Deborah Simental said her daughter did not have underlying health problems. Posted: Dec 23, 2020 / 02:01 PM EST / Updated: Dec 23, 2020 / 02:03 PM EST. Early in the pandemic, Auburn Gresham and surrounding South Side neighborhoods were the hardest hit. Illinois’ coronavirus death toll surpassed 17,000 Wednesday as public health officials on Wednesday announced the latest 139 fatalities attributed to COVID-19. SPRINGFIELD – While the number of new COVID-19 cases and people hospitalized in Illinois … And so on that historic day when Dr. Del Rios became the first Illinoisan to be vaccinated, and she spoke to the Tribune about Jose Vazquez, his oldest daughter said another emotion swelled within her. In many ways, health care workers bore the brunt of the pandemic’s fury. Another 190 coronavirus deaths push ‘devastating’ Illinois toll past 14,000 Illinois now accounts for almost 5% of all coronavirus deaths in the United States, a figure that will top 300,000 within a week. At times, she feels her husband somehow left things in order for her, she said. In 2019, influenza and pneumonia killed more than 2,100 people in Illinois, according to state public health officials. Of the 102 counties and county equivalents in Illinois with current data, Stark County has had the highest number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 per capita to date. The family believes Vazquez’s death was preventable had he been allowed to wear a mask at O’Hare as he wanted. As of Dec. 28. The most virus-related deaths in Cook County were in South Lawndale’s 60623, which includes the Little Village neighborhood, according to public data. Clinging to life, Karen Lewis worried Mayor Lightfoot was ‘being dirty, underhanded’ as CTU considered proposal to reopen schools. They were leaders in arts, culture, religion and politics, and those who led more ordinary lives filled with extraordinary moments, leaving indelible marks on those who loved them. “We couldn’t say goodbye. By comparison, 57% of those killed were whites, a group who make up 61% of Illinois’ population. Gov. SPRINGFIELD – While the number of new COVID-19 cases and people hospitalized in Illinois continue to decline, the state’s coronavirus death toll has surpassed 16,000. If only the timing had worked in his favor, they think. Should be, could be, might be. “It made me proud of the person he was, to have had such an impact on others,” Marissa Vazquez said. CHICAGO — Illinois saw 179 more people die from coronavirus during the past day. Also on Monday, Weiss Memorial Hospital in the Uptown neighborhood held a vaccination clinic specifically for teachers and other employees from Chicago Public Schools. And he died early in the pandemic, when hospitals still were figuring out how to best treat the virus. “I’m sure that Dad’s story motivated her to continue to fight this virus. A few weeks ago, as Dr. Marina Del Rios sat in a chair in front of photographers and received the first COVID-19 vaccine shot administered in Illinois, her mind focused on the easy smile of a beloved family friend. Alicia Evans, who lost her mother on April 18, said every day without her is a struggle. Kalemate Muhammad was arrested Saturday night after stabbing his family members inside a home in the 4400 block of South Wabash Avenue, Chicago police said. We follow the stories and update you as they develop. On her last shift at a Bolingbrook nursing home before falling ill, nurse Krist Angielen Guzman posted a photo April 23, 2020, on Facebook that showed her in protective gear. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Graph not displaying properly? Compared week-to-week, vaccines in Illinois were given at a rate about 66,000 per day in the last week, compared with an average of 55,000 for the week before. That’s up from 6,000 first doses-per-day last week. The nursing facility had at least 130 confirmed cases and 25 deaths as of Dec. 30, according to state data. The 24 new deaths in Cook County included a man in his 20s, a man in his 40s and three people in their 50s. Illinois Sees 116 More Coronavirus Deaths As Death Toll Rises To 15,414 People. But the death of a Tinley Park teen one day after Christmas is a painful reminder that young, healthy people are not immune. As we grieve, we must find the courage to meet this moment.”. Beginning November 6, 2020 and going forward, IDPH will report confirmed cases and probable cases combined. Illinois’ top health official broke down as she announced the coronavirus death toll in the Prairie State. A … United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100. Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago. By comparison, people in their 40s and 50s make up 26% of the population yet accounted for 10% of COVID-19 deaths. 98 More Coronavirus Deaths Reported In Illinois, Bringing Death Toll To 15,299. “And with 20,000 Illinois residents having now died from COVID, the steady pain of loss has not lessened. That story and more are in … Evans-Green’s family has protested outside the facility, demanding answers to complaints they say she made about being unprotected at work, including buying her own PPE. Illinois releases latest COVID-19 numbers; death toll surpasses 15k On Friday 7,377 new confirmed and probable cases were announced as well as 181 additional deaths. Elena and Ernesto Duran at their home in Chicago on July 26, 2012. Illinois sees lowest COVID-19 caseload since fall, but death toll tops 20,000: ‘The steady pain of loss has not lessened’, Teen boy fatally shot in Little Village: police. The Tribune has identified and interviewed dozens of their families, Some of the hardest hit communities on Chicago’s South and West sides have struggled, The family of Krist Angielen Guzman told the Tribune, 18-year-old Sarah Simental of Tinley Park, Ask Amy: Vaccine doesn’t inoculate against hurt feelings, Former Speaker Michael Madigan unsure how long he’ll remain state Democratic chair as he picks 26-year-old successor, Column: Day after day at sunrise, 3 Chicago women are ‘swimming through’ the winter in icy Lake Michigan, Stimulus check updates: COVID-19 relief bill includes expansion of health care coverage, $1,400 checks for many, increase to $15 federal minimum wage, 3 days, 10,000 doughnuts. Still, December proved to be the pandemic’s deadliest month, with more than 4,200 deaths blamed on the virus in Illinois. Illinois surpassed 10,000 total deaths on Nov. 5. But while it took more than nine months from the beginning of the pandemic in Illinois to reach 10,000 deaths, it only took a little over three months for the death toll to double. No one should have to die like that.”, Weeks later, a 35-year-old nurse at a Bolingbrook nursing home died on May 2. Click here. Evans-Green, who had four children, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandson, languished in the hospital for nearly one month before she died. 8:55 p.m. Illinois’ coronavirus death toll tops 16,000 Dr. Pam Khosia, chief of hematology and oncology, receives her Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination at Mount Sinai Hospital on the Southwest Side, Thursday afternoon, Dec. 17, 2020. Whether the furnace is acting up or something else needs attention, Vazquez said, she has found he had ordered the part or handled things to head off future problems. Only one of Illinois’ 102 counties — Putnam County, northeast of Peoria — did not record a single coronavirus death. Not surprisingly, most of the fatalities occurred in the Chicago area. The virus has claimed veterans, educators, community activists, small-business owners, family matriarchs and patriarchs, and immigrants who came to the U.S. with little more than dreams. 12:40 PM CST on Dec 21, 2020. His daughters Marissa, left, and Sarina, center, and his widow, Maria, right, adorn his gravesite in Norridge with flowers on Christmas, Dec. 25, 2020. A couple of years later, she moved to the U.S. One decade after that first encounter, and after the two had reconnected, exchanging letters, they met for a second time when she returned to Mexico to attend the state fair. So far in February, 763 Illinoisans have died from COVID-19. “This is real.”. The two did not speak but, she said, his “long eyelashes and these beautiful eyes” stuck with her. He was so proud of them.”. It just made me think of all the lives he potentially saved. Credibility: × Original Reporting × On the Ground × Sources Cited. “Every day we lose more Illinoisans to this terrible virus,” Gov. The most recent victims included 41 people from Cook County, including a woman in her 40s and three people in their 50s. But the virus continued its rapid spread and positive cases were recorded in every Chicago ZIP code by year’s end. Since the first COVID-19-related death was reported in the United States on Feb. 29, 2020, 21 people have died of the virus in Stark County — or about 382 for every 100,000 people. Hatch said he has often shared the meaning behind the phrase, “This, too, shall pass.” To keep people hopeful that easier days are ahead, his church has stepped up community outreach through efforts such as food giveaways and outdoor holiday services. His pleas were denied, his family said, a claim his employer did not refute while noting it was following federal guidelines at the time. Sign up for