4 States Join AR, MS On City's Previously Empty Travel Advisory

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot warned Chicagoans of rising COVID-19 cases Tuesday, saying the city has to slow the spread or be subject to public health restrictions until the situation is under control.

Across the United States, COVID-19 cases are rising as the delta variant becomes more prevalent. Because of increased infections, the Chicago Department of Public Health announced additions to the city's travel advisory list. Now, unvaccinated travelers from Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and the U.S. Virgin Islands will have to either quarantine or present a negative COVID-19 test upon their arrival back to the city.

Average daily cases in Chicago are up to 90, after dropping to 34 per day last month, Lightfoot said.

"If we allow the virus to linger here in Chicago, we will likely see further mutations, some of which our current vaccines may not be able to protect against," she said during a press conference. "And have to reinforce some of the restrictions that infamously defined 2020 and part of 2021."

Lightfoot called the updated travel order a "reality check," warning residents that more than 95 percent of those dying from COVID-19 cases are unvaccinated people.

With Lollapalooza beginning July 29, Lightfoot said officials are keeping an eye on the case number and have no plans to cancel the large music event.

The city added Missouri and Arkansas to Chicago's previously vacant emergency travel advisory list last week due to rising COVID-19 numbers, mainly delta variant cases, in those states.

Across the state, coronavirus infections are at an average number of 834 new daily cases of. Earlier this month, the state was averaging just 294 new cases per day.