS PHARMACIES, INSURANCE COMPANY DATA, AND REALLY WHATEVER THE PATIENT ALLOWS US TO ACCESS IS PATIENT-DRIVEN.

>> SAYS THAT THERE IS AN URGENCY TO FIND ANSWERS IF YOU WANT TO TAKE PART, THE STUDY IS ACCEPTING PARTICIPANTS.

UNLIKE A LOT OF THESE STUDIES THIS IS ALL DONE ON-LINE SO THERE IS NO NEED TO VISIT RUSH OR ANY HOSPITAL.

PATIENTS ARE ELIGIBLE WITHIN 42 DAY OF TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AND YOU CAN BET WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LINK WITH INFORMATION TO THAT ON OUR WEBSITE SOON.

BEFORE I GO, ONE LAST REFLECTION FROM Dr. CASEY ON HOW FAR THINGS HAVE COME SINCE LAST MARCH.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY INCREDIBLE STORIES OF PEOPLE THAT TRULY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON PLANET ANYMORE THANKS TO OUR CARE TEAMS AND THE STORIES ARE INSPIRING.

PATIENTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR SIX MONTHS ADVANCED HEART LUNG SUPPORT THAT NOW RECOVERED THAT WE NEVER THOUGHT CERTAINLY THAT WOULD BE THE CASE.

>> SO TO ALL OF THE DOCTORS, NURSES EVERYONE ELSE IN HEALTHCARE, THERE IS A SIGN NEARBY I WILL ECHO THAT HEALTHCARE HEROS.

A GRAIL BIG THANK YOU.

-- GREAT BIG THANK YOU.

AND WITH THAT BACK TO YOU.

>> WE ECHO THAT AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, HOW MOVIE THEATERS AND OTHER BUSINESSES FARED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND HOW THEY PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD.

STICK AROUND.

>> AS COVID NUMBERS DECREASE AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES START TO REOPEN THE DEBATE OVER GOING OUT AND SITTING IN A CROWD VERSUS STAYING AT HOME GOES ON.

ANGEL IDOWU CHATTED WITH A COUPLE OF LOCAL CINEMA OWNERS TO FIND OUT HOW THEY ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT AUDIENCES CAN SAFELY RESUME A POPULAR PASTTIME.

>> DESPITE PREMIERS HEADING STRAIGHT TO STREAMING SITES MOVIE THEATERS LIKE THE MUSIC BOX WITH OPTIMISTIC FOR THE DAY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FULLY REOPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

>> WE'VE HAD PEOPLE CHECKING IN WITH US SAYING I LOVE YOU GUYS I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK TO THE MUSIC BOX AND I HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO KEEP EVERYTHING GOING.

>> THE THEATRE KNOWN FOR INDEPENDENT FILMS REOPENED IN THE SUMMER AND OFFERS THEATRE RENTALS IN ADDITION TO WEEKEND SHOWS FROM.

A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT IS BEING OPEN DURING THE WEEKENDS ENOUGH TO CONTINUE MUSIC BOX'S OPERATIONS?

>> WE WERE COMING OFF OF SEVERAL GOOD YEARS IN TERMS OF ATTENDANCE AND WITH MOVIES AND EVENTS SO WE HAD A NEST EGG.

WE ARE IN A GOOD POSITION TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

>> BIGGER CHAINS LIKE KERASOTES SHOWPLACE THEATRES THAT OPERATES THE CINEMA THEATRE ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE PUBLIC'S RETURN.

>> IT WAS THAT WAY INTO THE 50s AND 60s WHEN TELEVISION CAME OUT AND THEN COLOR TELEVISION, WHO IS GOING TO WANT TO GO OUT OF THEIR HOUSE AT THAT POINT?

AND PEOPLE HAVE VHS PLAYERS AND DVD PLAYERS AND IT WAS LIVE STREAM.

-- FLAT SCREEN AND BLU-RAYS.

AND SO THERE IS ALWAYS SOME REASON WHERE PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO PUT A NAIL IN THE MOVIE INDUSTRY'S COFFIN AND I THINK THE ONE THING THAT THEY UNDERESTIMATE IS THAT THE MOVIE THEATRE INDUSTRY IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING AND CONSTANTLY STRIVING.

SO THAT WE ARE RELEVANT.

>> THOSE EFFORTS CAN BE SEEN IN THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THEATRE OWNERS.

THEIR CINEMA SAFE INITIATIVE PROVIDES RESOURCES TO THEATRE TO REGAIN CONSUMER CONFIDENCE.

>> OVER 3,000 LOCATIONS, 35,000 SCREENS, COMPANIES THAT HAVE DONE OVER 40 WEEKLY WEBINARS WITH WITH OUR MEMBERS.

WE HAVE 4-500 PEOPLE EACH TIME ALONG WITH THE LOBBYING TO KEEP THE INDUSTRY GOING WITH AID FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO IT IS A BEEN KIND OF NONSTOP FOR US FOR ABOUT A YEAR.

>> BASED ON THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING WHAT DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF MOVIE THEATERS LOOKING LIKE?

>> AS THE VACCINES TAKE HOLD I THINK WE'LL SEE A RETURN TO NORMAL.

THE PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS AND THE WAY WE'RE BEHAVE SOMETHING UNNATURAL.

WE ARE SOCIAL PEOPLE WE LIKE TO GO OUT AND EXPERIENCE THINGS TOGETHER AND ONE OF THE OLDEST THINGS WE'VE EXPERIENCED TOGETHER IS TELLING EACH OTHER STORIES IN THE DARK.

GO BACK TO THE EARLIEST HUMAN COMMUNITIES AND THAT IS WHAT THEY DID.

AND IT BECOMES ART AND ENTERTAINMENT BUT IT IS A BASIC PRIMAL NEED WE HAVE WHICH IS TO LAUGH TOGETHER, CRY TOGETHER, BE FRIGHTENED TOGETHER.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT CHANGES.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> THE MUSIC BOX THEATRE PLANS TO REOPEN AT THE END OF THE MONTH WITH LIMITED SHOWINGS.

SHOW PLACE ICON WILL OPERATE TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS THROUGH SUNDAYS AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

>> AS WE MENTIONED GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ANNOUNCES THE STATE COULD BEGIN FURTHER EASING RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESSES AS MORE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED.

ONCE 50% OF PEOPLE 16 AND OVER ARE VACCINATED ILLINOIS WILL FULLY REOPEN ALTHOUGH THE MASK REQUIREMENT WILL REMAIN UNTIL THE CDC RECOMMENDS OTHERWISE.

BUT BEFORE THE STATE GETS TO THAT THERE WILL BE A BRIDGE PHASE OF EASING RESTRICTIONS WHEN 70% OF THOSE 65 AND OVER HAVE HAD ONE VACCINE SHOT.

HERE IS A LITTLE BIT BEHALF GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HAD TO SAY.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HOTELS CAN OPERATE WITH EVENTS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE INCREASED ABILITY OF RESTAURANTS TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE INDOORS.

AND SERVED BARS THE SAME WAY.

WE ARE REALLY HEADED ON A GOOD TRAJECTORY TO GET TO PHASE 5.

>> MUSIC TO THE EARS OF OUR NEXT GUESTS HOW ARE BUSINESSES FEELING ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE.

>> JOINING US ARE JOHN MOURIKES, CO-CONEER IN OF FOODS SMART GROCERY STORE.

SPRING CAPERS OWNER OF SPRING'S SALON.

RACQUEL FIELDS OWNER OF 14 PARISH RESTAURANT.

AND NABIL MOUNAYED GENERAL MANAGER OF THE KIMPTON GRAY HOTEL DOWNTOWN AND DIRECTOR FOR MIDWEST OPERATIONS FOR THE KIMPTON HOTEL BRAND.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

NABIL MOUNAYED WE HAVE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT HOTEL OCCUPANCY IT IS A SLIVER OF WHAT IT NORMALLY IS.

HOW DO YOU THIS THIS BRIDGE PLAN WILL AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS?

>> WELL, WE'RE SO OPTIMISTIC WITH ALL THE NEWS WE'RE GETTING TODAY AND ALL THE OPENING OF MORE CAPACITY AND THAT IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR.

WE'RE LOOKING NOW AT GOING FROM 20% OCCUPANCY TO 40-50% IN THE COMING MONTHS AND OUR GOAL IS TO GET BACK TO NORMAL BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR US ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WE WANT TO BRING BACK TO WORK.

AND GUESTS WE WANT TO WELCOME BACK TO CHICAGO.

WE ARE SO EXCITED.

>> THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY HAS BEEN ON PINS AND NEEDLES.

RACQUEL FIELDS, THE TRIBUNE PUBLISHED OF 361 BUSINESSES THAT CLOSED LOTS OF MOM AND POP RESTAURANTS.

YOUR IN-PERSON BUSINESS HAS BEEN ABOUT 10% OF WHAT IT IS.

HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED TO SURVIVE?

>> WE'VE JUST FOCUSED ON WHAT WE DO WELL.

WE'VE PUT ALL OF OUR ENERGY INTO MAKING SURE THAT OUR PRODUCT IS QUALITY AND OUR ENERGY INTO MARKETING TO OUR CURRENT CUSTOMER BASE AS WELL AS OUTREACH FOR OTHER CUSTOMERS AND IMPROVING ON OUR PRODUCT.

WE JUST KEEP CHUGGING ALONG.

WE'RE HAPPY TO BE BACK OPEN TO DINE-IN AND THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP.

WE HELD ON AND WE ARE DOING BETTER NOW.

>> AND ONE OF THE WAY SMALL BUSINESSES SURVIVED IS THROUGH PPP LOANS FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

SPRING, AS I UNDERSTAND YOU GOT ACCESS TO A PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM LOAN ALTHOUGH ARE YOU NOT SURE WHETHER THAT IS GOING TO BE FORGIVEN OR NOT.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY AND WHAT IT WILL MEAN TO YOUR BUSINESS IF NOT FORGIVEN?

>> IF ANYONE HAS DEALT WITH THE GOVERNMENT EVERYTHING IS CHANGING.

THEY HAVE MADE SO MANY CHANGES IN THE LAST YEAR.

AND WHEN WE FIRST CAME IN, THEY WERE COVERING TO 99 EMPLOYEES THEN THEY CHANGED AND SAID THEY ARE NOT.

WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR PAPERWORK IS RIGHT TO MAKE SURE IT'S COVERED AND SO THAT WE WOULD GET THE FORGIVENESS.

WE DEFINITELY DON'T NEED ANY DEBT AT THIS TIME BECAUSE WE ARE NOT OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY.

>> AS THE RULES OF THE LOANS, THEY HAVE BEEN SHIFTING BUT THE LOANS ARE FORGIVEN IF THEY GO TO PAYROLL FOR EMPLOYEES.

JOHN, UNLIKE THE OTHERS HERE YOU HAVE BEEN IN AN INDUSTRY THAT'S BEEN SEEN AS ESSENTIAL THE GROCERY INDUSTRY.

AND AS I UNDERSTAND, BUSINESS IN THAT SECTOR IS UP 10% OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS.

WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST CONCERNS FOR YOU RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS OVER THE LAST YEAR?

>> MOSTLY CONCERN HAS BEEN WITH THE VIRUS ITSELF MAKING SURE GETTING OUR EMPLOYEES VACCINATED AND GETTING OURSELVES VACCINATED AND MAKING THE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE.

HAVING THE PROTOCOLS IN PLACE WEARING MASKS.

SOCIAL DISTANCING.

THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

>> AND NABIL MOUNAYED YOU MENTIONED YOU WANT YOUR HOTEL TO MAYBE BE FULLY AT CAPACITY BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR THE HOTEL INDUSTRY IN CHICAGO TO ACHIEVE THAT?

IT'S DEPENDENT ON THINGS LIKE CONVENTIONS, SPORTING EVENTS, TOURISM THINGS BRINGING AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE TO THE CITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE NEED TO HAVE THE CONVENTION BUSINESS COME BACK TO TOWN.

WHICH MEANS THAT EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR IS GOING TO HAVE TWO OR THREE CONVENTIONS.

WE NEED MUSICAL FESTIVALS SPORTING EVENTS AND PEOPLE TO BOOK CORPORATE TRAVEL IS A HUGE SUSTAINER OF OUR BUSINESS AND THE LEEDSER TRAVEL WE HAVE -- LEISURE TRAVEL WE HAVE HAD WE NEED THAT AND MORE.

WE ARE LOOKING BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WILL FEEL SAFE AT OUR HOTELS IN OUR CITY THAT WE NEED CORPORATE PLANNER TO COME BACK TO CHICAGO.

CORPORATIONS TO HAVE THEIR EMPLOYEES WORKING DOWNTOWN AGAIN TO BE FULLY ABLE TO FILL OUR RESTAURANTS AND BARS AS WELL.

>> YOUR RECOVERY IS DEPENDENT ON A LOT OF FACTORS.

SPRING, SALONS ARE SOCIAL PLACES AND PEOPLE ARE THERE FOR A LONGTIME AND MIGHT BE TALKING TO EACH OTHER.

SOCIALIZING.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT CUSTOMERS WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING BACK TO THE SALON IN THE NUMBERS THAT YOU NEED TO SUSTAIN YOUR BUSINESS?

>> YES, WE HAVE CAME BACKUP IN JULY AND WE SET THE SALON UP SO WE ARE SAFE.

WE HAVE NO INCIDENTS OF ANYTHING, WE HAD NO ONE CALL US SAYING THEY CAUGHT ANYTHING.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THE PROTOCOLS FOR THE NINE MONTHS.

AS THE RESTRICTIONS EASE IT WILL GET BETTER AND BETTER.

>> RACQUEL FIELDS, RESTAURANTS KNOWER TO RUSSLY THIN MARGES -- KNOWER TO RUSSLY >> WE DON'T KNOW WHEN FULL REOPENING IS GOING TO BE.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK YOUR RESTAURANT CAN GO FORWARD AND SURVIVE BEFORE WE NEED TO BE BACK AT 100% NORMAL CAPACITY?

>> WELL, I THINK THE QUESTION ISN'T SURVIVE FOR RESTAURANTS AT THIS POINT WHO FIGURED OUT HOW TO SURVIVE.

WE ARE EXCITED BECAUSE WE ARE ABOUT TO GO INTO THE SUMMER MONTHS FOR THOSE THAT CAN CAPITALIZE WITH A PATIO AREA OR EXTENDED DINING I HOPE AT THE MAYOR AND THE CITY AND THOSE AROUND THE CITY CONTINUE WITH SUPPORTING BUSINESSES THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND ALLOWING US TO HAVE ALTERNATIVE USE SPACE USE FOR OUTDOOR DINING SO WE CAN THRIVE.

I THINK SURVIVING IS ONE THING WE'VE BEEN HOLDING ON BY A HAIR.

AND WE'VE INVESTED OUR ENTIRE LIVES INTO OUR BUSINESS, RIGHT?

SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET BACK TO THRIVING.

