Good afternoon, it’s Wednesday. If you’d like to know what working from home looks like for me, here you go! And here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. COVID-19 cases almost double in Illinois

The number of cases jumped today from 160 to 288, Gov. JB Pritzker said.

“Make no mistake that no place and no person is immune to COVID-19,” Pritzker said, warning that the numbers will “get much worse in Illinois before they get better.” [WBEZ]

The news comes as Chicago-area hospitals are hustling to prepare for a potential surge in patients that public health officials warned could overload the nation’s health system.

Illinois has 209 hospitals, and as of Monday, they had 705 beds available in intensive care units for the sickest patients, 525 isolation rooms and nearly 1,300 ventilators to help people breathe.

But the state’s top public health official said that is not enough. [WBEZ]

Meanwhile, Mayor Lori Lightfoot will update the public on the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic during a Thursday prime-time address from her City Hall office. The mayor will “preview measures” she plans to take in the weeks ahead, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. [Sun-Times]

Elsewhere in Chicago, flights at Midway have been scaled back after three Federal Aviation Administration technicians at the airport’s tower tested positive for COVID-19. [WBEZ]

And Columbia College Chicago, DePaul University and the University of Chicago all reported cases of coronavirus at their campuses. [Chicago Sun-Times]

2. White House stimulus plan includes 2 checks for many Americans

The plan would provide two $1,000 checks to many Americans beginning April 6 and again on May 18, reports The Washington Post.

The plan, which is being hashed out between the White House and congressional Republicans, would also include relief to small businesses. The news comes as the Trump administration races to finalize details of a $1 trillion rescue plan as financial experts warn of the growing possibility of a global recession. [Washington Post]

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump today ordered that the U.S. border with Canada be partially closed. [NPR]

The president also invoked the Defense Production Act, which forces industries to ramp up production of essential equipment, like ventilators that help patients breathe. [New York Times]

And the Senate today approved a relief package aimed at helping people who have been directly affected by the pandemic. The bill provides paid sick and family leave for some U.S. workers, and it now heads to Trump, who is expected to sign it into law. [NPR]

3. U.S. could lose millions of jobs

The economic damage from the COVID-19 pandemic could be very grim. A former adviser to President Trump told The New York Times that the U.S. could see a million jobs disappear in March alone due to layoffs and hiring freezes. The Economic Policy Institute, a D.C.-based research firm, said 3 million jobs could be lost by the summer.

But there is a possibility that an economic downturn could be short-lived if companies largely retain workers. [New York Times]

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin laid out a dire scenario this week to Republican senators, saying the unemployment rate could climb to 20% if the federal government does not intervene. The jobless rate was 3.5% last month. [Washington Post]

Meanwhile, stock markets continued to dive today as investors waited for federal lawmakers to take action to boost the faltering economy. [NPR]

If you’ve been financially impacted by the pandemic, The New York Times has created this hub to help people find information about government benefits and free financial services. [New York Times]

4. How long will this last?

A 100-page federal plan given to policymakers said the pandemic could last “18 months or longer,” according to The New York Times. The plan also mentions the possibility of “multiple waves” of infections resulting in shortages of medical supplies, the Times reports. [New York Times]

So far, there have been more than 100 deaths in the U.S. from the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s a map where you can see how the virus is spreading throughout the U.S. [NPR]

Meanwhile, the future of the academic year appears more uncertain. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he doesn’t think the state’s public schools will reopen before summer break. [Politico]

And Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said her state’s public schools will remain closed for the rest of the academic year. [NPR]

Could Illinois schools be closed for longer than two weeks? It’s possible. You can find more answers to questions about the state’s closures here. [WBEZ]

5. Sanders faces tough road ahead after Biden expands his lead

Oh yeah, the nation is also in an election year.

Sen. Bernie Sanders is “having conversations with supporters to assess his campaign,” a top aide told NPR. Sanders suffered more losses after a majority of voters in Illinois, Arizona and Florida supported former Vice President Joe Biden in last night’s primary elections in the Democratic presidential race. [NPR]

Speaking of Illinois’ primary, incumbent Kim Foxx sailed to victory in the Democratic race for Cook County State’s attorney. [WBEZ]

And Marie Newman, who had the support of Sanders and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, emerged victorious over Congressman Dan Lipinksi in the Democratic race in the 3rd Illinois Congressional District. [WBEZ]

You can find more information about last night’s election results in this link. [WBEZ]

Here’s what else is happening

• Fox News faces criticism for initially downplaying the threat of COVID-19. Check out the video in the link to see how the network has changed its tune. [Washington Post]

• Health experts recommend avoiding public transit, but if you have to use it, here are some tips for staying safe. [Chicago Tribune]

• Here’s a list of Chicago bookstores offering curbside pick-up and, in some cases, reduced shipping fees. [Chicago Tribune]

• Oregon police are begging people to stop calling 911 when they run out of toilet paper. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

If you haven’t heard already, my friends over at Nerdette are releasing mini episodes called The Introvert’s Guide to the Good Life to help us get through this incredibly strange time.

In today’s episode, host Greta Johnsen calls up some pals — like Peter Sagal from Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me! Peter explains to listeners how the show is adjusting to life under self-quarantine. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

How are you staving off boredom and staying sane during this very strange time?

Irene Smith writes:

“FaceTime a few friends every day. So good to see their faces. Virtual happy hour: Our kids set this up for us. Everyone has a drink. Everyone talks. You can never have too many happy hours.”

And Leslee writes:

“Things I do during this time: volunteering at my local food pantry, Lakeview Pantry. The number of regular volunteers has gone down because many are in vulnerable age groups, and the need for funds and people to help has increased. Pitching in makes me feel useful and psychologically engaged.”

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

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