CHICAGO _ Citing a dramatic increase in the number of coronavirus cases since the start of October, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday threatened to reimpose stricter guidelines on businesses.
The mayor didn't specify what measures she would turn to if COVID-19 cases continue to rise and said she hopes to avoid more painful steps. But, she said, she will if the cases continue rising. She asked residents to stop having dinner parties and card games, noting that people are letting their guards down and getting sick as a result.
"This is a time for each of us to dig down even deeper and be more diligent, and if we don't see a dramatic turnaround in our numbers and soon, then we will not hesitate to take the steps that are necessary to save our city, save our residents, even if that means going back to some of our phase three restrictions."
Chicago public health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady echoed Lightfoot and warned the city's average case count could increase over 600 by the end of the week. As of Saturday, Chicago had a seven-day rolling average of 508 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases per day, with a positivity rate of 5.4%, according to city data.
Lightfoot noted the city's daily cases have expanded to more than 500 every day, which is more than a 50% increase since the beginning of the month. This is the highest rate since the end of May, Lightfoot said, and it has coincided with a "worrying increase" in hospitalizations.
"Make no mistake: We are in the second surge," she said.
Echoing Lightfoot, Arwady said the increase in cases spans the entire city, and said the city's positivity rate is another troubling sign even though it's better than in other parts of the state.
"It is not good, it is not in control, and we cannot rest comfortably in that number," Arwady said.
Arwady said the spread is coming from people letting their guard down around friends and family. People are more conscious about wearing masks when they're around strangers in public, such as on public transportation, Arwady said.
"Do not invite anyone over to your house or apartment," Arwady said. "This is not the time for nonessential gatherings. Period."
The mayor pointed to the cold weather as one cause of the sharp increase in cases, saying it is leading to more indoor gatherings. She said residents need to limit the number of people they come into contact with. She said she understands what she called residents' "fatigue factor," but said it is important for people to keep their guards up.
"We have tried to be prudent in reopening our city and using the dimmer switch, not a light switch," she said.
Late last month, Lightfoot cited a decrease in COVID-19 cases as she allowed bars that don't serve food to reopen for indoor drinking. She also eased rules on restaurants, gyms and other retailers, allowing them to increase capacity.
The changes were Lightfoot's latest attempt to ease the financial burden on Chicago businesses by lifting frequently criticized restrictions.
But they also came as the number of new COVID-19 cases per day was hovering around 300, well above the 200-case threshold the mayor set months ago as a goal before moderating restrictions.
Cases have only increased since then.
Lightfoot said she doesn't believe the decision to ease business restrictions last month has led to the current spike. She said the health department has been analyzing the increase to help understand its causes so that the city can use a "surgical" approach to its response, but so far, the problem seems broad.
"If we were seeing it in one location or other, we could address and mitigate against that, but we're seeing it across the board," Lightfoot said.
Asked what it would take to reimpose limits, Arwady said the city won't wait for Chicago's positivity rate to hit 8%, which is a state standard, but did not say what would trigger a new round of restrictions.
Lightfoot also punted when asked whether schools should reopen to some in-person learning next month, saying religious and private schools that are open haven't been a "source of spread" but not ruling out all-remote learning. Still, she said she's concerned about the challenges many students face learning from home.
Chicago moved into phase 4, the current set of coronavirus reopening rules, in late June. Before that, phase 3 had tighter restrictions.
Under phase 3, restaurants were only allowed to serve diners in outdoor areas, or at indoor tables close to open windows.
Bars remained closed at the beginning of phase 3.
Many stores were allowed to open in phase 3, at 50% capacity, but those deemed nonessential were forced to stay at 25% or below.
Tennis courts were reopened at Chicago parks in phase 3, as the city allowed noncontact sports for the first time under the pandemic.
Under phase 4, the Lincoln Park Zoo and youth summer camps, along with indoor dining, gyms, movie theaters and other amenities, were allowed to open "with limited capacities and appropriate safeguards."
