Daywatch: Lightfoot bans parks and contact sports, loans give small businesses uncertain lifeline and how to see Chicago’s empty streets from above

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Good morning, Chicago. Here is the coronavirus news and the other top stories you need to know to start your day.

Illinois officials reported 673 new known cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, including seven additional deaths, bringing the known statewide total to 2,538 cases and 26 deaths

United States now leads the world in number of confirmed coronavirus cases, surpassing China, with more than 85,000 infections and 1,300 deaths, according to John Hopkins University on Thursday

As the number of cases worldwide topped 500,000 and deaths climbed past 24,000, according to the Associated Press on Thursday

As Illinois sees largest daily increase in coronavirus cases, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot bans contact sports; closes popular city parks, beaches and trails

For nearly a week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been warning Chicagoans what would happen if they didn’t heed a statewide order to stay at home. On Thursday, the repercussions started. The state announced 673 new coronavirus cases, the biggest spike since the daily announcements began.

Lightfoot ordered Chicago’s iconic lakefront and other high-profile public areas closed off, a day after crowds flouted social distancing rules to pack beaches and parks on a warm afternoon.

Sister of Illinois’ first coronavirus victim also dies from virus, officials say

Illinois small businesses get a lifeline with grants and loans, but will it be enough to withstand coronavirus?

Like many boutique hotel owners in Chicago, Bedderman Lodging is in crisis mode. It is among the many small businesses frantically hunting for stimulus dollars — at the city, state and federal levels — to stay afloat long enough to reopen when the COVID-19 spread subsides.

Durbin, Duckworth break down what Illinois would get from $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed by Senate

The $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed by the Senate includes $4.9 billion in direct assistance to Illinois‘ state and local governments, Democratic U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth said Thursday. Appearing at Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s daily coronavirus briefing at the James R. Thompson Center in the Loop later Thursday, Durbin hailed the Senate’s 96-0 passage of the legislation, while cautioning it still needed House approval.

Highland Park mother sick with COVID-19 for two weeks with no end in sight: ‘I’m going to be too scared to hug my children’

It all started more than two weeks ago when Terri Chaseley felt her lungs burning while at the gym.

She assumed what she felt was caused by the essential oils she had put in her humidifier the night before and stayed for an exercise class that involved less cardio. But days later, the symptoms would worsen and within a week she would be hospitalized and test positive for COVID-19.

Chicago in shutdown: View the empty streets from above

A usually bustling city has turned quiet as many residents, workers and visitors have stayed indoors because of the coronavirus pandemic. Chicago’s storied streets and attractions can be seen mostly empty, as viewed from the skies. Using a drone, Tribune photojournalist Zbigniew Bzdak captured scenes of an empty Chicago. More can be viewed in this video.