Welcome back, friends!
Happy first day of Spring Quarter! Despite it all we have, in fact, made it. As we step into the world of remote learning, we’re here to bring you updates on the DePaul and Chicago communities in the midst of COVID-19. For anyone who wasn’t here last week, we’re your Monday team — Associate Editors Patsy Newitt, Grace Del Vecchio and Cam Rodriguez.
If you recently subscribed, this is the fourth issue of our twice-weekly newsletter created to provide updates on all things COVID-19 by 14 East, DePaul’s online magazine.
This Monday, we bring you news of DePaul’s commencement, another case of COVID-19 within the DePaul community and reports of DePaul students and faculty working to support local hospitals and medical centers. Additionally, we have some delicious recipes, fun activities and reliable resources all compiled for our dear readers.
But why are we still talking? Let’s get into it!
We do this because we think it's an important public service. But if you would like to support this work on Venmo @fourteeneastmag, or tell your friends to sign up for this newsletter — it'd be greatly appreciated.
What’s the latest at DePaul?
Unsurprisingly, things have not been boring at DePaul — despite the lack of presence of, well, people on campus. Although we have some not-great news, we also have some positive updates to go along with it. Let’s start with the not-great, shall we?
On Friday, March 27, DePaul received news that a staff member was being treated for COVID-19. The staff member works in DePaul Central at the Lincoln Park Campus and was last in the office on March 17, when they were not experiencing any symptoms.
Regardless of whether you were in DePaul Central on or around March 17, please remember to wash your hands, don’t touch your face and use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol and no, that half-drunk bottle of Tito’s in your pantry will not suffice.
Additionally, on Friday, March 27, the university announced that all May and June commencement ceremonies would not take place in-person, but rather in a series of virtual ceremonies. The announcement led to a host of complaints from students and initiated the conversation regarding what this means for first-generation students.
On a better note, in light of the detrimental shortage in face masks, faculty and students from DePaul’s College of Computing and Digital Media and the College of Science and Health have taken to 3D printing face masks. All of the reusable masks will be donated to local hospitals and medical facilities.
Finally, the university announced which computer labs will be open for students to use throughout the Spring Quarter. However, students are urged to consider the absolute necessity of the use of the labs and to practice the necessary health measures while there.
Want to know more about COVID-19 and DePaul? Check out Radio DePaul’s latest podcast and The DePaulia’s coverage.
Okay, what’s the latest in Chicago?
It looks like we’ll be home for the next month. Sunday afternoon, President Donald Trump extended his call for social distancing from April 12 to April 30. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, projected the outbreak could kill 100,000 to 200,000 Americans.
Expect a similar extension of Governor. J.B. Pritzker’s “stay-at-home” order, which was originally expected to end April 7. Medical experts, Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot think Illinois’ peak of COVID-19 will happen sometime in mid/late April. A projection by the University of Washington predicts Illinois to hit its peak on April 16 with 2,454 deaths statewide.
A big concern is Illinois’ hospital capacity in the upcoming weeks – as of now, we don’t have enough. Lightfoot told the Chicago Tribune that city officials are keeping a record of needed resources and public health officials are in touch with hospitals about collaboration. Illinois also has plans for its first field hospital conversion: McCormick Place. It’ll be set to handle 3,000 COVID-19 patients by April 24.
Illinois confirmed over 1,000 more cases yesterday (again, expected with increased access to testing). As of today, Illinois has 5,057 confirmed cases and 73 deaths. In Chicago currently, the cases are doubling every two to three days, according to the Mayor today. These deaths include a 9-month infant in Chicago, who is believed to be the youngest person in the U.S. whose death is linked to COVID-19.
We know these numbers are scary and this seems like this will last forever. Keep social distancing. Keep washing your hands. Take care of yourself and others.