the As Elena Duran rose to become a prominent community activist and small-business owner, she said, her husband was ever supportive, and even encouraged her to go back to school as a young mother. That afternoon, Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued a stay … “We were forced to let my mother die alone,” Evans said. Know about breaking news as it happens. Scores of health care professionals, first responders and police officers made that ultimate sacrifice. After breaking the homemade piece, the guilty family hides the truth for weeks and then offers no apology. (José M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune), (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune). Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. And with 20,000 Illinois residents having now died from COVID, the steady pain of loss has not lessened. She was 13 and he was 16 the first time they saw each other in the summer of 1962 in the small Mexican town of Tabasco, Zacatecas, about 70 miles west of her hometown. The veteran actor, the son of two deaf parents, says the current generation of deaf teens is creating awareness surrounding ableism. He worked in a factory for more than 30 years and fixed cars until his final days. Like a bad divorce, it stands to leave everyone a loser. Nine days before she died, on her last shift, Guzman posted a selfie on Facebook in protective gear. (Or, if you do the math, the rolling seven-day average was 1.3 deaths per day on March 20.) Due to hospital safety protocols, the sick died without their families at their bedsides. Marshall Hatch Sr., pastor of New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in West Garfield Park, has borne witness to the disease’s deadly grasp on his community. And relatives grieved without the usual memorials. The staggering toll adds on to … His brother said McInerney was a dedicated teacher, mentor and life coach to “thousands of young men, many of whom will never forget his efforts to help them.” A longtime volunteer for Old St. Patrick’s Church outreach program in Chicago, he also helped the homeless with reading. COVID-19 death toll climbs by 127 December 12, 2020 CHICAGO (AP) — Public health officials in Illinois reported Saturday that another 127 people have died of COVID-19 an the state saw another 8,737 confirmed or probable cases. Sandra Evans-Green, 58, of Joliet, died April 18, 2020, of COVID-19 complications. The Tribune has identified and interviewed dozens of their families throughout the pandemic to chronicle everyday acts of heroism. More than 95,000 of those fully vaccinated are age 65 and over. The Illinois Tollway today announced TOLLING 2020, a comprehensive tolling reform package featuring a significant reduction to the initial costs faced by motorists when tolls are left unpaid. Their best effort was an infographi… The Chicago Lawn neighborhood’s 60629 — near Midway Airport — and Niles’ 60714 also were high, both with more than 180 pandemic fatalities. More than 7,900 residents and staff at long-term care centers have died, with nearly 63,000 infections in 2020, according to Dec. 31 data. Lakefront reopening? Kelly Bauer. “If only he could have hung in there another month for the vaccine.”. By. The Lincoln-Way East High School senior died Dec. 26. The pandemic has been especially deadly for the elderly, minorities and the poor, who often have less access to health care to treat existing health conditions, making them particularly vulnerable. But while it … Jose Vazquez was an outgoing, people person who married his high school sweetheart. A 12-year-old boy who died wanted to grow up to make enough money to buy his dad a truck and allow his mother to stop working, relatives said. 12:16 PM CST on Dec 9, 2020. As the mass vaccination effort begins across the country, his daughters cannot help but think: “What about Dad?”. Though Black Illinoisans make up 14% of the state’s population, they represented nearly 19% of Illinois’ virus-related death toll in 2020, according to an analysis of state and federal data. A person wearing a mask walks along Foster Beach on November 12, 2020. Chicago Tribune’s Stacy St. Clair and Daily Southtown’s Mike Nolan contributed. On Christmas after morning Mass, the wife and daughters of Jose Vazquez visited his grave again and decorated it with flowers. (Phil Noble/Reuters) The virus — and our response to it — claimed many lives. Despite passing 20,000 total deaths, the state’s death rate continued to lower. After months of tests, authorities confirmed that the death of 9-month-old Joseph Myles in March was caused, in part, by COVID-19, making him the state’s