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Alluring Designs Chicagoon March 24, 2020 at 4:38 pm

The Look Chicago

Alluring Designs Chicago

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Grab a Growler at Motor Row Brewingon March 24, 2020 at 4:48 pm

Chicago’s Art and Beer Scene

Grab a Growler at Motor Row Brewing

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2 worthy causes where you can donate nowon March 24, 2020 at 4:56 pm

Writing My Mind

2 worthy causes where you can donate now

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Milwaukee Summerfest 2020 moves fest to new dateson March 24, 2020 at 4:59 pm

Show Me Chicago

Milwaukee Summerfest 2020 moves fest to new dates

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Eating Like an Expat in the Time of Coronaviruson March 24, 2020 at 6:01 pm

Bon Bini Ya’ll

Eating Like an Expat in the Time of Coronavirus

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A trillion here and a trillion there and pretty soon…on March 24, 2020 at 6:23 pm

The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor

A trillion here and a trillion there and pretty soon…

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Take your self-isolation to the sewing machineon March 23, 2020 at 9:45 pm

Not only is Illinois facing a shortage of surgical masks and respirators, so is the entire world. Bulk purchases of face masks have left many hospitals without the tools to effectively protect themselves and their patients. Those at the front lines–nurses, doctors, and health care workers–need this protective gear in order to reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19. A few days ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a piece that suggested health-care personnel can create homemade masks as a crisis response to the shortage. This isn’t the first time DIY face masks have been called to action. In 2006, the CDC published a study on H5N1 which included a similar tactic for handmade face masks.

This news isn’t surprising, however, as U.S. surgeon generals warned the public in February to stop buying face masks, as they were straining the supply chain. American hospitals have taken a huge hit recently and although masks are only meant to be worn once and then thrown away, health-care professionals are given no choice but to rewear their supplies. As a result, hospitals are asking the public to donate materials.

In northwest Ohio, volunteer quilters from the Quilt Foundry are making around 5,000 masks to donate to hospitals who are running short on supplies. In Washington state, vinyl sheets, foam, and industrial tape are being used to create face shields as masks begin to disappear from hospitals. Last week, Rush University Medical Center began to use washable lab goggles for eye protection. Jackson Park Hospital nurses are refusing to enter rooms that don’t have masks. In McLeansboro, Hamilton Memorial Hospital is accepting fabric masks from community volunteers as disposable masks are back-ordered. They state that while fabric masks are less than ideal, it’s what they have to work with during this pandemic. Here in Hyde Park, locals are also banding together to create a similar impact.

Hyde Park resident and informed crafter Cheryl Miller says that “cloth masks made of two layers of cotton and fitting snugly can provide some protection from droplets in the air, and are better than no protection when a person has to get up close and personal in home health or other closer-than-six-feet situations, like shopping, riding the bus, etc.” Miller has been making masks for herself as well as for donation. “It’s reassuring to see other people wear masks too, and I believe homemade masks can help somewhat but my best efforts still aren’t as good as an N95,” she says. Therefore, social distancing is still the best measure to take during the pandemic, especially if wearing a homemade mask.

Dottie Jeffries is making masks and donating them to Montgomery Place, home to 200 older adults, in Hyde Park. She’s working with new and old T-shirts and pillowcases based on the recommendation and data found by Smart Air. “I have also read that flannel works well for the side of the mask that is against one’s face, but at the moment, I don’t have any flannel,” she says. For Jeffries, the hardest part of making and donating masks has been threading the needle. “I had not used my machine for 15 years,” she says. “So now I’m 15 years older!”

President and CEO of Illinois Health and Hospital Association asked the state to donate their inventory of N95 masks to their local hospitals, which number more than 200 statewide. “We urgently need to find alternative supplies, no matter where they are, so our hospitals can continue to provide life-saving care to current and future COVID-19 patients,” he said in a statement. Although Trump and Pence said they would be sending tens of millions more masks to hospitals, it’s unknown when they will actually arrive and be delivered. As a result, the public has to step up. Only on Friday, a 38-year-old woman was charged with stealing breathing masks, hand sanitizer, breathing aspirators, gloves, disinfectant wipes, and much more from the University of Chicago Medical Center. Doctors and hospitals have started to tweet to the public asking for help during the supply shortage, calling all seamstresses, makers, crafters, or DIYers to get your hands ready for some mask-making.

FreeSewing released a COVID-19 face mask pattern for the public to easily download and create masks either for themselves or for the general public (they also have an active help chat room). The Netherlands-based project is run by Joost De Cock, whose wife is a surgeon and began to see the shortages of masks in hospitals. The duo posted a call for makers and provided a one-page PDF of a face-mask pattern.

