Coronavirus: Mayor Lightfoot Orders Sick Chicagoans To Stay Home

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued an executive order Thursday requiring residents who have symptoms of the new coronavirus to stay home to stem the spread the disease.

“During this unprecedented crisis, we must move quickly and in the best interest of the public. Restricting the movements of those who have COVID-19 or who are symptomatic is the best way to prevent the virus from spreading further,” Lightfoot said in a statement.

“We are implementing today’s order to ensure a precise and data-driven response to the trends of this illness and, following recommendations by our city’s public health experts, believe that these heightened measures are necessary to contain the virus and protect our residents. We must be all in this together, and people who are sick must stay home to protect themselves and the public.”

Lightfoot and public health chief Dr. Allison Arwady signed the order prohibiting Chicagoans diagnosed with COVID-19 or exhibiting its symptoms from leaving home to go to work or any group settings. Sick people, however, are not banned from leaving home to seek "essential services" such as health care visits or obtaining medicine or food, according to the order.

The order defines a "COVID-19 Illness" by symptoms of acute respiratory disease including, but not limited to, new onset of fever, cough, shortness of breath, congestion in the nasal sinuses or lungs, sore throat, body aches or unusual fatigue. "A person is considered to have COVID-19 illness until such person is free of fever (100.4° F (38.0° C) or greater using an oral thermometer), and any of the other symptoms described herein, for at least 72 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g., cough suppressants)," according to the City Hall statement.

People who disobey the order could face citations from police or public health officials. The order is to remain in effect until the city public health department issues a written determination that the health crisis has diminished,

“This move may seem severe to some; but in this highly evolving situation, it’s absolutely what we need to do at this time as we work to contain this outbreak,” Arwady said.

“We’ve been working daily for well over two months now with our partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on tracking this virus and assessing its course, using data to inform our decisions and following the science. This is the right thing to do in this moment.”

Sick Chicagoans required to stay home under the mandate who do not have access to food options should call 311.