IT MEANS SO MUCH UP THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN RESTAURANTS ARE NOT THRIVING THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER LEVELS THAT AREN'T BEING SUPPORTED IN ADDITION TO THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

SURVIVE?

YES.

SOME OF US ARE STRUGGLING.

BUT WE ARE GOING TO GIVE UP IF WE CAN'T GET BACK TO THRIVING WE CAN'T STAY IN THE SURVIVAL MODE.

>> AFTER A YEAR.

JOHN, AGAIN, WE MENTIONED GROCERY STORES ARE IN A DIFFERENT POSITION BECAUSE THE BUSINESS HAS STAYED THE SAME IF NOT UP A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR BUSINESS GOING FORWARD AS THE STATE MOVES INTO EASING THE RESTRICTIONS?

>> RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD WITH OPTIMISM.

WE HAVE SPENT THE SUPPLY CHAINS TO CATCH UP WITH THE DEMAND AND WE WILL HE HAVE BETTER PRODUCT AVAILABILITY.

WE WANT TO GO BACK TO THE TIMES WHERE CUSTOMERS CAME IN RELAXED.

>> THEY SAMPLED FOOD AND WINE AND DIDN'T HAVE TO LOOK AROUND AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WAS WEARING A MASK.

>> NABIL MOUNAYED WHAT ABOUT EMPLOYEES?

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BRING EMPLOYEES BACK?

AND DO YOU ANTICIPATE SOME MIGHT BE RETICENT TO BE WORKING IN AN ENVIRONMENT AROUND A LOT OF PEOPLE?

>> YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO COME BACK NO MATTER WHAT, HOUSEKEEPERS AND ENGINEERS AND FRONT DESK STAFF WE HAVE LOST STAFF TO OTHER AREAS.

OUR SALES AND ACCOUNTING FOLKS, SOME PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES THAT MIGHT HAVE LEFT TO GO TO OTHER INDUSTRIES AND THAT IS A RISK AS WE GET BUSIER WE NEED MORE PEOPLE BUT THERE IS A SHORT SUPPLY OF QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO FILL THE POSITIONS.

I THINK CITYWIDE NATIONWIDE THAT IS A BIGGER LABOR PROBLEM FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY THAT WE HAVE TO FACE.

>> SPRING CAPERS WHAT ABOUT YOU?

SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN REOPENED YOU WORRIED ABOUT EMPLOYEES ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT MIGHT BE VULNERABLE TO THE DISEASE.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HANDLE EMPLOYEES GOING FORWARD IN SAFETY?

>> WELL, WE PIVOTED.

SO THOSE THAT CAME BACK THE THREE OF US SOLID WORKING HARD AND WE GOT NAIL TECHNICIANS.

I CHANGED THE SALON AROUND.

AND SO OFFERING CLIENTS ONE PLACE TO GET BOTH SERVICES HAS TRULY HELPED US A LOT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

A LOT OF ADAPTATION.

>> YES.

>> GOOD THINGS IN THE HORIZON FOR ALL OF YOUR BUSINESSES WE HOPE AND THANK YOU TO JOHN MOURIKES, SPRING CAPERS AND RACQUEL FIELDS AND NABIL MOUNAYED.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, PARIS.

>> AND NOW TO PHIL PONCE WITH A ONE-ON-ONE WITH CHICAGO'S TOP DOC.

>> MOST CHICAGOANS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A COVID-19 VACCINE BY THE END OF THE MONTH UNDER THE 1C PHASE.

AS WE HEARD EARLIER IN THE SHOW GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT VACCINATIONS WILL BE OPEN FOR EVERYONE IN ILLINOIS BY APRIL 12TH, BUT THAT DOES NOT YET INCLUDE CHICAGO.

>> THE CITY OF CHICAGO GETS SEPARATE SHIPMENTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SEPARATE FROM THE REST OF THE STATE.

IT REPRESENTS 21% OF THE POPULATION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE CITY OF CHICAGO DOES.

AND IT CAN MAKE DECISIONS ON ITS OWN IT HAS THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

I HOPE THAT IT WILL MOVE TOWARD OPENING UP EVEN MORE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING ACROSS THE REST OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

>> AND HERE TO HELP US BREAK THIS DOWN IS Dr. ALLISON ARWADY, COMMISSIONER OF THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

Dr. ARWADY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SO WE HAVE HEARD DIFFERENT TIMELINES PEOPLE MIGHT BE GETTING CONFUSED CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE STATE'S ANNOUNCEMENT MEANS FOR THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO AS YOU KNOW, WE ANNOUNCED MARCH 29TH, MAJOR EXPANSION HERE IN CHICAGO.

EVERYBODY WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS AND THE OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS ALL ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATION THAT INCLUDES THE GREAT MAJORITY OF CHICAGO ADULTS BUT IT WOULD NOT INCLUDE A YOUNG HEALTHY COLLEGE STUDENT.

WHAT ILLINOIS ANNOUNCED I THINK IN LINE WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S ASK THAT WE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL AMERICANS ARE ELIGIBLE BY MAY FIRST.

ILLINOIS AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAID THEY FEEL LIKE AT THE STATE LEVEL BY APRIL 12TH THEY WILL OPEN TO EVERYBODY.

HERE IN CHICAGO, WE HAVE -- AS WE WERE OPENING UP TO FOLKS WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS WE DID WORK TO OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS PEOPLE NEEDING TO WORK AND UNABLE TO HAVE JOBS THAT THEY CAN DO FROM HOME NOT ABLE TO DISTANCE FROM HOME AND OPEN THAT ENDABILITY AT THE SAME TIME.

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF TIMELINE.

WE ARE GOING TO BE OPEN AND IT'S ALL ABOUT AS THE VACCINE GETS HERE.

AS ADDITIONAL VACCINE GETS HERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE AND OPEN TO EVERYBODY BY MAY FIRST LIKE THE PRESIDENT IS ASKING US TO AND IF THERE'S MORE MAYBE WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE SOONER.

AS OF MARCH 29 HERE IN CHICAGO ANYBODY WITH AN UNDERLYING CONDITION AND OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKER ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINE.

>> IS IT IMPOSSIBLE BY MARCH 29 TO OPEN IT UP TO EVERYBODY?

THERE WOULD BE CLARITY IS THAT NOT POSSIBLE?

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

THE ISSUE IS THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE ALREADY WHO ARE SO ANXIOUS TO GET A VACCINE AND WE DO ACTUALLY WE'D LIKE TO USE THAT FIRST MONTH TO GIVE PRIORITY TO PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS AND PEOPLE WHO CANNOT DISTANCE AT WORK.

THE DIFFERENCE, I THINK, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ANY PARTICULAR RISK FACTOR FOR COVID.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE IT WILL BE A MONTH LATER.

AT ALL POINTS WE WANT TO BE OPEN AND CLEAR AND WE ARE NOT TRYING TO HOLD PEOPLE BACK BUT ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE COVID IN GOOD CONTROL HERE AT THE MOMENT IS THAT WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF PRIORITIZING VACCINE TO WHERE IT'S MOST NEEDED.

WE ARE GETTING SO CLOSE TO JUST IT BEING OPEN FOR EVERYBODY BUT IF WE SAID MARCH 29 OPEN TO EVERYBODY IT WOULD MEAN MORE PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR A LIMITED AMOUNT OF VACCINE.

THESE PEOPLE WHO WE OPEN UP TO MARCH 29 WILL BE ABLE TO GET A VACCINE IN APRIL, IN MAY.

THE BROAD POPULATION IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET A VACCINE IN APRIL AND MAY BUT WE WANT TO TRY TO GET VACCINE WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO FIRST TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE HIGHEST RISK.

THE BEST THING TO DO IN TERMS OF CONTROLLING COVID.

APRIL, MAY, EXCITING WE'RE CLOSE.

>> THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED A BRIDGE PLAN IN WHICH BUSINESSES CAN OPEN UP A LITTLE BIT MORE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF SENIORS THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

IS THE CITY GOING TO FOLLOW SUIT?

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IS REALLY A PLAN TO LOOK AT VACCINATION RATES ACROSS THE STATE.

I WOULD EXPECT WE WOULD FOLLOW WITH THAT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DETAILS HOW DOES IT APPLY.

OUR BIGGEST PRIORITY BETWEEN NOW AND MARCH 29TH IS GETTING OUR SENIORS VACCINATED.

WE STILL HAVE LESS THAN 50% OF CHICAGO SENIORS, 55 PLUS VACCINATED AND IF THERE ARE SENIORS NOT YET VACCINATED WHO LIVE IN CHICAGO 312-746-4835.

WE HAVE APPOINTMENTS FOR YOU AND WE WANT TO GET YOU IN.

IT'S WHY WE HAVE NOT MOVED FULLY AHEAD YET WE WANT TO GET THE PEOPLE DONE.

AND WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT ABOUT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THINGS UP JUST AS SOON AS THINGS LOOK SAFE WE ARE WATCHING OUR NUMBERS AND SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPTICK IN CASES A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPTICK IN POSITIVITY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE GET VACCINATED WE CONTINUE TO SEE PROGRESS BUT BROADLY WE ARE IN GOOD ALIGNMENT AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS WE WANT TO OPEN.

WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE DETAILS AND SHARING MORE BUT THERE IS NO BIG DIFFERENCE HERE.

>> AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW THERE'S POLLING THAT INDICATES THERE MIGHT BE POLITICAL CONNECTION IN TERMS OF ONE'S POLITICAL VIEWS AND ONE'S OPENNESS TO A VACCINE.

ONE POLL SHOWED THAT 45% OF REPUBLICAN MALES SAY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET VACCINATED.

WOULD THAT HURT SOCIETY'S ABILITY TO ESTABLISH HERD IMMUNITY?

>> SO WHERE WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IN COVID IN THIS COUNTRY I THINK IT'S WHERE THE SCIENCE HAS GOTTEN MIXED WITH THE POLITICS TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST AND COVID I AM PACKAGES ALL OF US REGARD -- IMPACTS ALL OF US REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL AFFILIATION.

IN A LOT OF WAYS, MY GOAL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE POLITICS THE GOAL IS TO PROTECT PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL BELIEF AND GET CHICAGO PAST COVID.