Other Chicago News
Here is an article about how SNAP benefits from $2 trillion federal stimulus bill gave reprieve to Cook County’s food stamps by Associated Press’ Sophie Tareen
Here’s a story about the 100,00 computers sent to CPS students for remote learning beginning April 13 by Block Club Chicago’s Kelly Bauer
Here’s an article about how 2,000 Chicagoans will get $1,000 in rent relief with the city’s new plan by Block Club Chicago’s Kelly Bauer
Here’s a story about the readying rent strike by the Chicago Tribune’s Ariel Cheung
Here’s a story on some Chicagoans’ “mini-movement” to get supplies to hospital workers by Block Club Chicago’s Bob Chiarito
Here’s a series on how to support Chicago immigrant organizations during this time by Borderless Mag
Here’s an article about how UIC and Northwestern Hospitals are testing an antiviral drug to treat COVID-19
If you don’t want to watch the news, here are the national headlines to know:
Not all states are receiving PPE and other equipment from the federal government, reports Vox’s Anya van Wagtendonk
The Navajo Nation braces for the effects of coronavirus, reports L.A. Times’ Kurtis Lee
How much does COVID-19 care cost? NPR’s Patti Neighmond finds out
Employees for Instacart, a popular grocery delivery service, went on strike on Monday, reports the Chicago Tribune’s Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz
The FDA has cleared Chicago’s Abbott Laboratories’ COVID-19 test kit that can detect the virus in as little as five minutes, from Jon Fingas at Engadget
U.S. cities might have worse outbreaks than Wuhan, finds the New York Times’ Upshot
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador tightens COVID-19 procedures after nearly 1,000 cases are reported, by L.A. Times’ Patrick McDonnell and Cecilia Sanchez.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for COVID-19, from CNN’s Angela Dewan and Sarah Dean
What’s cookin? Family makes dinner into quarantine competition (and other favorite recipes being made in isolation)
Hey, Grace here, currently under quarantine with seven people and two dogs. Considering I live in a somewhat cutthroat household, my family decided to turn our dinners into a competition.
Here’s how it went down.
We collectively decided on a variety of ingredients which we then wrote on pieces of paper and put in a bowl. We then split into pairs. The day before their night to cook, each pair had to blindly pick their ingredient.
Here’s where things got competitive.
After each dinner was consumed, the rest of the family rated the dinner on flavor, creativity and presentation. Each category was given a rating out of five points, totaling to a possible 15 points and was then averaged. The competition resulted in the following meals:
Garlic-lemon chicken with asparagus, spinach and onion — special ingredient asparagus.
Score: 11.875
Butternut squash mac and cheese — special ingredient butternut squash.
Score: 12.125
Chocolate-peanut butter mole and peanut butter Oreo cookies — special ingredient peanut butter.
Score: 12.25
Before you ask, of course, I won. Do you really think I’d be sharing this story if I hadn’t? C’mon guys.
What’s cooking in other kitchens?
🍗Anna is making chicken fajitas
🥓Katie is making a breakfast sandwich with cheese, grape tomatoes, bacon, over easy egg and sriracha
🥞Maddie is making crepes
🍪Himmat is making chocolate peanut butter-filled cookies
🍪Bato is making banana and oat cookies (mash bananas and add oats, bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees and put Nutella on top)
🥞Jalen is making french toast
🥩Cate is making steak
Cate’s steak dinner (Cate Hoogstraten, 14 East)
Feeling overwhelmed?
Drag personality Coco Peru is putting out uplifting daily videos on enjoying the little things in life amid quarantine
Listen to podcaster Roman Mars talk about his house or the Pandemic Check In podcast, a mental health call-in show (you could even make a call/text of your own)
Go to Club Quarantine's “online queer party” every night at 9 p.m. on Zoom
Looking for fun, tailored home workout programs that don’t require equipment? Visit Darebee to train like a Spartan or to complete quests like an RPG hero
Ten Percent Happier has a free Coronavirus Sanity Guide of meditations, podcasts and blog posts
Call 312-747-1020 for free teletherapy services at Chicago Department of Public Health Mental Health Centers
Call 833-626-4244 for the NAMI Chicago Helpline or 833-TURN-123 for the Bright Star Community Outreach to speak to a mental health counselor
If it’s late at night: text HELLO to 741741. Crisis Text Line is a 24-hour hotline that serves anyone, in any type of crisis
Want to help?
Donate to or buy a gift card from this list of Chicago restaurants
Here’s Chicago organizer Kelly Hayes’ mutual aid form to sign up to help
Sign up to do senior wellness checks for My Block My Hood My City
Lost your main source of income?
Here’s where to apply for unemployment and here’s how to apply
Need financial assistance?
APPLY BY APRIL 1 for Chicago’s COVID-19 housing assistance
Here’s how to apply for Chicago’s Emergency Rental Assistance
Need food or supplies?
Here are Chicago Public Schools locations for food distribution
Here’s how to apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (Which was extended with the federal stimulus bill and you can now apply online!)
Need more information on COVID-19?
Here’s a spreadsheet of COVID-19 resources for undocumented individuals, by UndocuScholars
That's all for Monday. Thanks for reading! Let us know what we missed (you can respond to this email!) Fill out the Census. Stay safe, healthy and hydrated. Call your grandma. Respond to that text you forgot about. Take care of yourself.
Until next Monday,
Patsy Newitt, Grace Del Vecchio and Cam Rodriguez
Associate Editors, 14 East