THERE’S A SHOT! VACCINATION SITE OPENS NEXT TO WRIGLEY FIELD
Want to catch the Cubs and do your part to try to avoid catching — or spreading — COVID-19?
Eligible Chicagoans can head to Wrigleyville to get vaccinated. The American Airlines Conference Center at Gallagher Way, next to Wrigley Field, is one of two new mass vaccination sites that opened Monday in the city; the other is at Chicago State University.
The North Side facility is expected to offer up to 2,000 shots daily, according to the mayor’s office. Chicago State is expected to offer up to 1,200 walk-up and 1,000 drive-thru vaccination appointments daily. Shots at either site are available by appointment only. To register, go to zocdoc.com/vaccine.
All of the slots at the North Side location were booked through Friday, but registration for appointments for next week was expected to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, organizers said. All Chicago residents in Phase 1A, 1B or 1C are eligible to receive a shot at either location. People must bring proof of residency to their appointments. The vaccinations are free, and medical insurance is not required.
The Chicago Department of Public Health is overseeing the Chicago State site, while Advocate Aurora Health, in partnership with the Cubs, is overseeing the North Side site.
As vaccinations kicked off Monday at the North Side site, organizers there said they hoped the proximity to good public transportation and Wrigley Field itself would encourage people to come get vaccinated — particularly young adults, who, it is believed, are fueling the current surge in cases in the city.
“This location is perfect for young adults to come, get vaccinated and really help to get us closer to a sense of normalcy,” said Dr. David Trotter, chair of emergency medicine at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.
Public health officials on Monday said that Illinois’ COVID-19 positivity rate has held steady at 3.8% for three days. The 2,102 new cases reported Monday were diagnosed from 59,586 tests. Eleven more people died from the virus, bringing the state’s total death toll to 21,384.
The state’s positivity rate — a key metric for tracking the virus’ spread — has risen from a low of 2.1% on March 13, marking a troubling jump in coronavirus cases that could lead officials to tighten restrictions on businesses again.
Over the past week, Chicago’s positivity rate has increased from 3.9% to 5.1%, jumping above a critical benchmark. The World Health Organization has advised governments that test positivity rates should remain at or below 5% for 14 days before reopening.
Hospitalizations also continued to rise, with officials reporting that 1,581 beds were occupied statewide Sunday night. That’s the highest number recorded since Feb. 18.
The Illinois Department of Public Health also reported that just 27,248 vaccine doses were administered on Easter, the lowest total reported since 13,433 shots Feb. 21. However, officials noted that “reporting by some providers may be delayed for Sunday.”
Still, the state is reporting a seven-day rolling average of 105,779 daily doses, and more than 6.3 million total shots have gone into arms.