AVOID LARGE THANKSGIVING GATHERINGS, CITY URGES

Chicago health officials on Tuesday announced seven more deaths from the coronavirus, as the city’s new case numbers and positivity rate continue to climb.

“Right now, COVID is surging across the entire United States, and you run the risk of bringing COVID with you if you’re traveling from Chicago,” Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicago’s health commissioner, said Tuesday. “So if you’ve not canceled your Thanksgiving travel plans, now is a good time to be having that really difficult conversation with friends and family.”

The city has experienced a 31% increase in daily new coronavirus cases, up from 1,749 last week to 2,296. The positivity rate rose from 12.9% to 16% this week.

Arwady reminded the public of the city’s emergency travel order, which requires 14day quarantines when coming to Chicago from states with higher positivity rates.

“As many as one in 15 Chicagoans has active COVID-19 right now, and that is why the risk of gathering is significant,” Arwady said. “It is why we recommended that you not have anybody over into your home right now that doesn’t need to be there.”

“Please do cancel your traditional Thanksgiving plans,” Arwady said.

Arwady gave exceptions to home health aide and child care services, but people should continue wearing masks.

Also last week, the city modified its travel order to put states into different categories. People traveling to Chicago, or residents returning to the city, have to follow different rules depending on which states they are coming from. The new system took effect last week. The updated map takes effect Friday. Anyone arriving to Chicago from a “red” hot-spot state must self-isolate for two weeks. Travelers coming from orange hot spots must arrive with a recent negative COVID-19 test result or else isolate. Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana are among the current red states, while Michigan, Missouri and Kentucky are orange.