Coronavirus: Mayor Extends CPS Closures Through April 20

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thursday announced that public schools will remain closed through April 20.

"In consultation with Dr. Arwady, and Dr. Janice Jackson and her team at CPS, given what we anticipate as the continued upward trajectory of the virus spread, I am announcing now that Chicago Public Schools will be closed through April 20th," Lightfoot said.

"We need to give parents and guardians plenty of advance notice about this reality and the ability to plan. CPS and the City will continue to support you in the ways that they have through these early days of the school closures."

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Lightfoot broke the news during her COVID-19 state of the city address. The mayor thanked philanthropists, provided an update on the city's finance, her efforts to stem foreclosures and evictions, suspension of debt collection, late fees and most parking tickets, and called on Chicagoans to be smart, safe and stay home.

Lightfoot also told Chicagoans that there "will be consequences" for people who violate the executive order issued earlier in the day requiring people with COVID-19 symptoms to stay home.

"Until further notice, if you are sick with respiratory symptoms like cough, fever, or shortness
of breath, but also, and importantly, if you are beginning to feel sick — body aches, fatigue, sore throat — you too are ordered to stay home unless seeking medical care, or other essentials like food. If you violate this order, there will be consequences," the mayor said. "Be smart, be safe, and stay home if you are sick. That's an order."

Lightfoot called on property owners to "give tenants some grace" during trying times and for "banks to grant relief from foreclosure" during the COVID-19 crisis.

The mayor announced that a $100 million fund that will offer "targeted, low-interest loans to severely impacted small businesses."

The Chicago Small Business Resiliency Loan Fund is a public-private partnership consisting of a $25 million-dollar grant by the City of Chicago, $50 million in capital by the Chicago Community Catalyst Fund, as well as $10million from Goldman Sachs' Urban Investment Group. Additionally, Fifth Third Bank pledged $1 million to the Fund, and Clayco Construction pledged $250,000, the mayor said.

Read Mayor Lightfoot's prepared remarks below: