phan; maps by bea malsky

BY ELORA APANTAKU AND CHARMAINE RUNES; ILLUSTRATIONS BY GRAE ROSA AND THUMY PHAN; MAPS BY BEA MALSKY

There have been a few COVID-19 ventilated spaces over a prolonged period of outbreaks in which transmission time with infected persons cannot be ruled occurred in a way that suggests it out." can spread as an aerosol, a light particle that Droplet diseases (including strep throat, can stay in the air for hours. Both the World whooping cough, the flu, and the common Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. cold) travel on respiratory droplets released Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with coughs, sneezes, and talking. Because (CDC) have thus far not definitively stated of their size compared to air, they usually that COVID-19 is spread through airborne fall down to the ground and other surfaces transmission. In July, after 239 scientists quickly and can stay infectious for a long called on the agency to revise its position, time (several hours for influenza and cold the WHO did update its recommendation, viruses). Airborne diseases (which includes saying in part: "short-range aerosol measles, chickenpox, and tuberculosis) are transmission, particularly in specific indoor spread on small aerosols that are typically locations, such as crowded and inadequately produced by evaporation from respiratory droplets. They can float in the air for minutes to hours.

Regardless of how the virus that causes COVID-19 travels, wearing a mask and socially distancing have been shown to reduce its spread. If the virus that causes COVID-19 is airborne and spreads through small aerosols, additional caution should be taken in indoor spaces with poor ventilation, where the virus may linger in the air, increasing your chances for infection.

BY GRAE ROSA

LISTED AT $2,200,000 SIXTEEN-ROOM FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT HELLER HOUSE WITH GARAGE

NEW LISTING -665,000 FOUR-BEDROOM GREYSTONE WITH PATIO 5403 SOUTH DORCHESTER AVENUE

5132 SOUTH WOODLAWN AVENUE

This beautiful house differs from later Wright houses, with its high ceilings and large kitchen with 4 pantries. A National Historic Landmark treasure, the house is in fabulous condition and has 7 bedrooms, magnificent oak floors, enormous closets, stained glass windows, 4 fireplaces, new 2-zoned heating & cooling & a newly renovated elevator that services all floors. The third floor can be used as a separate 2-bedroom apartment. On a 75x165 lot, the house has a 2 car garage.

Beautifully updated 4-bedroom Greystone has a wonderful private patio. There is new wiring, new 200-amp electrical service, and central air. House retains original archetectural features: stained glass windows, hardwood floors, two decorative fireplaces, original built-ins and a grand staircase. Renovated bathrooms include one with a jet tub. The kitchen has white quartz counters, stainless steel appliances, extra storage and an additional breakfast area. Spacious bedrooms on the second floor have high ceilings, crown moldings and stained glass windows.

Myth 1: If you test positive for COVID-19, far, there has been no evidence that this you will have it for life. has occurred, and the risk of transmission

It is possible to recover from the disease, through sewage systems is thought to be low. and many do. The Chicago Department of According to CDPH, the COVID-19 virus Public Health recommends that individuals has not been detected in drinking water. who test positive seek medical care and treat Conventional water treatment methods that their symptoms as soon as they can. use filtration and disinfection, such as those Myth 2: If you have recovered from should remove or inactivate the virus that COVID-19, you are now immune and causes COVID-19.

