COVID-19 in Illinois updates: Here’s what’s happening Monday

As Illinois reported more than 1,500 new cases of the coronavirus Sunday, the governor’s office announced that new restrictions will be imposed on several counties near St. Louis because the percentage of people testing positive there has been rising.

The restrictions are to go into effect Tuesday for Region 4, which includes Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington counties. The “mitigation efforts” are being taken after three consecutive days of a positivity rate 8 percent or higher, according to the governor’s office.

That means bars, restaurants and casinos must close by 11 p.m. nightly, gathering sizes will be reduced to 25 people or 25 percent room capacity, and party buses will be banned. If the numbers do not improve after 14 days, tighter restrictions such as the closing of bars and restaurants may be announced.

On Sunday, Illinois public health officials announced 1,562 new known cases of COVID-19 and 18 additional confirmed deaths. The state has now logged 206,081 cases overall, and has reported 7,744 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic

Here’s what’s happening Monday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:

9:30 a.m.: Edie’s Cafe opens today, bringing a new working space and cafe to River North, a rarity these days

During a time when public gathering areas are at a premium, a new restaurant is trying to restore at least one such space in the Wells Street corridor.

Edie’s All Day Cafe and Bar opens Monday in the former Limitless Coffee space on Wells Street in River North. The project comes in part from Limitless founder Matt Matros, who approached co-founder Arturo Gomez about helping Matros convert one of his existing storefront locations to something different.

The result is an all-day cafe that follows COVID-19 safety protocols. Edie’s boasts a 55-seat outdoor patio, plus indoor seating for up to 30 socially dstanced patrons. The space boasts a flexible daytime menu featuring brunch and snacks, plus a beverage program that includes beer, wine and cocktails, plus Matros’ coffee. Read more here. —Adam Lukach

6:40 a.m.: For Illinois delegates, a ‘totally bizarre’ Democratic convention from the couch

When the 2020 Democratic National Convention gets underway Monday, no delegates will be traveling to Milwaukee Wisconsin for it, with the coronavirus pandemic still coursing through the country. Neither will any of the speakers. Not even Joe Biden will accept the party’s nomination in the key swing state’s largest city.

Instead, virtually all of the convention will be held remotely — four nights of solely -for-TV festivities, capped by Biden’s speech on Thursday night.

For the 182 Illinois delegates and 13 alternates, the social event will be attempted virtually by the state party on a nightly basis before the two-hour national prime-time festivities. There will be no raucous nightly parties, no lunches paid for by special interest groups and no morning breakfast rallies where guest speakers and surrogates from the national campaign aim to put the state’s delegates in a rallying mood. Read more here. —Bill Ruthhart, Rick Pearson

6:30 a.m.: Coronavirus brings unlikely classroom: A 56-story apartment tower in Streeterville

A 56-story apartment tower in the Streeterville neighborhood plans to convert some of its office space to small classrooms, betting that frazzled families will seek space outside the home to conduct remote learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The 490-unit Optima Signature, a skyscraper at 220 E. Illinois St. known for its bright red lower levels, is no ordinary schoolhouse.

Yet with many parents working from home since March amid COVID-19, and with many schools planning to conduct classes virtually this fall, the building’s owner believes there will be a demand for learning pods. So-called “pandemic pods” and “micro-schools” allow small groups of kids from close-knit families to study together in person with a teacher, tutor or parent.

Glencoe-based architecture and development firm Optima, which completed the Streeterville high-rise in 2017, last week began marketing four of its 25 office suites for educational purposes. Read more here. —Ryan Ori

6:15 a.m.: Can little kids really social distance? Lessons from child care centers that have stayed open during the pandemic, and why it might not work in schools

Earlier this summer, when Chicago Public Schools still planned to reopen in September, Chicago’s top public health official said even elementary-age children are capable of following measures to fight the spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing and wearing face masks.

“I have nieces and nephews this age, and when you model this behavior for children and set it as an expectation, they actually do very well with it in my experience,” Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the city’s Public Health Department, said at a July news conference.

Some parents and teachers — otherwise the biggest believers in their kids and students — were less optimistic. They said social distancing goes against the very nature of very young children.

Although CPS has since reverted to all remote learning at least until November, the decision will undoubtedly send more Chicago children into day care or other group settings, and many private and suburban schools still intend to open their doors. CPS leaders have also said it’s likely schools will reopen before a vaccine is developed and completely rolled out.

So the question still remains: Even if kids sometimes slip up in following public health guidelines, how can we keep them safe? Read more here. —Claire Hao

Here are three stories from the weekend about COVID-19.