youngest victim. Some of the hardest hit communities on Chicago’s South and West sides have struggled with unemployment and health care access for generations. They included nurses, doctors, medical assistants, technicians, therapists and other support staff who cleaned rooms, served food and provided security. Still, the mother said, “it just took her so fast.”, “Sarah is an example that it can happen to the youngest and healthiest people,” Simental said. J.B. Pritzker has continued to urge Illinoisans to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines into the new year, cautioning against state residents letting their guards down too early. The state reported an average of 50 deaths per day in the first 15 days of February, compared with an average of 104 deaths per day over the same period last month. But while older people such as McInerney have been the most susceptible, young Illinoisans also have been vulnerable to COVID-19. At least 150 died and nearly 34,000 were infected in Illinois from March to Dec. 30, according to state public health officials, who said the exact figure is unknown and likely higher because county health departments often fail to provide occupational information. As the spread began in earnest in March, the 51-year-old Vazquez was surrounded by thousands of people each day as a passenger service agent at O’Hare International Airport. 20. Illinois on Monday recorded its lowest daily number of new COVID-19 cases since late September but also passed the grim milestone of 20,000 total deaths statewide. And 41 more people died from the virus, raising the state’s death toll to 20,002 deaths. As we grieve, we must find the courage to meet this moment. By Mitchell Armentrout @mitchtrout Dec 11, 2020, 1:01pm CST By RAYMON TRONCOSO Capitol News Illinois rtroncoso@capitolnewsillinois.com. There were 100,000 more deaths in the U.S. than normal attributed to diabetes, Alzheimer's, high blood pressure, pneumonia and other … WhatsApp . The city, suburban Cook and the collar counties accounted for more than two-thirds of the state’s total deaths. J.B. Pritzker tweeted. The family of Krist Angielen Guzman told the Tribune that the mother of three at times made her own masks and bought her own goggles. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Another 1,420 coronavirus infections were reported Monday to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the lowest daily count since Sept. 29, when 1,362 cases were confirmed. Her mother, Sandra Evans-Green, 58, worked as a certified nursing assistant at Symphony of Joliet. With the last totals of 2020 counted, Illinois had for the year more COVID-19-related deaths than all but five states in the nation. Some had chronic health issues before contracting the virus. Since the onset of the pandemic, the Tribune has written about hundreds of COVID-19 victims from all walks of life. … Posted: Apr 15, 2020 / 07:51 AM CDT / Updated: Apr 15, 2020 / 06:48 PM CDT. CHICAGO (AP) — The one-day death toll from the coronavirus pandemic climbed by 157 in Illinois and another 7,201 confirmed and probable COVID … Dr. Allison Arwady, right, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, speaks as Deatra Howard, chief … She included hashtags that said “proud nurse” and “praying for my patients.”. A pregnant teen died within days of her high school graduation. IDPH reports 4,453 cases of COVID-19 and 105 additional deaths Monday. Marissa Vazquez, 24, is working with fifth graders with a goal of becoming an elementary special education teacher. Del Rios’ friend died March 30, an early casualty in a crisis that in Illinois had killed about 16,500 people and sickened more than 960,000, according to Dec. 31 state data. newsletter, Illinois COVID vaccination rate triples compared to January, 10% of Illinoisans have gotten COVID vaccine — but Black and Brown communities already falling behind, Here’s what you need to know about signing up for a COVID-19 vaccine in Chicago, Coronavirus live blog, Feb. 21, 2021: Illinois’ seven-day positivity rate below 3% for an entire week, first time in seven months, Illinois reports 1,585 new COVID-19 cases, additional 35 virus-related deaths, Live map of coronavirus cases by zip code, Biden team on to more ambitious goal of vaccinating all eligible adults by end of summer, Coronavirus live blog, Feb. 20, 2021: Heavy snow slowed COVID-19 vaccine administration last week, officials say, Man charged with attempted murder after stabbing woman, 3 girls in Bronzeville: police, Dylan Strome’s early-season slump leading to lesser role in Blackhawks’ lineup, Dear Abby: For her wedding, niece borrows cherished