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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Chicago. Written by Monica Eng, Justin Kaufmann and Carrie Shepherd.

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Chicago gift ideas: Local food, books and experiences to shop

If you want to be the partygoer who stands out at your next White Elephant exchange, we've got you covered.

Things to Do

New Asian grocery store and food court officially opens in Chicago

The food court features a full bar, bubble tea stand and cafe along with six food stalls.

Food and Drink

Migrant resettlement progress report

The city has helped find housing for nearly a third of the new arrivals.

News

Chicago is emerging as a quantum tech hub

The cutting-edge particle can help speed up broadband, eliminate hacking and create new treatments in the quest to cure cancer.

Business

What to know about the updated COVID vaccines in Chicago

Clinics could offer the shots to the public later this week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleared the way Tuesday for some Chicago clinics to offer <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="updated COVID vaccines" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/cdc-advisors-endorse-updated-covid-vaccines" data-vars-content-id="e76c16d7-dd3b-4f4f-8730-f803e0f0f77f" data-vars-headline="What to know about the updated COVID vaccines in Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/cdc-advisors-endorse-updated-covid-vaccines" target="_self">updated COVID vaccines</a> to the public later this week.Why it matters: The CDC recommended the shots for anyone ages 6 months and older amid a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="months-long uptick" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/01/covid-cases-uptick-summer-2023-new-variant" data-vars-content-id="e76c16d7-dd3b-4f4f-8730-f803e0f0f77f" data-vars-headline="What to know about the updated COVID vaccines in Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/01/covid-cases-uptick-summer-2023-new-variant" target="_self">months-long uptick</a> in COVID cases across the country.

Illustration of descending bar chart made of syringes gradually shrinking in size.

Chicago's summer COVID cases slowly ticking up

COVID

COVID-19 cases are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rising again nationwide" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/14/us-covid-hospitalizations-have-begun-to-rise-again" data-vars-content-id="10558897-8a93-4097-948a-5500962a9e98" data-vars-headline="Chicago&#x27;s summer COVID cases slowly ticking up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/14/us-covid-hospitalizations-have-begun-to-rise-again" target="_self">rising again nationwide</a>, and Chicago is no exception.By the numbers: Our laboratory-confirmed cases increased 27% from the previous week to 67 cases a day, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="according to the city dashboard." data-vars-click-url="https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/covid-dashboard.html" data-vars-content-id="10558897-8a93-4097-948a-5500962a9e98" data-vars-headline="Chicago&#x27;s summer COVID cases slowly ticking up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/covid-dashboard.html" target="_blank">according to the city dashboard.</a>

Illustration of a pattern of covid particles and positive signs.

Chicago cellphone activity signals downtown's slow recovery

Remote and hybrid work remain strong, dealing a blow to commercial real estate owners and downtown restaurants and shops that rely on commuters.

Chicago&#x27;s downtown activity has returned to 57% of its pre-pandemic rates, according to anonymized mobile device data <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analyzed" data-vars-click-url="http://downtownrecovery.com/dashboards/recovery_ranking.html" data-vars-content-id="569d6961-1a44-4317-8b83-c8f31179a35c" data-vars-headline="Chicago cellphone activity signals downtown&#x27;s slow recovery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://downtownrecovery.com/dashboards/recovery_ranking.html" target="_blank">analyzed</a> by University of Toronto researchers.Why it matters: Even as the pandemic ebbs, remote and hybrid work remain strong in many big cities like Chicago, dealing a blow to commercial real estate owners, as well as to downtown restaurants, bars and shops that rely on commuters.

Allergies vs. COVID: How Chicagoans can stay safe over spring break

While officials don't track most COVID cases anymore, another metric, wastewater surveillance, shows detections are on the rise in parts of the city.

