Coronavirus in Illinois

The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has hit at least 70 countries. In the U.S., more than 120 cases have been reported. Nine people have died, all in and around Seattle.

© Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, left, and Dr. Ngozi Ezike, of the Illinois Department of Public Health hold a news conference at the Thompson Center in Chicago on March 2, 2020, to provide updates on the state's planning for and response to the spread of coronavirus.

As of March 2, 102 people in Illinois had been tested for the virus. The state health department said March 3 it was watching about 250 people for symptoms, including some of those who’ve already been tested.

Here’s what you need to know about the cases in Illinois, precautions you should be taking and how the virus is affecting business and more.

© John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Junior Rodriguez, a custodian for Schaumburg School District 54, wipes a teacher's desk with a disinfectant spray at Frost Junior High School on March 3, 2020, in Schaumburg. Rodriguez said he and the custodial staff started giving more emphasis to sanitizing and disinfection cleaning since the first case of COVID-19, or coronavirus, was announced in Hoffman Estates in January.

Cases in Illinois

Man hospitalized in Arlington Heights with coronavirus had not traveled abroad recently

The man, who was the third person to test positive for the virus in Illinois, had not recently traveled out of the country, said Melaney Arnold, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Public Health.

© Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Arriving from the Philippines, area resident Julie Ann wears a mask in the international terminal of O'Hare International Airport on March 3, 2020. \"I don't usually ever wear a mask,\" said Ann, citing concerns about coronavirus.

Possible 5th coronavirus patient test negative at University of Chicago Medical Center

A patient being treated at the University of Chicago Medical Center for a suspected coronavirus case has tested negative for the virus, hospital officials said March 4. That leaves a total of four reported COVID-19 cases in Illinois.

4th case of coronavirus found in Illinois as wife of infected man being treated at Arlington Heights hospital also tests positive

The wife of a man, who is the third case reported in Illinois, being treated for coronavirus at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights also has tested positive for the virus, marking the fourth case of the virus in the state, health officials announced Monday morning.

© Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Coronavirus has had an impact on Pittcon, an annual convention of lab scientists taking place at McCormick Place on March 3, 2020 in Chicago. A number of booths were left empty because of coronavirus travel restrictions that kept vendors away.

Illinois couple treated for coronavirus discharged from hospital, transitioning to ‘home isolation’

© Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Hand sanitizer was available at a number of booths at Pittcon, being held at McCormick Place on March 3, 2020.

An Illinois husband and wife hospitalized for coronavirus in the first person-to-person transmission reported in the United States have been discharged, according to the hospital.

How coronavirus is affecting business, tourism, sports, education and worship

Changing that flight? Here’s what you need to know about traveling during the coronavirus outbreak.

Major airlines are relaxing policies around flight change and cancellation fees and joining Chicago’s airports in stepping up their cleaning efforts as coronavirus continues to spread.

© John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts CFO Heidi Phipps hands out bottles of hand sanitizer to employees at the school's administrative office on March 3, 2020, in Schaumburg. The school's leadership purchased more than 300 travel- and industrial-size bottles of hand sanitizer from area stores to give to their employees as a preventative measure against COVID-19, or coronavirus.

Oracle cancels conference, expected to draw 5,500 people to Chicago, over coronavirus concerns

The company is moving the conference online, broadcasting a free, live event on March 24.

Northwestern University cancels all international spring break trips amid coronavirus fears

As global concern about the coronavirus intensifies, colleges and universities nationwide are monitoring student travel, including popular study abroad programs and spring break trips.

© Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Owner Joe Lomanto replenishes the shelves with hand sanitizer as people stock up over coronavirus fears on March 2, 2020, at the Ace Hardware store in North Center.

Chicago housewares trade show canceled over coronavirus concerns

A March trade show expected to bring 60,000 people to Chicago’s McCormick Place — as well as the city’s hotels and restaurants — has been canceled amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Field Museum, Art Institute enact travel bans for staff

In response to COVID-19 and its likely spread, the Field Museum of Natural History and the Art Institute of Chicago have banned staff from traveling to areas already profoundly impacted by the coronavirus.

© Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS A traveler wears a mask in the international terminal of Chicago O'Hare International Airport on March 3, 2020.

Chicago State basketball to skip games in Seattle and Utah over coronavirus fears

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The cancellations are believed to be the first by a major sport in the United States due to the virus.

Coronavirus forcing trade shows around the world to go dark — or move online

Some companies are taking their shows online with virtual events they stream from their headquarters to reach customers.

Run on face masks has Chicago-area retailers struggling to keep up and eBay battling coronavirus price gouging

Stores say they’re working to restock shelves as quickly as possible, but tight supplies are making it difficult.

Coronavirus leads Chicago-area Catholic churches to change Mass practices

As hospitals, schools and businesses prepare to deal with the spread of the coronavirus, the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago released guidelines for parishioners concerned about the potential spread of the disease.

What you need to know about coronavirus

How Chicago-area schools are — or aren’t — dealing with the coronavirus

As the coronavirus spreads in the Chicago area, some schools are proactively scrubbing down desks, doorknobs and other high-touch surfaces where experts say the virus can live for days.

I think I have the coronavirus. What should I do?

Here’s what experts advise for Illinoisans who fear they are showing signs of coronavirus.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus and what precautions should people in the Chicago area be taking?

With the virus hitting close to home, what can people in the Chicago area do to stay healthy?

What we know so far about the coronavirus in Illinois

There will likely be more cases in the United States over the next days and weeks, according to the CDC. Still, the immediate risk of the virus to Americans is believed to be low.

Surfaces? Sneezes? Sex? Here’s how the coronavirus can and cannot spread.

Because this virus is so new, experts’ understanding of how it spreads is limited. They can, however, offer some guidance about how it does — and does not — seem to be transmitted.

Which virus is deadlier? Comparing the coronavirus with the seasonal flu

Is this new coronavirus really a serious threat? Doesn’t the flu kill more people?

‘We are in uncharted territory,’ World Health Organization says, as coronavirus shifts west toward US, Europe

The mushrooming outbreaks contrasted with optimism in China, where thousands of recovered patients were going home and the number of new infections dropped to the lowest level in several weeks.

Resources on coronavirus

Illinois health officials are tracking statewide statistics.

The state Health Department has also launched a statewide hotline, 1-800-889-3931, and hotline email, dph.sick@illinois.gov, where residents can ask questions or report a suspected case.

People can call the Office of Consumer Health Insurance at 877-527-9431 about their insurance coverage.

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