According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cloth face coverings can help prevent transmission of COVID-19. Like staying home and washing hands thoroughly, face masks are one more tool that can help us slow the spread of the virus.

Beginning May 1, individuals over the age of two will be required to wear a face covering or mask when in a public place where they can't maintain six feet of social distance. This requirement will apply in all public indoor spaces, like grocery stores and other essential businesses. But you don’t have to go out and buy a mask—the CDC issued this tutorial to help you make one from materials you may have at home.

If you’re an essential worker, businesses and manufacturers will be required to provide face coverings to all employees who are unable to maintain six feet of social distance.

In Illinois, anyone with COVID-19 symptoms (cough, shortness of breath and fever) can be tested for the virus without a doctor’s order. You can also get a test if you’ve been in contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19 or if you have a compromised immune system or other chronic medical condition, even if you aren’t showing symptoms.

To protect the health and safety of those on the front lines and the people they serve, any essential worker—including health care workers, correctional facility staff, first responders, grocery store employees, gas station attendants, child care providers and more—can get a test whether or not they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Loretto Hospital is also now offering testing to patients, health care workers and first responders on the West Side. Drive-up and walk-in testing options are available at no cost to anyone who has symptoms or believes they were exposed to someone who tested positive. The site is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until testing runs out.

For more information on who can get a test, see this guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Find testing locations, hours and other information here.

The Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois State Board of Education released the following joint guidance regarding COVID-19 and school graduation ceremonies. The outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent school building closures for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year have created questions related to graduation ceremonies.

Decisions around whether or not to host safe and socially distanced graduation ceremonies will remain at the discretion of local school boards and superintendents. Districts and schools may choose to postpone graduation ceremonies, although it is not known when large-scale in-person events will be able to be safely held. Alternatively, districts and schools can choose to honor graduating students in a way that prioritizes the health and safety of participants and complies with state and local social distancing orders and guidelines. Understanding the milestone that graduation ceremonies represent in the lives of our students and families, the Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Public Health are providing the following guidance for public school districts, public and nonpublic schools to consider when navigating these concerns at the local level.

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The City of Chicago has established the Microbusiness Recovery Grant Program to provide immediate relief to businesses located in low- and moderate-income areas of the city that have been severely impacted by COVID-19. Applications to this program will be accepted until 5:00pm on Monday, May 4.

For more information and get your specific questions answered webinars are being held over the next few days. Attend a webinar or learn more about the program at www.chicago.gov/recoverygrant.

• Thursday, April 30 at 10:00am in Spanish
• Thursday, April 30 at 2:00pm in English
• Friday, May 1 at 12:00pm in English
• Friday, May 1 at 2:00pm in Polish