So, how legit is a handmade fabric N95 face mask? While it is a last resort, it is entirely legit. Old fashioned? Sure. “Prior to modern disposable masks, washable fabric masks were standard use for hospitals,” says Dawn Rogers, a nurse practitioner from Deaconess Hospital’s Patient Safety & Infection Prevention Office. “We will be able to sterilize these masks and use them repeatedly as needed. While it’s less than ideal, we want to do our best to protect our staff and patients during this pandemic.” Not all face masks are created equal. Emily Landon, the medical director for infection control at the U. of C. told CNBC, “First of all, there are multiple different kinds of face masks. There is the surgical mask that people wear that doesn’t really seal up very well. That’s super good if you put it on the patient who’s sick because that will contain their secretions and protect everyone around them.” However, if you want to protect others during this crisis, going old school may be the only option.

Data has found that homemade masks captured 50 percent of virus particles or more. Double-layering masks doesn’t help too much. Materials like tea towels, T-shirts, dish towels, and vacuum cleaner bags are the best-performing materials for a face mask; however, they are harder to breathe in. The priority is having some type of face shield that covers the entire front of the face, the chin, and the sides of the face.

People wearing masks must wash them after one use, but right now, hospitals are in crisis mode (the CDC recommended health-care personnel wear bandanas or scarves). With millions of masks needed, people are stepping up and toward their sewing machines.

If you want to donate masks to Hamilton Memorial Hospital, call Bethany Reyling, Marketing & PR Manager, at 618-838-0857 to arrange a time for drop-off. All masks will be sent to the laundry.

The University of Chicago is in need of nitrile exam gloves, face shields, cotton swabs, and goggles. Drop off items at KCBD Room 1220, M-F 8 AM-4 PM. Keep track of items you dropped off by using this tracking form.

SwedishAmerican Hospital is in need of Olson masks. 1401 E. State, Rockford. Drop items off at the SwedishAmerican Emergency Room.

To donate to Montgomery Place, 5550 S. Shore, call 773-753-4100 ahead of time and have them meet the deliverer outside. v

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Take your self-isolation to the sewing machineon March 23, 2020 at 9:45 pm Read More »

Northwestern Memorial Hospital nurse’s lawsuit alleges she was fired for warning about ‘ineffective’ masks used while treating COVID-19 patientson March 24, 2020 at 3:58 am

A former nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital filed a lawsuit alleging she was fired after warning coworkers that masks the hospital provided did not adequately protect staff against COVID-19.

Lauri Mazurkiewicz filed the suit Monday in Cook County Circuity Court, naming the hospital and several employees as defendants, the lawsuit states.

According to the suit, the hospital began accepting and treating patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in March, allegedly exposing Mazurkiewicz and others to the virus.

Instead of distributing N95 masks, which are effective at preventing the wearer from contracting the virus, the hospital allegedly provided staff with “less-effective” masks, the lawsuit claims. The hospital allegedly also prevented its employees from wearing N95 masks.

Mazurkiewicz sent an email March 18 warning employees and supervisors that N95 masks were more effective than the masks distributed by the hospital, the suit states. She was fired the next day after showing up to work while wearing an N95 mask.

The lawsuit claims she was laid off in retaliation for warning staff that the masks the hospital provided were unsafe.

A spokesman for Northwestern Memorial said in an email that the hospital is “reviewing the complaint.”

The suit seeks a jury trial and more than $50,000 in damages.

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Northwestern Memorial Hospital nurse’s lawsuit alleges she was fired for warning about ‘ineffective’ masks used while treating COVID-19 patientson March 24, 2020 at 3:58 am Read More »

10 Best Netflix Movies You Won’t Want to Pause for a Secondon March 23, 2020 at 9:04 pm

Netflix is great until you are trying to find something new to watch. Too often, when trying to pick a new show or movie, I get frustrated and rely on an episode of The Office to get me through the night. But, as social distancing becomes the norm for the foreseeable future, you might be looking for something different for once. Here are the best movies to watch on Netflix.

Photo Credit: Ali

Ali

Will Smith puts forth an amazing performance in this biopic of Muhammad Ali. It follows Ali’s story starting in 1964, right after Cassius Clay won his Olympic gold medal. The movie depicts his journey into Muhammad Ali and what a powerful symbol he was for African Americans, both then and now.



