* Not good at all…

A rash of coronavirus outbreaks at dozens of meat packing plants across the nation is far more extensive than previously thought, according to an exclusive review of cases by USA TODAY and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting.

And it could get worse. More than 150 of America’s largest meat processing plants operate in counties where the rate of coronavirus infection is already among the nation’s highest, based on the media outlets’ analysis of slaughterhouse locations and county-level COVID-19 infection rates.

These facilities represent more than 1 in 3 of the nation’s biggest beef, pork and poultry processing plants. Rates of infection around these plants are higher than those of 75% of other U.S. counties, the analysis found.

And while experts say the industry has thus far maintained sufficient production despite infections in at least 2,200 workers at 48 plants, there are fears that the number of cases could continue to rise and that meat packing plants will become the next disaster zones.

* The News-Gazette has a regular feature where Champaign-Urbana Public Health Administrator Julie Pryde answers questions from readers. It’s a great service and here’s the latest…

Q: I was hoping you could follow up on the question from Thursday about cloth mask protection. If a cloth mask can’t protect the wearer from getting infected, how can the mask stop you from spreading the virus? I find this confusing. Wouldn’t it be as porous in either direction?

A: The cloth masks are intended to prevent droplets from spreading when someone is talking, coughing, sneezing, etc. They also help prevent individuals from touching their nose and mouth. The masks should be made of at least two layers of cloth. The masks will absorb droplets. Remember that the masks are not to replace social distancing, cough/sneeze etiquette or thorough and frequent hand-washing. Ideally, everyone who is in public, especially while shopping or accessing other essential services, would wear these to help protect each other.

* Speaking of masks, this is really cool…

A new virus-repelling face mask is one of the things on the fast track to development at Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center through a program launched to address the pandemic.

The Peoria-based center is an innovation hub for clinicians from OSF HealthCare, the University Of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, and engineers from the University of Illinois in Urbana. The Jump Arches program has earmarked $750,000 for the program, which is developing things to address some of the most pressing issues healthcare workers and the public are facing during the pandemic. […]

“These new materials don’t allow any of the virus particles to adhere to the outside of the mask,” said Vozenilek. “Because as you breathe in and out you are pulling the air in on the outside of the mask and particles have a tendency to gather as you are pulling the air in. So the mask becomes contaminated. So in the future, the materials will be designed so the viral particles can’t adhere to further reduce contagion.”

Other research teams are working on disinfection methods for the masks.

* Sun-Times live blog headlines…

70% of residents test positive for COVID-19 at South Shore senior home where 10 have died

Remote learning ‘may be the new normal even in the fall,’ Chicago schools chief says

Second round of small business loans may have similar problems

Elizabeth Warren’s brother dies of COVID-19

Drive-in celebrations? Graduations in December? Virtual ceremonies? Plans for high school seniors unfold — but students not happy

The Lost Chicago Summer of 2020: Tough decisions, but necessary ones

Puzzling over African American COVID deaths — no easy explanation

Watching out for Illinois’ most vulnerable kids becomes all the harder during a pandemic

Why the coronavirus is forcing farmers to dump milk and let crops rot

Chicago’s ‘crush hour’ may take a new turn, but COVID-19 is not CTA or Metra’s death knell

Poland sending COVID-19 medical team to Chicago, White House says

* From the Tribune’s live blog…

Furloughs and layoffs for workers at Sinai hospitals

Chicago’s warm-weather businesses prepare for the worst as coronavirus shutdowns are extended

Evanston joins at least 18 Chicago suburbs requiring face coverings in public

City to hold first online town hall on COVID-19 aimed at slowing spread of virus in majority black communities

For decades Chicago’s lunchtime dining room, Manny’s now fights for new business during coronavirus pandemic

* Illinois roundup…

* Meat supply chain begins to feel effects of COVID-19: “When one section of the supply chain has a slowdown or complete shutdown, it bottlenecks the rest of the system,” Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert, Jr. said. “With highly perishable products like milk or vegetables, the bottleneck is slowing down the process longer than the items have in shelf life.”

* ‘It’s totally safe to come to the hospital’: Edward, Elmhurst managing pandemic

* Illinois rents 10 refrigerated trailers as COVID-19 morgue contingency

* Big crowds on first day of COVID-19 testing facility in Aurora

* 4 suburban ICU nurses who help form the backbone of the coronavirus fight

* Illinois mayors ask feds for COVID relief

* Nearly 70 residents, staff of GreenTree at Mount Vernon have tested positive for COVID-19

* Hidden coronavirus outbreaks spread through cities like Chicago, New York far earlier than Americans knew, researchers say: Vespignani said he and his research team warned officials of the silent spread, posting some of their early projections in mid-February. “We were talking to officials here, and it was the same reaction we got in Italy, in the U.K., in Spain,” Vespignani said. “They told me, ‘OK, that’s happening on your computer, not in reality.’ “Look,” he added, “No one’s going to shut down a country based on a model.”

* Lawmakers slowly preparing for session to reopen: Officials have been careful, though, to stress that the working groups are not legislative committees and that they are not authorized to draft legislation, hear testimony or take votes. “These are far more informal,” Rep. Michael Zalewski, a Riverside Democrat and co-chair of the House economic recovery working group, said this week. “I think they’re simply ways for us to congregate and hear each other out and compare notes and ideas about what we’re going to face in the near future, when we do return to normal regular order.” The difference between “working groups” and legislative committees is important because Article IV, Section 5 of the Illinois Constitution requires all meetings of the General Assembly, as well as legislative committees and commissions to be open to the public, unless two-thirds of the chamber votes to close them.

* Pedestrians complain runners are passing too close on Chicago sidewalks during the pandemic. How risky is that, and should they wear face masks?

* UI cancels fall study-abroad programs

* A few national stories…

* Blood clots in virus patients stump doctors

* Covid-19 causes sudden strokes in young adults, doctors say

* Top vaccine doctor says his concern about Trump’s coronavirus treatment theory led to ouster from federal agency

* Gilead’s coronavirus drug flops in first trial: The Chinese trial showed the antiviral remdesivir did not improve patients’ condition or reduce the pathogen’s presence in the bloodstream

* At Beleaguered U.S. Meat Plants, Inspectors Are Getting Sick Too

* Who’s Behind the ‘Reopen’ Protests?

* McConnell takes flak after suggesting bankruptcy for states rather than bailouts