Good afternoon! It’s Monday, and my eighth straight day of working, with four more to go! My husband said, “I see you less now that you’re working from home than when you worked at Navy Pier.” Here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. Chicago will rent hotel rooms to isolate COVID-19 patients

City officials have hammered out a plan to rent rooms at the Cambria Chicago Magnificent Mile for people who have either been diagnosed with COVID-19 or believe they have it. The move comes as health experts worry a surge in patients will overload hospitals across the country.

The deal with Cambria Chicago Magnificent Mile, which has a total 215 rooms, comes as city officials try to reach similar agreements with other local hotels. The city hopes to rent 2,000 to 4,000 hotel rooms, said Deputy Mayor Samir Mayekar. [Chicago Tribune]

Meanwhile, Illinois officials announced today that there are 236 new cases, bringing the state’s total to 1,285. Officials also said there are also three more deaths, bringing the state’s death toll to 12.

Today’s numbers come as Gov. JB Pritzker announced Illinois manufacturers will ramp up production of critical hospital gear, like masks gloves, for doctors, nurses and other first responders. Pritzker has criticized the Trump administration for giving the state a “fraction” of the items he has requested. [WBEZ]

Doctors and nurses tell WBEZ they are in desperate need for personal protective equipment. Health officials worry that a shortage could jeopardize efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and create a health risk for front-line workers. [WBEZ]

If you have extra items that could be used at hospitals, here’s information on how you can donate them.

Meanwhile, Pritzker is hoping to reinforce the ranks of health care workers by asking retired doctors and nurses to return to work. But some older retirees say they are struggling with the governor’s call to action. [WBEZ]

And FYI: Beginning this week, WBEZ’s evening schedule is changing so we can provide you with the latest information about COVID-19. We’ll air live special coverage at 8 p.m. CST. You can listen at 91.5 FM, online or on your smart speaker.

2. Senate negotiations continue over $2 trillion rescue plan

Senate leaders and the Trump administration are trying to reach a deal on the giant stimulus package after Senate Democrats again blocked the bill from advancing today.

One of the main sticking points are loans that would be made available to corporations hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, like airlines. Democrats say there are not enough restrictions to stop corporations from using the money to enrich themselves while laying off workers.

Tensions over the impasse boiled over today in the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., accused Democrats of playing games with the economy. [NPR]

Meanwhile, three Republicans — Sens. Rand Paul, Mitt Romney and Mike Lee — are in self-quarantine and unable to cast votes remotely on the rescue package. [NPR]

3. “This week it’s going to get bad,” warns surgeon general

The warning comes as that nation’s total number of COVID-19 cases surpass 35,000. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said the virus appears to be acting differently in the U.S., where it is affecting young people at higher rates than it did in China.

People should stay home to help slow the spread of the virus, Adams said, adding that too many people in New York and other states have not been following social distancing guidelines.

“We don’t want Dallas or New Orleans or Chicago to turn into the next New York,” Adams said. “It means everyone needs to be taking the right steps right now.” [NPR]

The New York City region now holds the unfortunate title of being the U.S. epicenter of the pandemic. The news comes as Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered hospitals to add 50% more beds. New York has a total of 53,000 hospital beds, and officials anticipate they’ll need as many 113,000. [NPR]

Meanwhile, here’s a look at where infections have been reported in the U.S. The numbers may be deceiving, health experts said, because of the slow rollout of tests. [NPR]

4. Pandemic is “accelerating,” WHO says

The World Health Organization’s director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said today that the virus is in almost every country and shows no signs of slowing down.

“It took 67 days from the first reported case to reach the first 100,000 cases. Eleven days for the second 100,000 and just four days for the third 100,000,” he said.

Adhanom said he would talk to world leaders this week and urge them to boost production of critical protective gear, like masks and gloves, for health care workers. [ABC News]

Meanwhile, more than 1.5 billion people — 1/5 of the world’s population — are being asked to stay home. [AP]

You can find a map of worldwide infections here. [Johns Hopkins]

5. Summer Olympics will be postponed

International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound said the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be postponed, likely to 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know,” Pound said.

Pound said the IOC will announce next steps soon and will deal with the “immense” ramifications of delaying the Summer Olympics. [USA Today]

Here’s what else is happening

Friends and family members are remembering John LaPlante, a former Chicago transportation chief and bicycle advocate. LePlante died after testing positive for COVID-19. [WBEZ]

A group of religious leaders are calling for the release of some inmates from Cook County Jail in an effort to protect them from COVID-19. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Some West Side high schoolers started a podcast to help Chicago Public Schools students who are home during the COVID-19 pandemic. [Block Club Chicago]

Here’s a look at ways you can use your smart speaker beyond playing music, like listening to WBEZ. [New York Times]

Oh, and one more thing …

Is anyone else watching Tiger King on Netflix? The seven-part documentary series follows Joe Exotic, who ran a makeshift zoo of mostly tigers before he was sent to prison for plotting to kill an animal rights activist.

The real-life cast of bizarre characters blows my mind with every episode. You can’t make this stuff up. [Vox]

If you’re looking for other documentaries featuring quirky people, I looooove Spellbound, which shows how a group of children make their way to the 1999 Scripps National Spelling Bee Championship.

Tell me something good …

What’s the first thing you’re doing when Illinois is out of the “stay at home” order?

I’m going to the gym for leg day, which I never thought I would miss. And I’m going to play as many nerdy games as possible — and for as long as possible — at the Dice Dojo, a board game store in Edgewater. And then my husband and I are going to stop by our favorite Chinese restaurant.

What will you do? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet to @whuntah.

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