West Cook News

Cook County is being watched as a potential hot-spot for coronavirus and last week Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House coronavirus task force named Cook County and Wayne County, Mich. as areas of concern because of a rapid rise in cases, NBC-Chicago reported.

“We are concerned about certain counties that look like they are having a more rapid increase,” Birx said. She named the greater Detroit and greater Chicago areas.

Birx's prediction appears to be correct. Coronavirus cases in Cook County as of April 7 numbered 4,428 conformed cases and 135 deaths were reported, according to The Daily Herald. In Chicago there were 6,092 confirmed cases and 177 fatalities.

The majority of Cook County’s cases are in the city. 

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot told NBC5 that the city expects 40,000 people to need hospitalization in the next few weeks when the number of cases is expected to grow exponentially.

"Forty thousand hospitalizations. Not 40,000 cases, but 40,000 people who require acute care in a hospital setting," Lightfoot said recently. "That number will break our health care system... This will push our city to the brink," the mayor told NBC5.

"That number is real and is sobering," Lightfoot said. The mayor said the grim projection is based on a number of models. She warned that rigorous self-quarantining is the only measure that can help keep the numbers down. 

"The moves we make right now, really the next few weeks, are crucial," health officials told NBC5.  

The Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago’s Lakefront and the 606 Trail were all shut down in spite of the spring weather. The city is working to keep people from congregating. Chicago Parks CEO Michael Kelly warned the crowds to stay away.

"That is a very real and direct threat of the well-being of everyone in this city, and it has to stop," he told NBC5.

Chicago is under a 24-7 stay-at-home order. Chicago police said they will be out in force. and violators face fines of up to $500 and even arrest.