I&#x27;m working through a second round of COVID that I originally thought was allergies.<ul><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="And just as I did during my case last spring" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/04/01/tracking-covid-19-in-chicago-proves-difficult" data-vars-content-id="9f93fc9d-43ba-4956-8413-12aa4b31f000" data-vars-headline="Allergies vs. COVID: How Chicagoans can stay safe over spring break" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/04/01/tracking-covid-19-in-chicago-proves-difficult" target="_self">And just as I did during my case last spring</a>, I&#x27;m oversharing because I have a hunch that cases could soon rise.</li></ul>

Chicago officials warn of COVID spread over the holidays

Cases of COVID-19, flu and RSV have all surged in recent weeks.

Health chief Allison Arwady and CPS chief Pedro Martinez are urging vigilance during the holiday break to quell the spread of COVID-19, flu and RSV.Why it matters: Cases of all <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="three have surged in recent weeks" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/12/07/avoiding-holiday-tripledemic-chicago-covid" data-vars-content-id="e7019d25-aee1-46bf-9923-cfbd31a8519d" data-vars-headline="Chicago officials warn of COVID spread over the holidays" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/12/07/avoiding-holiday-tripledemic-chicago-covid" target="_self">three have surged in recent weeks</a>, and holiday gatherings are expected to increase their spread.

Illustration of a backpack on a background of college ruled paper, surrounded by dots.

Avoiding a holiday tripledemic

Low vaccination rates coupled with rising COVID-19, flu and RSV cases could spell trouble.

Health commissioner Allison Arwady is warning that low overall vaccination rates coupled with rising COVID-19, flu and RSV cases could spell trouble for the holidays. Why it matters: &quot;National influenza hospitalizations are higher than they have been in the past decade right now,&quot; Arwady said during her <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="weekly briefing yesterday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/ChiPublicHealth/videos/616430126948568" data-vars-content-id="4efdcca3-3cda-4136-ac2e-91802be96681" data-vars-headline="Avoiding a holiday tripledemic" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/ChiPublicHealth/videos/616430126948568" target="_blank">weekly briefing yesterday</a>, noting that 28 Chicagoans had gone to the ICU with the flu in the previous seven days.

Illustration of a Christmas tree with COVID balls as ornaments. 

Fall germs forecast for Chicago

The CDPH is predicting a winter of higher COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

CDPH commissioner Allison Arwady is warning that sluggish uptake of the new COVID-19 booster could spell trouble for the fall and winter. Why it matters: Just about 10% of Chicagoans have gotten the booster, and that&#x27;s &quot;not enough to get us through this winter without a likely fairly significant surge,&quot; Arwady said yesterday during her weekly COVID update.

Illustration of a giant needle holding multiple needles inside, showing vaccination against multiple types of flu

New COVID booster now available in Chicago. Here's what it's like

I got one of the first doses of the new COVID booster that targets the Omicron BA. 4 and 5.

Boy is my arm sore.What happened: I got one of the first doses of the new COVID booster that targets Omicron BA. 4 and 5 that now make up <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="all local cases" data-vars-click-url="https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/sars-cov-2-variants.html" data-vars-content-id="cac30a01-2337-41c7-b46f-a9eb718362d7" data-vars-headline="New COVID booster now available in Chicago. Here&#x27;s what it&#x27;s like" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/sars-cov-2-variants.html" target="_blank">all local cases</a>.

Arm with a sticker and bandaid for vaccine

CPS COVID cases triple

The highly contagious BA. 5 variant is dominating and CPS has weakened precautions.

CPS reported <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="three times as many COVID-19 " data-vars-click-url="https://www.cps.edu/services-and-supports/covid-19-resources/covid-19-readiness-data/" data-vars-content-id="7938c8bc-376c-4acc-958c-b6d0ddd8754e" data-vars-headline="CPS COVID cases triple" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cps.edu/services-and-supports/covid-19-resources/covid-19-readiness-data/" target="_blank">three times as many COVID-19 </a>cases during the first week of this school year as it did a year earlier.Why it matters: The highly contagious BA. 5 variant is dominating local cases, and CPS has weakened COVID precautions. That irks at least one local doctor.

Illustration of a stack of wooden toy blocks showing a syringe, a COVID cell and a cotton swab. 