I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VACCINE TO GO TO REPUTABLE SOURCES AND ASK THE QUESTION AND AS MORE AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN VACCINATED AND SEEN THEM TO GO BACK TO NORMAL ACTIVITIES WITH LESS WORRY, AND NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM.

THE ROLLOUT OF THIS VACCINE 110 MILLION VACCINATIONS ALREADY ACROSS THE U.S. AND IT'S BEEN A SAFE, EFFECTIVE VACCINE.

AND REGARDLESS OF YOUR BELIEFS OF ANY KIND, WE JUST WANT TO GET YOU VACCINATED AND GET CHICAGO PAST COVID.

>> Dr. ALLISON ARWADY THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.

WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT A LOOK AT RACIAL AND ETHNIC EXPARTICIPATORS EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE BORN THE BRUNT OF THE CORONAVIRUS' IMPACT.

IN CHICAGO, BLACK AND LATINO RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN OVERREPRESENTED IN THE CITY'S TOTAL NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS.

THE SAME COMMUNITIES HAVE ALSO BEEN AMONG THE HARDEST HIT BY THE PANDEMIC'S ECONOMIC FALLOUT.

>> SITTING IN HER PARENTS' KITCHEN SMALL DETAILS REMIND ERICA LOPEZ'S FOR HER MOTHER'S LOVE FOR ANY HOLIDAY.

>> SHE HAD PLATES IN THE SHAPE OF SNOWFLAKES FOR CHRISTMAS, TURKEY FOR THANKSGIVING AND HEARTS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY THAT LITTLE TOUCH THAT MY MOM ALWAYS MADE SPECIAL FOR THE GRANDPARENTS AND HER BIG KIDS SHE MADE US EASTER BASKETS IN MY 30s.

>> MARCO CAPICCHIONI >> MARIA WAS 5 SINCE WHEN SHE DIED IN DECEMBER.

HER FATHER, HAD JUST DIED THREE WEEKS BEFORE.

>> THEY WERE HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS THEY WERE ALWAYS TOGETHER SO IN LOVE.

>> LUPE SERVED AS A POLICE DISPATCHER FOR 33 YEARS AND BELOVED LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL COACH.

MARIA YEAH RAN AN INCOME TAX BUSINESS LITTLE VILLAGE.

AND THE LOSS DEVASTATED HER FAMILY IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

>> IT'S TOUGH.

ON TOP OF LOSING YOUR PARENTS AND THEN HAVING TO PAY A COMBINED OVER 30 GRAND FOR TWO FUNERALS SO THAT HAD TO SHUTDOWN MY SMALL BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS.

>> NEIGHBORS IN THE 60632 ZIP CODE WHERE ERIKA'S PARENTS LIVED FACED THE HIGHEST RATES OF COVID WITH ONE IN SEVEN RESIDENTS CONTRACTING THE VIRUS.

60623 LITTLE VILLAGE, ONE IN EIGHT NEIGHBORS TESTED POSITIVE.

COMPARED TO CITYWIDE WHERE ONE IN 11 RESIDENTS HAVE HAD IT.

THE DEVASTATION OF COVID-19 ON THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS WHY THE LITTLE VILLAGE NONPROFIT ENLACE PART TO SERVE AS ONE OF THE CITY'S PROTECT CHICAGO PLUS PARTNERS ROLLING OUT THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE TO ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 18 WHO CAN PROVE THEY ARE A RESIDENT OF LITTLE VILLAGE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

THEY WORK IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY, THEY WORK AS FOOD VENDORS.

AND THEY WORK IN THE ECONOMY IN THE INFORMAL ECONOMY MANY OF THEM EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE CATEGORIZED AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS MAY NOT HAVE A WAY TO PROVE THAT.

>> IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OF 75,000 RESIDENTS COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION ENLACE SAYS 44% OF THE NEIGHBORS ARE UNINSURED.

25 TO 30% ARE UNDOCUMENTED.

MEANING MOST OF THE FOLKS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN AND MAKING INCREASED VACCINATION EFFORTS A NECESSITY.

>> ELIZABETH TAPIA SCORED APPOINTMENTS FOR HER PARENTS AND HERSELF.

>> I WAS TRYING TO FIND THEM AN APPOINTMENT AND THAT WAS TOUGH.

I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE EASY TO HERE IS MY 70-YEAR-OLD PARENTS TAKE THEM BUT IT'S HARDER THAN I THINK WHAT PEOPLE THINK.

>> THE PANDEMIC ALSO CAUSED SOARING UNEMPLOYMENT RATES.

IT MORE THAN TRIPLED FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN ILLINOIS RISING TO 12% IN 2020.

AND MORE THAN 14% FOR BLACK ILLINOISANS.

AT THE RING OF HOPE FOOD PANTRY IN GREATER GRAND CROSSING THE NEED IS EVIDENT IN CARS AROUND THE BLOCK.

>> TRIPLE.

TRIPLE EVERYTHING.

WE'RE DOING SOMETHING LIKE MAYBE 15, 20,000 POUNDS A WEEK AND WE'RE PROBABLY UP TO 30 OR MORE.

SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOST JOBS AND BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND IT'S REALLY A HARD THING.

>> IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ALDERMEN LAMENTED THE LACK OF ADEQUATE TESTING IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE THE HARDEST HIT.

DESPITE THE TESTING INCREASE CITYWIDE, ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS HERE SAYS THERE ARE STILL STRUGGLES.

>> I CAN TELL YOU EVEN TRYING TO GET TESTED HAS BEEN MORE THAN A FEAT IN MY OWN COMMUNITY.

I TOOK A COVID TEST THAT TYPICALLY SHOULD COME BACK IN A COUPLE OF DAYS IT TOOK ALMOST TWO WEEKS.

>> WITH THE VACCINE ROLLOUT EXPANDING, ERICA LOPEZ HAS A BIT OF HOPE FOR AN END TO THE PANDEMIC.

BUT GIVEN HER OWN EXPERIENCE SHE FEARS MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE BEFORE IT DOES.

>> IT'S SIMPLE.

IT'S NOT HARD.

WEAR YOUR MASK, STAY HOME, WASH YOUR HANDS.

IT'S SENSELESS TO CONTINUE SPREADING THIS VIRUS AND BEING SO CARELESS BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE LIKE US WHO TRIED EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO NOT CONTRACT THE VIRUS AND WE DID SOMEHOW.

AND I LOST NOT ONLY ONE PARENT BUT BOTH.

>> NOW, AS THE CITY AND STATE LOOK TO EXPAND COVID VACCINE ELIGIBILITY AND A REBOOTING OF THE ECONOMY MANY ARE CALLING FOR AN EQUITABLE RECOVERY.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS COVID'S DESPARATE IMPACT ON BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ARE Dr. HELENE GAYLE, C.E.O.

OF THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST AND FORMER INFECTIOUS SPECIALIST AT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.

HORACIO MENDEZ PRESIDENT OF THE WOODSTOCK INSTITUTE AND Dr. GERALDO LUNA MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE RESPONSE BUREAU AT THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

AS WE HEARD COVID DEVASTATED BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO.

WILL LUNA, COULD YOU REMIND US WHY WE SAW THESE DISPARITIES IN THE COMMUNITIES IN PARTICULAR?

>> IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT COVID-19 PANDEMIC DEVASTATE THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

HISTORICALLY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF DECADES OF SYSTEMIC RACISM.

OUR MARGINALIZED AND SEGREGATED COMMUNITIES FACE THE HARSHEST CONDITIONS BASED ON THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH WORKING AGAINST US.

OUR COMMUNITIES ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF HEALTHCARE DESERTS, FOOD DESERTS, LIMITED ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION OR NO ACCESS.

NO EQUITY EDUCATION, HIGH LEVEL OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY.

OVERREPRESENTATION OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS OVERCROWDED HOUSING WITH GENERATIONAL FAMILIES LIVING IN THERE.

HIGH REPRESENTATION OF DISEASE BECAUSE WE FACE THE BIGGEST DISPARITIES IN HEALTH WHICH IS CARDIOVASCULAR, RESPIRATORY.

IT IS NO SURPRISE.

THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ARE WORKING AGAINST US.

>> A LOT OF FACTORS.

A RECENT AP POLL FOUND THAT THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE BORN THE ECONOMIC BRUNT AS WELL ABOUT 6-10 HISPANIC HOUSEHOLDS ARE FACING INCOME LOSS.

AND 5-10 BLACK HOUSE OLDS AND 4-10 WHITE HOUSE HOLDS.

HELENE GAYLE HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC IMPACTED INCOME INEQUALITY?

>> [INAUDIBLE] AS YOU SAID NOT ONLY THE HEALTH IMPACT BUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING.

WE KNOW THAT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WENT INTO THIS BOTH ECONOMICALLY FRAGILE AND HAVE BEEN THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN THE MOST HARD HIT WHETHER IT'S UNEMPLOYMENT, LOSS OF INCOME FROM HAVING TO CLOSE SMALL BUSINESSES.

ALL OF THE IMPACTS THAT WE KNOW WE'RE FEELING THROUGHOUT THE STATE ARE REALLY COMING OUT IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES THE COMMUNITIES MOST UNPREPARED TO GO INTO THIS ECONOMIC SITUATION.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN OUR LIFETIME THAT WE'VE SEEN A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS PRECIPITATE AN ECONOMIC CRISIS.

AND -- >> Dr. GALE WE ARE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF AN AUDIO GLITCH.

I WANTED TO GET TO THE GOVERNOR WHO CONTINUES TO EXTEND THE RENT MORATORIUM BUT THAT WILL HAVE TO END ON MONDAY, OUR AMANDA VINICKY ASKED THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THIS.

HERE IS A CLIP.

>> SO I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HELP PEOPLE CATCH UP ON RENT BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO PULL THE MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS DOWN.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE STATE PROBABLY BETTER THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE NATION AT KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.

HORACIO MENDEZ HE CITED STATE ASSISTANCE AND THE LATEST STIMULUS AS A MEANS TO HELPING RESIDENTS CATCH UP.

