Axios Chicago

March 29, 2022
Happy Tuesday. Today is National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which commemorates the day that the last U.S. military unit left Vietnam in 1973.
βοΈ Today's weather: Cloudy with a high of 42.
Today's newsletter is 843 words β a 3-minute read.
1 big thing: COVID treatment gets complicated
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
π Hey, Monica here. I tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday after leaving the Midwest for the first time in two years.
- Instead of sensibly resting, I started calling pharmacies offering antiviral drugs through the federal Test to Treat program.
- The Chicago Department of Public Health offers a list of pharmacies that are supposed to test and treat patients on-site for free as part of the program.
- But after hours on hold with 10 "participating" stores, I found that most had never heard of Test to Treat or were not yet offering it.
Why it matters: With local COVID cases slowly rising and the state closing its testing sites this week, the government will be leaning harder on these public-private programs to address infection needs.
- Plus, our taxpayer dollars bought these antiviral drugs, so the program to distribute them should go beyond promises.
What they're saying: "We are posting information that was provided to us by the federal government," CDPH spokesperson Andrew Buchanan told me Friday.
- "But we're going to change that language on our site to say people can reach out to them to get more information on the program."
Context: Test to Treat tries to get early-stage COVID drugs seamlessly to patients, but it has run into snags because pharmacists have limited prescribing power.
- This means participating stores have to rely on in-house medical clinics to do much of the testing and prescribing.
Zoom in: Some Walgreens pharmacists told me the program wasn't currently functional at their location because the in-store Advocate Health Care clinic was closed due to understaffing.
- But an Advocate spokesperson told me that clinic closures are unrelated to availability and that, "we're still evaluating our formal participation in the program."
- CVS reps said they are administering the program through 14 area stores with in-house MinuteClinics, but an online Test to Treat locator says the nearest location is in Highland, Indiana. A spokesperson told me CVS is working on a fix.
What's next: I'm still trying to find a local store that has successfully offered the Test to Treat service.
- In the meantime, some pharmacists recommended I get a prescription for the free antiviral drugs from an urgent care clinic.
As for my COVID recovery, thanks for asking. I'm feeling much better after a weekend of coughing, fever, chills, runny nose, and aches.
- But I'm fully vaxxed and boosted, so it's clear this could've been a lot worse.
2. Chart of the Day: Downtown recovery


For many Chicagoans who have returned to work downtown, this chart is probably a head-scratcher.
Why it matters: Even though our downtown is showing signs of life, a new study says we are lagging behind the national average when it comes to average office occupancy levels.
- Kastle Systems studied key fob and keycard data from the 2,600 buildings and 41,000 businesses they work with in 47 states.
The big picture: The Loop is nowhere near pre-pandemic traffic even as the country moves towards a post-COVID reality.
- But don't tell that to folks standing in line for a sandwich from the Corner Bakery or those trying to hop on the Kennedy during rush hour.
Go deeper: Axios' Erica Pandey explores what this data means for the future of work.
3. Tips and hot links
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Chicago has seen 121 homicides in 2022, slightly lower than this time last year. (Tribune)
π The $50 incentive to get vaxxed will be restricted to certain ZIP codes starting next month. (Block Club)
A new bill in Springfield is targeting ghost guns β untraceable weapons with no serial numbers β in the fight over violence. (CBS 2)
π A car smashed into Brown Sugar Bakery late Sunday and destroyed its giant freezer. (Sun-Times)
βΎ White Sox slugger Andrew Vaughn could miss Opening Day with a hip pointer. (The Score)
4. Your pie suggestions
Half-eaten pies in the name of research. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios
We recently featured pies for our weekly Food Fight and asked for your area recommendations.
π§Ί Monica H: "The Key Lime pie at First Slice Pie CafΓ© in Andersonville is everything you want in this iconic dessert β creamy, tart, and luscious! Bring it to a summer picnic and you'll get another invitation."
π¦ Megan P: "It's a seasonal one, but the pumpkin cheesecake pie around Thanksgiving at First Slice has become a tradition for my family."
π₯§ Maggie B: "It used to be a regular treat growing up β Poppin' Fresh, which later became Bakers Square (locations dwindling in the area). I've been looking for decent pies that fall somewhere between grocery store price and Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits."
π₯ Mario G: "Joe's Steak & Seafood Pumpkin Chiffon Pie (Thanksgiving only) and their Peanut Butter Pie are ridiculous. And ANY banana cream pie anywhere at any time for me π."
π J. M.: "Monica is 100% correct β Hoosier Mama Banana Cream Pie (it deserves all caps!) is THE BOMB!"
Now hiring: New job openings
π₯ Hot and fresh local job listings.
- Managing Editor, Alt-Meat/Senior Editor, Meatingplace at Alt-Meat.
- Marketing Coordinator at Thornton Tomasetti.
- Director, Sales Enablement at Axios.
Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.
Hiring? Post a Job.
5. Where in the world is β¦ Justin
Winter in Spring. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios
Can you guess where Justin is?
Hint:
- Far from the city center
- It's a home away from home
- It celebrates winter in the summer
- And it is not as fun to do alone
π¬ Reply with the correct answer and you'll be entered into a drawing to win some Axios swag.
Editor's note: Yesterdayβs hot link on the new Howard Brown Health Center was corrected to show its address will be at 3501 N. Halsted, not 35th and Halsted.
Our picks:
π Monica got a chuckle from Axios reader (and old Trib pal) Phil V., who wrote to predict that if Mike Quigley becomes mayor, everyone will "call him Mayor Quimby. I'm calling that right now."
π Justin still can't believe he called 3501 N. Halsted, 35th and Halsted. He spent too much time in Charlotte.
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