Good afternoon! It’s Tuesday, and remember when it was T-shirt weather outside? Here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. Illinois sees highest number of deaths in a day

State officials today reported 176 coronavirus-related deaths, the largest number announced in a single day so far. That brings Illinois’ total death toll to 2,838 since the beginning of the outbreak. Officials also announced 2,122 new cases, pushing the total to 65,962.

“We are still in a significant war with an enemy,” said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

As the state saw its deadliest day, Gov. JB Pritzker announced a five-phase plan to reopen the state. But Pritzker warned that “the option of returning to normalcy doesn’t exist” unless the number of new cases declines, either because of a new vaccine, improved treatments or widespread immunity. [WBEZ]

A Chicago nurse who recently lost two patients to COVID-19 is urging coronavirus deniers to take the virus seriously. [WBUR]

Illinois’ stay-at-home order doesn’t appear to be a buzzkill for recreational marijuana. [AP]

And a local couple will be giving a virtual commencement ceremony with Lady Gaga, BTS and other celebrities. [Variety]

2. A more contagious strain of the coronavirus has been discovered

The newly identified strain has become dominant worldwide and raises the possibility that people who recovered from an earlier strain could be reinfected, according to study from scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The new strain also spreads faster than versions that appeared early in the COVID-19 pandemic. It first appeared in Europe in February before spreading to the East Coast of the U.S. [Los Angeles Times]

The news comes as pharmaceutical giant Pfizer begins a coronavirus vaccine trial in the U.S. with 360 volunteers. The vaccine was created in a partnership with German biotech company BioNTech, and 200 patients are included in a trial in Germany.

As the trials begin, Pfizer is also ramping up its manufacturing capabilities in the hopes of distributing a vaccine as quickly as possible. [NPR]

Meanwhile, here’s a look at remdesivir, an experimental drug that received emergency authorization from the FDA to treat COVID-19 patients. [Chicago Tribune]

3. A majority of Americans oppose reopening most businesses

That’s according to a new poll from The Washington Post and the University of Maryland, which found that 78% of Americans said they would feel uncomfortable dining at restaurants. A majority — 67% — said they would feel uncomfortable shopping at retail clothing stores.

Today’s poll also found 56% disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of the public health crisis while 75% support governors. [Washington Post]

The poll comes as several states begin lifting restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced some retail stores could reopen as soon as Friday. [NPR]

In New York City, 15 children between the ages of 2 and 15 have been hospitalized with a mysterious syndrome that includes symptoms associated with toxic shock. Many of the children had the coronavirus, and none of the patients have died. [New York Times]

Meanwhile, an epidemiologist who created internal government projections obtained by The New York Times says those estimates are incomplete. [NPR]

Across the U.S., there have been more than 1.1 million cases and more than 67,000 deaths reported. [NPR]

4. Britain’s death toll becomes highest in Europe

The U.K. has reported more than 32,000 deaths, surpassing Italy’s fatality count of 29,029.

Italy has a smaller population than the U.K., but data analyzed by Reuters suggest that Britain will be one of the hardest-hit areas, seeing far more fatalities above the average for this time of year. [Reuters]

Meanwhile in France, doctors reported that a patient in late December may have had the coronavirus, potentially moving up the timeline for when the virus began circulating. [New York Times]

Here’s a video that explains how Iran’s largest airline contributed to the spread of COVID-19 in the Middle East. [BBC]

Worldwide, there have been more than 3.6 million cases and more than 255,000 deaths reported. [Johns Hopkins]

5. How the U.S. responded to the Spanish flu

“Despite a century’s progress in science, 2020 is looking a lot like 1918,” reports The Associated Press in this fascinating look at the similarities between the U.S. response to the so-called Spanish flu and its current handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a message that resonates today, Dr. John Dill Robertson, the Chicago health commissioner in 1918, urged people to “stay at home” during the Spanish flu pandemic.

Click the link to learn how President Woodrow Wilson and Trump both made missteps early on, how quack doctors spread and what lessons can be learned from the Spanish flu. [AP]

Here’s what else is happening

• NPR, facing a projected budget shortfall of $53 million over the next two years, is cutting employee pay and benefits. [Bloomberg]
• Turns out there is a place in the world where the coronavirus hasn’t hit. But you’ll have to bundle up. [NPR]
• Here’s a look at how colleges may look different in the fall. [NPR]
• Nicolas Cage will play Joe Exotic in an upcoming scripted series. [Buzzfeed]

Oh, and one more thing …

Chicago journalist and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells was awarded with a posthumous Pulitzer Prize this week. Check out this great episode of Curious City that looks at the lasting impact Wells had on Chicago.

“After her relocation to Chicago in 1894, she worked tirelessly to advance the cause of black equality and black power,” Curious City reports. “Wells established the first black kindergarten, organized black women, and helped elect the city’s first black alderman, just a few of her many achievements. The work she did paved the way for generations of black politicians, activists, and community leaders.” [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

Like I mentioned earlier, WBEZ is hoping to raise $400,000 in five days. So I’d like to know what you like the most about WBEZ.

Michele Danza writes:

“The news presented is comprehensive, yet presented in an approachable way. Serious news shows are balanced with fun, still informative, shows. The quality of journalism and journalists is unparalleled.”

Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet to @whuntah.

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