arch, wrecks it and tosses it, Illinois DNR licensing and permitting: Offline Tuesday through Sunday while new system is implemented, Chicago native Paul Raci revels in breakout ‘Sound of Metal’ role, the ‘opportunity of a lifetime’, 18 shot, 2 fatally, in Chicago this weekend. McInerney developed a relationship with the Congregation of Christian Brothers at a young age when he attended Leo High School. A man was found shot to death Saturday in the 2000 block of West 79th Street. Illinois surpassed 10,000 total deaths on Nov. 5. About 39% of those who died in the city were Black, though Blacks make up 30% of Chicago’s population. The Illinois Tollway began wrapping up the 2020 construction season in time to deliver holiday benefits to its customers on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and the Edens Spur Tollway (I-94).Completion of the new northbound Mile Long Bridge on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) provided the... Read full article About2020 Construction Season Marked by Miles of Accomplishments » Illinois … Those deaths make up nearly half of all Illinois coronavirus fatalities. COVID-19 pandemic updates for April 15: Illinois death toll rises 948 Coronavirus. Coronavirus deaths in February are half of what they were in January. Illinois has recorded 10 deaths of people younger than 20 since March. 0. We couldn’t hold her hand. Nearly 90% of those who died of illnesses related to the virus were older than 60, another disproportionate figure, as that age demographic makes up just 23% of Illinois’ population, according to state data. Illinois' Death Toll From Coronavirus Tops 300 Illinois’ coronavirus death toll has topped 300. He died Dec. 15 after a one-month hospitalization. I just loved watching him with his girls. From left, Marissa, 24, Sarina, 19, Maria and Jose Vazquez. The total means there has been 1 coronavirus death for every 711 Illinoisans — a rate higher than the 1 in every 962 killed across the U.S. in 2020. It’s a bittersweet feeling, his family said, one mixed with excitement and relief for others. The gravesite of Jose Vazquez in Norridge, is freshly adorned with flowers placed by his widow and their daughters. The boy was shot in the chest about 5:10 p.m. in the 3300 block of West 30th Street, Chicago police said. Every day we lose more Illinoisans to this terrible virus. When 75-year-old Ernesto Duran became ill in mid-November, he and his wife, Elena, assumed it was the same flu bug he caught every year. Chart and table of the U.S. death rate from 1950 to 2021. We couldn’t give her a hug or couldn’t see her again. “It was just so painfully obvious that something like this was going to be a disaster for a community like ours.”. She relies on her faith, therapy and family to sustain her. They were married nearly 50 years and have four sons. He joined her in Chicago that November, and the two had a church wedding in January 1973. “He touched so many lives.”. Dr. Marina Del Rios receives Chicago's first COVID-19 vaccination from Dr. Nikhila Juvvadi on Dec. 15, 2020, at Loretto Hospital. families who lost multiple relatives days, weeks or months apart. It was very bittersweet, but I am also very proud.”. Elena Duran said as her husband’s condition grew more grave, he began to prepare her for the worst, reminding her of what bill was due when and telling her his wishes to be cremated. Twitter. NOTE: All 2020 and later data are UN projections and DO NOT include any impacts of the COVID-19 virus. The coronavirus death toll in Illinois surpassed 15,000 Friday, rising to 15,015 among 886,805 cases and more than 12 million test results reported. J.B. Pritzker announced Sunday’s COVID-19-related death toll of 43 is lower than the daily death tolls from the past six days in Illinois, but he couldn’t say what plans there are to … “I would have never in a million years thought this would be my reality. “Our choices affect the cashier at the grocery store, the janitor at work, other people’s loved ones and our own.”. At that point, Illinois’ known death toll from COVID-19 was just five people. They are the only racial demographic whose COVID-19 fatality rate is higher when compared with the group’s proportion of the state’s population. “The hard part is learning to live without my husband after 33 years of sharing our lives together,” said Maria Vazquez, “but God will guide us.”