The latest
University of Chicago closes special units for coronavirus patients
The University of Chicago Medical Center is no longer dedicating entire floors or units solely to care for COVID-19 patients as the number of hospitalizations for the virus fell significantly.
In a sign of the dwindling number of new coronavirus cases and the eventual return to normal operations, the Hyde Park hospital said in a staff email this week that it will continue to isolate COVID-19 patients but it will no longer need to block off large portions of the medical center.
At peak in mid-April, there were 140 virus patients hospitalized at the South Side medical center. As of Wednesday morning, there were 18, a hospital spokeswoman said. At one point, two full floors were designated for treatment of those infected with the virus.
“Going forward, our patients and community will be better served by caring for our COVID-19 patients in appropriate isolation rooms and allowing our COVID-19 units to return to serving their regular patient populations,” Krista Curell, vice president of risk management and patient safety, said in the email to faculty and staff.
The special units were designed to handle the onslaught of virus cases in recent months but are no longer needed, Curell said. Returning areas of the hospital to other uses will allow admittance of more non-COVID-19 patients, she added. The special units only applied to adult patients and did not have an impact on the university’s Comer Children’s Hospital, which has admitted a very small number of COVID-19 cases, she said.
Illinois has seen declining virus-related death and case totals for five consecutive weeks.
The University of Chicago’s actions are similar to those at other medical centers across the city.
Read the full story from Brett Chase here.
News
8 a.m. October Chicago Marathon still on (for now), organizers say
A general view of competitors runing past the Chicago Theater during the 2019 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 13, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images
The New York City Marathon scheduled for Nov. 1 was canceled Wednesday because of the coronavirus pandemic; meanwhile, the 2020 Bank of America Chicago Marathon scheduled for Oct. 11 is still on.
“We are aware of the announcement made by the New York Road Runners today,” Chicago Marathon spokeswoman Alex Sawyer told the Sun-Times Wednesday. “At this time, we are unable to say definitively whether or not the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will proceed.”
Sawyer said organizers “are committed to sharing a decision with our runners soon as possible” and have been working with city officials to “prepare[e] for both outcomes.”
The Bank of America Chicago half marathon, which had been scheduled for June 7, was canceled in late April, and registered runners had the option to defer their registration for the 2021 race or request a refund of their entry fee.
Marathon officials haven’t announced whether the same options will be available to runners in the event of the October race’s cancellation, but Sawyer said organizers were exploring “unique options outside of our standard policies.”
— Mitch Dudek
7:15 a.m. Disney delays Southern California theme park reopenings because of coronavirus
Disney is postponing the mid-July reopening of its Southern California theme parks until it receives guidelines from the state, the company announced Wednesday.
Disney had hoped to reopen Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in Anaheim on July 17 after a four-month closure due to the coronavirus. But the state has indicated it won’t issue guidelines until after July 4, the company said.
“Given the time required for us to bring thousands of cast members back to work and restart our business, we have no choice but to delay the reopening of our theme parks and resort hotels until we receive approval from government officials,” Disney said in a statement.
Read the full story by The Associated Press here.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
7:35 a.m. Never forgive baseball’s owners and players for arguing over money during the pandemic
I’ll be excited about the return of major-league baseball when there are replacement players, replacement owners and a replacement commissioner.
Until then, I’ll stick with the sentiment that has been with me since the bickering began: What a bunch of selfish, tone-deaf jerks.
After months of everyone involved revealing their true colors, all various shades of green, baseball will begin its 60-game season July 23 or July 24. Can I get a “hooray”? How about a “huzzah”? Didn’t think so.
Let’s settle for a “Who cares?”