Photo Credit: Marriage Story

Marriage Story

If you haven’t watched this Oscar-nominated film yet, now is the perfect time to do it. Don’t be fooled by the title; this is not a love story. Instead, it’s a story of divorce, as the couple realizes how their futures are no longer compatible. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson deliver raw, emotional performances, proving why they were both nominated for Academy Awards this year.

netflix movies
Photo Credit: Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

This installment from the Indiana Jones franchise is one of the best. It follows one of our favorite heroes, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), as he heads to Egypt to retrieve the lost Ark before the Nazis can. It’s the perfect throwback movie to watch when you can’t go anywhere else.



netflix movies
Photo Credit: Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

This movie follows the traditional story of spider-man but with a twist—our teen spider-man (Shameik Moore) teams up with a tired, older version of Peter Parker (Jake Johnson) to stop the dimensions of the world from colliding with one another. It’s a funny take on an old storyline.

netflix movies
Photo Credit: El Camino

El Camino

This movie is perfect for all the Breaking Bad lovers who couldn’t let go of the story. El Camino picks up where the show left off and follows Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) as he is on the run from the law.



netflix movies
Photo Credit: Well Go USA

Burning

Lee Jong-su (Yoo Ah-in) is a struggling author who is working odd-jobs when he meets an old acquaintance, Shin Hae-mi (Jeon John-seon). The two immediately start a fling, but when Hae-mi returns from Africa, she comes back with Ben, a wealthy businessman who isn’t who he seems. This is a psychological thriller which leaves you thinking long after the film is over.

netflix movies
Photo Credit: Miramax

Kill Bill: Vol 1. and Vol 2

Quentin Tarantino delivers not one but two bloodbaths that you can watch now on Netflix. The Bride (Uma Thurman) is a former assassin who is seeking revenge after her entire wedding partner is murdered. These two films are filled with gore, violence, and a great soundtrack



netflix movies
Photo Credit: Davi Russo

Blue Valentine

Blue Valentine is another film that depicts the ups and downs of relationships. Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams) come from different backgrounds but still fall in love. When Cindy discovers she is pregnant, they decide to start a life together. The story follows them throughout their entire love arc—from passion to irritation to eventual disinterest.

Photo Credit: Atsushi Nishijima

The Meyerowitz Stories

Directed by Noah Baumbach, the film is about a dysfunctional family who is finally trying to work out their differences. They push each other to the breaking points in this emotionally complex film.



Photo Credit: IMDb

Frances Ha

Frances Halladay (Greta Gerwig) is an aspiring dancer who doesn’t know where she is going on in life. She gets comfortable and unwilling to change until it is forced upon her. As she struggles to build a life for herself, she discovers things she never thought possible.



Best part? You can now download Netflix Party, a Google Chrome plugin that lets you watch your favorite movies and TV shows from friends, even if you are in quarantine. You can start the movie at the same time and even chat with your friends on the interface, helping you to feel not so alone.



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10 Best Netflix Movies You Won’t Want to Pause for a Secondon March 23, 2020 at 9:04 pm Read More »

13 Relatable Tweets About Life in Quarantineon March 23, 2020 at 11:04 pm

Quarantine has been a nightmare for some and a joy for others. Either way you look at it, Illinois is enforcing a shelter in place order, at least until the end of the day on April 7th. At last, you have some time to perfect your introvert-approved routine. For now, here’s a roundup of some of the best tweets and memes for those who need a spoonful of humor.

Introverts: 1 | Extroverts: 0



Enough said.

coronavirus quarantine tweets



Whatever you do, don’t be a Becky. Social distancing is equivalent to *not* exploring the noise in the haunted house.

coronavirus quarantine tweets



People are getting super creative without their March Madness…

coronavirus quarantine tweets



Maybe sports aren’t your thing. In the meantime, you can craft a CDC-approved playlist for quarantining!

coronavirus quarantine tweets



And another one for the apocalypse.

coronavirus quarantine tweets



All around the world, we are learning about ourselves and our community. For example, students are learning about the triumphs (and tribulations) of “working from home.”

coronavirus quarantine tweets



And what’s more? Adults in the US had a crash-course in adulting last week.

Although, for some, you may have noticed that your daily life hasn’t changed *too* much.

coronavirus quarantine tweets

Whichever camp you’re in, one fact rings true: COVD-19 came at a pretty poor time.

coronavirus quarantine tweets

That being said, this is not to eat the samples at Costco while you’re stockpiling toilet paper.

coronavirus quarantine tweets

Looking for another pastime? You can catch up on every businesses’ safety practices by going through your promotions tab in Gmail.

Remember though, you aren’t the only one in this.

At least COVID-19 was honest. But brutal nonetheless.

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13 Relatable Tweets About Life in Quarantineon March 23, 2020 at 11:04 pm Read More »