According to the CDC, there is a lot we certain blood types don’t yet know about COVID-19 immunity. are more prone to Individuals who are infected with other getting infected with coronaviruses usually do not get re-infected COVID-19. in the first few months after they recover, One study from Harvard but it is unclear if patients with COVID-19 Medical School found that individuals who will experience this level of immunity. exhibited symptoms who had B or AB There have been reports of a few cases of blood types and were Rh positive were more apparent re-infection, but more information likely to test positive for COVID-19, while is needed. those with blood type O were less likely to Myth 3: 5G technology patient blood type had no relationship to the is linked to COVID-19. severity of COVID-19. However, this is just According to the Chicago one study, and more research is needed to Department of Public understand what is driving these differences. Health (CDPH) and the WHO, 5G technology Myth 7: The best way does not spread COVID-19. The novel to prevent COVID-19 coronavirus cannot spread on radio waves or is to avoid all meat mobile networks. products and go vegan. Myth 4: You can use reasons to go vegan, but disinfectant lamps and thinking that it will prevent COVID-19 wands to kill COVID-19. infection is not one of them. According Possibly some lamps, to the CDC, there is no evidence that you but only on surfaces can get infected by eating food. The main and objects (according way coronaviruses are thought to spread to the National Academies of Sciences, is person-to-person through respiratory Engineering, and Medicine). The WHO droplets when someone coughs, sneezes, or recommends not using UV-C disinfectant talks. Before preparing or eating anything, it lamps and wands to disinfect any part of is important to always wash your hands with your body because UV radiation can damage soap and water for at least twenty seconds the eyes and skin. for general food safety.

According to the CDC, the virus that causes COVID-19 has been detected in untreated wastewater, but researchers do not know if it can cause disease through that route of exposure. So in most municipal drinking water systems, test positive. The researchers also found that There are several good

For everything you wanted to know about masks see our website at southsideweekly.com

The recovery time for people with mild COVID-19 infections that do not require hospitalization is typically between one and two weeks. According to a WHO report on preliminary data of COVID-19 from China in February, people with severe cases of COVID-19 took a median of three to six weeks to recover.

Recent studies in the US suggest recovery courses can vary a lot depending on age and pre-existing conditions. Age greater than fifty, immunosuppressive conditions, obesity, and chronic kidney disease were most associated with prolonged symptoms. However, even twenty percent of young adults with COVID-19 continued to have some symptoms after three weeks.

The most common persistent symptoms are fatigue, dyspnea (difficult breathing), cough, joint pain, and chest pain. However, people who become critically ill with COVID-19 may develop persistent difficulties with cognition, mental health, and physical function.

On May 17, Mayor Lightfoot announced her reopening Chicago plan that enforces and eases restrictions on businesses and citizens depending on trends in COVID-19 case numbers, case positivity (the percentage of positive COVID-19 test results) hospitalizations, deaths, and testing capacity. Currently Chicago is in phase IV, but reinstated some restrictions, such as reducing the number of people allowed in bars and restaurants, in response to elevated daily case numbers on July 24.

Phase I: Strict Stay at Home: shelter in place, only essential businesses open

Phase II: Stay at Home: only go outside as needed, wear masks in public

Phase III: Some non-essential businesses can open if they meet standards; social gatherings of ten or fewer people allowed.

4/23 - CHICAGO HIGHEST DAILY POSI TIVE CASE RATE (1,473 CASES/DAY).

MARCH APRIL

3/16 - FIRST CHICAGO DEATH: PATRICIA FREISON, 61-YEAR-OLD RETIRED NURSE FROM AUBURN GRESHAM. 4/8 - COOK COUNTY JAIL IS REPORTED TO BE THE LARGEST-KNOWN SOURCE OF COVID-19 INFECTIONS IN THE U.S.

3/26 - CHICAGO “STAY AT HOME” ORDER ENACTED, REQUIRING PEOPLE TO STAY SIX FEET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. 3/27 - US PASSED CARES ACT. CHICAGO RECEIVED $1.1 BILLION.

Phase IV: All businesses can open as long as they meet safeguards; socially gathering allowed up to fifty people indoors, but continue to wear face masks and practice social distancing.

Phase V: Vaccine is available, nonvulnerable individuals can return to work

To move to the next phase, Chicago requires a declining rate of new citywide cases over twenty-eight days and/or fewer than 200 new cases per day over fourteen days, positivity rate below five percent, and the capability of testing at least 4,500 people daily. However, since the city is currently in phase IV, it would also require a vaccine to be available to move to phase V.

If Chicago fails at any of the above criteria, it will reinstate restrictions, or move back to the previous phase.

At this time, there is no vaccine for COVID-19, and there is too much uncertainty to predict when one might become available.

Vaccine development happens in three clinical phases, typically over the course of several years.

