Chicago mayor defies governor, refuses to open COVID-19 vaccine to everyone amid spike in cases

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city would not open the vaccine every 16 and over and the rest of the state in two weeks due to a “leap forward” in coronavirus cases.

Gov. JB Pritzker has announced that anyone 16 and over could get the crucial vaccine starting April 12, after many more states expand eligibility for the vaccine.

“We have over 400, almost 500 cases, on average so far. This is a leap from where we were even three weeks ago,” Lightfoot said at a press conference on Wednesday. .

Chicago reported a seven-day moving average of 519 daily COVID-19 infections on Thursday, up 41% from the 367 reported a week earlier, according to city data. At the start of the month, the city was reporting an average of 295 cases per day. Chicago now has a seven-day moving average positivity rate of 4.6%, down from 3.4% last week.

Lightfoot noted that the rise in cases has appeared mainly on the north side of the city in neighborhoods like Old Town, Lakeview, Lincoln Park and Portage Park, particularly among those aged 18 to 39.

“We’re not going to see anything more meaningful in the reopening front until we see those numbers stabilize and start to go down,” Lightfoot said.

She blamed the spike in infections on young people returning to normal lives as warm weather sets in. She tweeted on Tuesday: “Friends, the pandemic is not over. Warmer weather is no excuse for making reckless decisions.”

The governor disagreed with Lightfoot’s decision.

“I’m afraid, I’ll be honest with you, that the city of Chicago seems to want to delay beyond April 12,” he said at an independent press conference Wednesday. “We should get every dose in every arm that we can.”

Chicago entered Phase 1C on Monday, which opened eligibility to anyone 16 years of age and older with qualifying health conditions, as well as other types of essential workers – food and beverage workers. drinks, members of the media and members of the clergy among them.

As of Thursday, 14.4% of the entire population of Chicago had been fully immunized, according to city data.

Pritzker and Lightfoot have argued over COVID-19 guidelines and handling the pandemic over the past year.

In October, the two officials, the most powerful Democrats in the state, clashed when Pritzker ordered a ban on food and bar services inside the city, citing an increase in COVID-cases. 19 and hospital admissions. Lightfoot argued that these companies need to stay open to support the economy.

In March 2020, the two also disagreed over the closure of public schools. Pritzker ordered all public schools to close on March 13, canceling Lightfoot, which said it was concerned with keeping children safe and making sure they had enough to eat.

Lightfoot demanded that more doses be sent to the city before opening eligibility.

Officials said Tuesday that Chicago will open two more mass vaccination sites on Monday – one at a conference center next to Wrigley Field and the other at Chicago State University.