IS THERE A LOOMING HOUSING RENT CRISIS WHEN IT DOES?

AND I IMAGINE THAT WILL HAVE A DESPARATE IMPACT ON BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES?

>> UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS.

WE HAVE A STAGGERING STATISTIC IN 10 MILLION AMERICANS ARE BEHIND ON THEIR RENT PAYMENTS ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS BUREAU AND THAT IS SCARY IN TERMS OF THE LEVEL OF EVICTIONS WE ARE FACING IF WE DON'T FIX THAT.

BOTH IN TERMS OF THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THERE HAS BEEN QUITE A BIT OF RESOURCES PUT INTO THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT PEOPLE NEED.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE JUST NOW STARTING TO BE ACCESSED BY RENTERS AND TENANTS.

IT WILL TAKE MONTHS FOR THE MONEY TO FLOW TO THE TENANTS AND THE LANDLORDS WHO NEED IT AND THE EVICTION PROHIBITION EXPIRE IN 13 DAYS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WASN'T IN THE STIMULUS PACKAGE WAS AN EXTENSION OF THAT PROHIBITION BECAUSE WE NEED TIME AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

>> SO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES THE CITY IMPLEMENTED THE PROTECT CHICAGO PLUS PROGRAM TO HELP GET COMMUNITIES VACCINATED LITTLE VILLAGE VACCINATION SITE IS A PART OF THIS.

THE MAP THAT YOU SEE SHOWS VACCINES IN THE CITY BY ZIP CODE THE DARKER BLUE THE MORE RESIDENTS RECEIVED ONE DOSE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

Dr. LUNA HOW HAS THE VACCINE IMPACTED COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION OF THE MOST IMPACTED COMMUNITIES.

>> IT IS ON OUTREACH THAT GOES DOOR-TO-DOOR, BOOTS ON THE GROUND CHECKING OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES ARE AT AND TRYING TO BRING THEM WE SIGN IN COMPLETE FAMILY, 18 YEARS AND OLDER TO GO AND GET VACCINATED HAND IN LAND AND WE HAVE -- HAND IN HAND AND AS PART OF THE EXTENSION, THIS WEEK THIS MONTH WE MADE IT A SENIOR WEEK AND WE HAVE EVENTS IN THE FOLLOWING 10 COMMUNITY NOT ONLY 15 HAVE THEIR OWN TEMPORARY CLINIC AND EVENTS AND THEIR OWN VACCINATION WE GO IN TEAMS AND PHARMACIES AND PARTNERS TO GET THERE AND WE ALSO ADDED THIS WEEK THIS MONTH IN PARTICULAR, 10 EVENTS HAPPENING IN THE FOLLOWING 10 COMMUNITIES MOST HIGHLY HIT PART OF THAT PROTECT CHICAGO PLUS.

50% VACCINES GO INTO THE ARMS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND LATINX COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS AN AMAZING TURNOUT WHEN WE STARTED WITH ONLY 18% OR LESS PERCENT OF THE VACCINES GOING INTO ARMS OF OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND OUR LATINX COMMUNITIES.

>> A BIG SHIFT.

Dr. HELENE GAYLE YOU ARE THE CO-CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE THAT DESIGNED THE FORMATION OF DISTRIBUTION HOW WOULD YOU SAY DISTRIBUTION IS GOING.

>> I THINK THROUGHOUT THE NATION IT'S HETEROGENEOUS.

AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THIS DID NOT START OUT IN A WAY THAT HAD THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP THAT SOMETHING THIS IMMENSE REALLY REQUIRED.

I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IS FOCUSING ON HAVING A NATIONAL POLICY AND THINKING ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T LEAVE THE STATES TO FIGURE ALL THIS OUT ON THEIR OWN.

THAT SAID I'M PROUD I LIVE IN A STATE THAT HAS TAKEN SERIOUSLY THE ISSUE OF EQUITY AND LIVE IN A CITY AND REGION THAT HAS TAKEN SERIOUSLY THE ISSUE OF MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS ANET WITNESSABLE ALOE -- EQUITABLE ALLOCATION OF WHAT STARTED OUT AS A SCARCE RESOURCE.

HERE IN THIS CITY THERE HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VACCINE GETS TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN MOST HARD HIT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL REMEMBER THAT, YES, IT'S THE FAIR THING TO DO AND IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO MAKE SURE THIS GETS TO THE COMMUNITIES MOST HARD HIT AND IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

YOU ALWAYS GET THE INTERVENTIONS TO THE GROUP AT GREATEST RISK.

THAT IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON LOWERING THE TRANSMISSIONS AND HAVING THE GREATEST IMPACT OF REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN REALLY HALTING THIS CRISIS.

THE EQUITABLE ALLOCATION IS THE RIGHT AND FAIR THING TO DO AND THE SMART THING TO DO FOR A PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT.

>> A LONG ROAD AHEAD FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO THE WORK.

THANK YOU TO Dr. HELENE GAYLE AND HORACIO MENDEZ AND Dr. GERALDO LUNA FOR JOINING US.

>> AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST ON THE STATE AND CITY'S PLANS ALL AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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