Phase 1: Small groups of people receive the trial vaccine to test things such as safety and appropriate dosage (CDC)

Phase 2: The clinical study expands—people who have characteristics (e.g., age and physical health) similar to those for whom the new vaccine is intended receive the trial vaccine

Phase 3: The clinical study scales up—hundreds or thousands of people receive the vaccine to test if it is safe and effective (i.e., does the vaccine reduce the risk of disease for vaccinated people compared to unvaccinated people?)

The Food and Drug Administration licenses a vaccine only if it is found to be both safe and effective, and if its benefits are found to outweigh any risks. Even after a vaccine has been approved, it continues to undergo testing.

There are currently more than twenty-five COVID-19 vaccine candidates undergoing human trials

In the Chicago region, two universities have launched initiatives to help test potential vaccines.

In June, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) called for volunteers for a Phase III clinical trial to test an RNA-based vaccine developed by Moderna, a biotech company, as part of a nationwide study. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is administering the trial. Anyone interested in volunteering to participate in a vaccine trial can register at this website: https://ccts.uic.edu/news-stories/heres-howto-volunteer-for-a-covid-19-vaccine-trial/. The research team is interested in recruiting a diverse group of participants, including first responders and residents in predominantly Black and Latinx neighborhoods.

On July 27, Northwestern Medicine announced its COVID Prevention Trials Registry. The registry will connect participants, based on their health profile, to different studies for prevention of the disease. Northwestern University is looking to recruit individuals who are eighteen or older and who live or work in places that put them at a high risk of exposure to COVID-19, such as health care workers, public transportation employees, and individuals living in congregate settings. The research team is also looking for participants from communities that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, especially the elderly, Black and Latinx residents, and individuals with underlying health conditions. A Phase III clinical vaccine trial is expected to launch at Northwestern this month. Researchers will test two doses of a vaccine developed by the biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford: one dose to start, followed by another dose a month later. Anyone interested in learning more about or participating in the study can email nuvaccinestudy@northwestern.edu or call (312) 695-5012.

Dr. Karen Krueger is the principal investigator for Northwestern's COVID-19 registry. In an email, Krueger said it is difficult to predict when a vaccine might be ready, but she is hopeful that one will be ready by 2021.

MAP LEGEND

5/1 - 91,607 TESTS PERFORMED, WITH 22,744 CONFIRMED CASES, 1,114 DEATHS ( MORTALITY RATE 4.2 PERCENT, POSITIVITY RATE 27.5 PERCENT).

5/5 - CHICAGO HIGHEST DAILY DEATH RATE (FIFTY-SEVEN DEATHS/DAY).

5/8 - CHICAGO ANNOUNCES “PROTECTING CHICAGO” FRAMEWORK, A FIVE PHASE REOPENING PLAN (AND AT THE TIME IS IN PHASE II). 6/26 - CHICAGO MOVES TO PHASE IV REOPENING. 8/1 - 627,709 TESTS PERFORMED, (23 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION), WITH 61,447 CONFIRMED CASES, 2,787 DEATHS (MORTALITY RATE 4.5 PERCENT, POSITIVITY RATE 3.8 PERCENT).

JUNE

6/1 - 210,191 TESTS PERFORMED, WITH 45,912 CONFIRMED CASES, 2,156 DEATHS (MORTALITY RATE 4.7 PERCENT, POSITIVITY RATE 10.5 PERCENT).

6/3 - CHICAGO MOVES TO PHASE III REOPENING. JULY 7/24 - CHICAGO REINSTATES SOME RESTRICTIONS (BECAUSE OF INCREASE OF DAILY CASES) BUT REMAINS IN PHASE IV.

7/15 - CHICAGO HIGHEST DAILY TEST RATE (10,524 TESTS/DAY).

7/1 - 327,862 TESTS PERFORMED, WITH 52,569 CONFIRMED CASES, 2,531 DEATHS (MORTALITY RATE FIVE PERCENT, POSITIVITY RATE 3.1 PERCENT). 7/2 - TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON PEOPLE TRAVELING FROM HIGH CASE-RATE STATES ENACTED