COVID-19 rules fall as contagious variants rise

Gov. Pritzker and Pitchfork dropped vaccination rules in face of BA 5 surge.

Just as two highly contagious <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID-19 strains" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/28378830.33/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hpY2Fnby5nb3YvY2l0eS9lbi9zaXRlcy9jb3ZpZC0xOS9ob21lL3NhcnMtY292LTItdmFyaWFudHMuaHRtbD91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/612428039e4cf5278e161cc7B2084cba7/email" data-vars-content-id="17702ec5-3cf8-4849-92dc-2e014b8a57ea" data-vars-headline="COVID-19 rules fall as contagious variants rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/28378830.33/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hpY2Fnby5nb3YvY2l0eS9lbi9zaXRlcy9jb3ZpZC0xOS9ob21lL3NhcnMtY292LTItdmFyaWFudHMuaHRtbD91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/612428039e4cf5278e161cc7B2084cba7/email" target="_blank">COVID-19 strains</a> have taken over case rates in our region, state officials and at least one big event organizer have chosen to further relax mitigation rules. Why it matters: BA.4 and BA.5 now make up more than 80% of our area&#x27;s COVID cases. The strains are more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="contagious" data-vars-click-url="https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/5-things-to-know-omicron" data-vars-content-id="17702ec5-3cf8-4849-92dc-2e014b8a57ea" data-vars-headline="COVID-19 rules fall as contagious variants rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/5-things-to-know-omicron" target="_blank">contagious</a>, leading some to warn about <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="outdoor transmission" data-vars-click-url="https://www.health.com/news/ba5-outdoor-transmission" data-vars-content-id="17702ec5-3cf8-4849-92dc-2e014b8a57ea" data-vars-headline="COVID-19 rules fall as contagious variants rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.health.com/news/ba5-outdoor-transmission" target="_blank">outdoor transmission</a>. They&#x27;re also better able to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="evade current vaccines" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/22/health/ba4-ba5-escape-antibodies-covid-vaccine/index.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top#_ga=2.81957718.1597374327.1657818512-183775766.1629472371" data-vars-content-id="17702ec5-3cf8-4849-92dc-2e014b8a57ea" data-vars-headline="COVID-19 rules fall as contagious variants rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/22/health/ba4-ba5-escape-antibodies-covid-vaccine/index.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top#_ga=2.81957718.1597374327.1657818512-183775766.1629472371" target="_blank">evade current vaccines</a> and antibodies from a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="previous infection" data-vars-click-url="https://www.npr.org/2022/07/11/1110804098/omicron-ba5-variant-covid-reinfections" data-vars-content-id="17702ec5-3cf8-4849-92dc-2e014b8a57ea" data-vars-headline="COVID-19 rules fall as contagious variants rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.npr.org/2022/07/11/1110804098/omicron-ba5-variant-covid-reinfections" target="_blank">previous infection</a>.

Reflecting on Chicago's 2-year COVID lockdown anniversary

We look back on how our lives have changed.

It&#x27;s been two years since COVID-19 arrived and changed our lives forever.Flashback: Chicago magazine has put together an oral history with local officials framed around <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="key dates in the pandemic" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/26967813.20/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hpY2Fnb21hZy5jb20vY2hpY2Fnby1tYWdhemluZS9tYXJjaC0yMDIxLzY3LWRheXMtdG8tbG9ja2Rvd24vP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/60999b09a3291a5ad87611d3Bb0663201" data-vars-content-id="9fb4e191-f424-4cbe-b0f7-f69dcd670dc6" data-vars-headline="Reflecting on Chicago&#x27;s 2-year COVID lockdown anniversary" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/26967813.20/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hpY2Fnb21hZy5jb20vY2hpY2Fnby1tYWdhemluZS9tYXJjaC0yMDIxLzY3LWRheXMtdG8tbG9ja2Rvd24vP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/60999b09a3291a5ad87611d3Bb0663201" target="_blank">key dates in the pandemic</a>. March 2020 included:

COVID 🦠