Hey there! It’s Wednesday, and I’ve been playing a lot of Animal Crossing to pretend I’m still in the “before times.” Here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. Illinois could see 1,588 deaths from pandemic, about half as many as initially projected

That’s according to revised estimates from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, whose national projections have been cited in recent White House briefings on the COVID-19 pandemic. The IHME had previously estimated Illinois’ death toll could surpass 3,600.

For Illinois, the IHME predicts the peak of infections on April 12. Click on the link to see how Illinois compares to other states. [NPR]

The projections come as Illinois saw the largest spikes reported so far in the number of deaths and cases reported in a single day.

State officials today reported 82 people have died in the last 24 hours, bringing the state’s death toll to 461. Officials also announced 1,529 new known cases, pushing the total number of known infections to 15,078 known infections. [WBEZ]

You can find a map of where Illinois infections have been reported here. [WBEZ]

Meanwhile, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle is in self-isolation after a member of her security detail tested positive for the coronavirus. Preckwinkle said in a statement that she has not developed symptoms of COVID-19 and will remain isolated until Friday as a precaution.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued an order that bans liquor sales after 9 p.m. after reported gatherings outside of stores. [WBEZ]

On Monday, remote classes for Chicago Public Schools students will begin. But what that looks like will depend on which school they attend. [WBEZ]

Out in the burbs, a seventh grader got creative with a homework assignment, and it’s now stuck in my head. [WBEZ]

2. Democrats seek more money for hospitals, local aid and food stamps

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are pushing for at least $250 billion for states, hospitals and food aid as Congress considers its next steps in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

Their demands come as the White House and congressional Republican leaders are hoping to approve this week an additional $250 billion for struggling small businesses. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants to approve the boost in funding on Thursday. [NPR]

Meanwhile, the economic damage from the pandemic appears to be affecting women more than men. Nearly 60% of the 700,000 jobs lost last month were held by women. [NPR]

3. WHO head says politicizing coronavirus could lead to “many more body bags”

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus today urged world leaders to refrain from using the pandemic to score political points. His comments come a day after President Trump criticized the organization and suggested he may withhold U.S. funding.

“If you want to be exploited and if you want to have many more body bags, then you [politicize the virus],” the WHO leader said. “If you don’t want many more body bags, then you refrain from politicizing it.” [NPR]

Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may ease guidelines for people exposed to the coronavirus. Under the plan, people who were exposed could return to work if they have no symptoms, wear face masks and take their temperature twice a day.

The CDC and the White House’s coronavirus task force could announce the new guidelines as early as today. [AP]

4. New York sees second day of record deaths

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced another grim milestone: a second record day in deaths with 779 new fatalities. But Cuomo said the curve of infections appears to be flattening. [New York Times]

Elsewhere in the U.S., doctors and local officials are sounding alarms that outbreaks in rural communities could be particularly disastrous because these areas tend to be poorer, older and short on hospitals.

About two-thirds of rural counties in the U.S. have reported infections, according to The New York Times, and the only states that do not have “stay at home” orders are North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Arkansas. [New York Times]

Across the nation, there have been more than 400,000 known cases reported and more than 12,000 deaths. Here’s a map tracking the spread of the coronavirus. [NPR]

5. Sanders drops out of presidential race

Sen. Bernie Sanders announced today that he is bowing out of the Democratic presidential race, a move that makes former Vice President Joe Biden the party’s presumptive nominee to face President Donald Trump in the November election.

The path to victory for Sanders quickly evaporated after Biden consolidated most voters who supported other moderate candidates, like Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Sanders also failed to win crucial states, like Michigan, which supported him during his 2016 presidential bid.

But Sanders helped move the party farther to the left. For example, his “Medicare for All” plan picked up more support from other presidential candidates during this time around than it did in 2016. And his support from small-dollar donors rather than big fund-raisers helped rewrite the playbook for how campaigns can raise money. [NPR]

Here’s what else is happening

• China lifted a lockdown in Wuhan after 76 days. [NPR]
• Country-folk singer John Prine, who died last night from complications related to COVID-19, is being remembered as a hero of “new” Nashville. [NPR]
• Making your own face mask? Here are some pointers. [Washington Post]
• LOL this headline: “Stephen King Is Sorry You Feel Like You’re Stuck In A Stephen King Novel.” [Fresh Air]

Oh, and one more thing …

I’ve often wondered what it’s like for singles right now. Like, how do you date during a pandemic?

My friends over at Curious City asked fans to share their stories, and some of them are pretty funny, from a woman who is on a boat with an ex-flame to the adventures of a self-proclaimed, sex-toy expert. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

We’ll be launching The Rundown Live this Friday! You can watch me try not to swear beginning at 4:30 p.m. CT on the WBEZ Facebook page. To receive a notification close to the event’s start time, register here.

But what questions do you have for me? Feel free to ask, and I might share the answers in this newsletter and on the show.

Rachel asks: What is something you have learned about yourself in the last year?

I learned, in no particular order, that I could get married to the person I love, work two weeks straight with no break, pick up both of my nephews by the legs at the same time and that I wasn’t the only one who had a high school French teacher who wore a white blouse with a colored bra. What was up with that?

Want to know something about me? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet to @whuntah.

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