. Sinai received 975 doses of the vaccine, the hospital’s first batch, Thursday. The coronavirus toll is eight times that tally. A Closer Look at the Death Toll of 2020 By ... England, August 3, 2020. Del Rios is a family friend of Jose Vazquez. Andrew Rosten - December 28, 2020. Illinois health director breaks down in tears while she reports grim new coronavirus death toll and urges residents to 'fight the pandemic fatigue' - … COVID-19 infected groups of people in nursing homes, churches, prisons and jails, and sometimes families who lost multiple relatives days, weeks or months apart. The last time Illinois had a positivity rate that low was in mid-July. “As time passes, everyone just goes on with their lives, but ours are forever destroyed,” said Evans, of Shorewood. The most recent victims included 70 people from Cook County, including one man in his 30s and two men in their 40s. At 80 and with a long list of ailments, William “Lee” McInerney was no match for the coronavirus after it reached him in the long-term care facility he called home in Chicago’s Norwood Park West neighborhood. By Madeline Kenney Dec 6, 2020, 3:42pm CST 2020 Election Results ... And 41 more people died from the virus, raising the state’s death toll to 20,002 deaths. Gov. Illinois suffers record daily COVID-19 death toll, Pritzker says state's peak not yet reached WLS 4/18/2020 Coronavirus committee launches … ‘Chicago Tonight’ — a news show in turmoil at the worst possible time. The total means there has been 1 coronavirus death for every 711 Illinoisans — a rate higher than the 1 in every 962 killed across the U.S. in 2020. An additional 19 deaths and 2,600 infections were tallied across the state among first responders and law enforcement officers. The Little Village man went to the hospital as a precaution due to labored breathing. Claim: The number of people who have died in the U.S. in 2020 is on par with years prior to COVID-19. She described him as loving, generous and full of energy. Despite the 10-year delay, the couple often told people they fell in love at first sight. by: WGN Web Staff. SOURCE: Tribune analysis of data from the Cook County medical examiner’s office. On Sept. 22, CNN triumphantly announced that 200,000 people had died from COVID-19 in the United States. Other socioeconomic factors, such as a reliance on public transportation, and living in denser housing without local access to fresh foods and pharmacies, also may have made residents more susceptible. Jose Vazquez’s face was quick to light up, Del Rios remembered, especially when he spoke about his daughters. The state’s seven-day testing positivity average also dipped to 2.9% — where it briefly reached Saturday. Simental, a senior at Lincoln-Way East High School, died Dec. 27 of COVID-19 at the University of Chicago Medical Center. December 2, 2020 3:13 pm Andrew Carrigan Coronavirus, Top Stories. The Chicago infant died of viral pneumonia due to coronavirus NL-63 and COVID-19 infection, county medical officials said. Guzman, a 35-year-old mother of three from Bolingbrook, died days later on May 2 of COVID-19. The couple’s youngest daughter, Sarina, now 19, plans to take EMT classes this year to try to save others. “Until the vaccine is available to everyone and until we eradicate this virus once and for all we must continue working to protect one another,” the governor said recently. While it took more than nine months from the beginning of the pandemic in Illinois to reach 10,000 deaths, it only took a little over three months for the death toll to double. CNN tried various ways of rubbing in the 200,000 figure. And, the paper reported that the state’s total mean there has been one coronavirus-related death for every 711 Illinois residents. By Associated Press, Wire Service Content April 6, 2020, at 6:17 p.m. The facility with the most pandemic-related deaths was Norridge Gardens in Norridge, with 57 fatalities; followed by Niles Nursing and Rehab Center with 54; and 44 at Villa at Windsor Park in Chicago. Maria Vazquez returned part time to her job. Meanwhile, the state continued to improve its inoculation rate, with 39,863 vaccines administered Sunday — more than double the number from the week earlier when only 16,110 shots were put into arms, health officials said. Duran was never one to raise his voice or curse, his wife said. The couple shared an enduring love story that was the subject of a 2012 feature in the Tribune. The total means there has been 1 coronavirus death for every 711 Illinoisans — a rate higher than the 1 in every 962 killed across the U.S. in 2020. “You’re fine one day and then, the next, you are a box of ashes,” his wife said through tears. The Rev. Time has marched on in the nine months since his death. Facebook. Illinois’ pandemic death toll rises to 13,255 as state announces 76 additional fatalities Illinois has averaged more than 131 deaths per day over the last two weeks.