* Whoa…

Around 50% of patients who have been hospitalised with severe COVID-19 and who show raised levels of a protein called troponin have damage to their hearts. The injury was detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans at least a month after discharge, according to new findings published today in the European Heart Journal.

Damage includes inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), scarring or death of heart tissue (infarction), restricted blood supply to the heart (ischaemia) and combinations of all three.

The study of 148 patients from six acute hospitals in London is the largest study to date to investigate convalescing COVID-19 patients who had raised troponin levels indicating a possible problem with the heart.

This ain’t the flu, campers. Be careful out there.

* Illinois Public Radio…

For the second year in a row, the Illinois State Board of Education is seeking a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education for standardized tests normally given during schools’ spring semester.

Earlier this month, State Superintendent Carmen Ayala sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education asking for the waiver on assessments, noting that more than a million Illinois students are still receiving their education completely through remote learning.

“We believe that bringing students back in-person only to immediately begin state assessments will have a very harmful effect on their social-emotional wellbeing, mental health, and more importantly their re-connection with the school community,” Ayala told the Board of Education during its monthly meeting Thursday.

If the feds agree, tests like the SAT and certain graduation requirements — like high school civics — would be waived for the Class of 2021.

* Tribune live blog headlines…

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot defends spending $281.5 million in federal COVID-19 relief money on police payroll, says criticism is ‘just dumb’

Chicago reports improvement in COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts among city’s Black and Latino population

Lightfoot, city officials to give vaccine update

“In 22 minutes, everything was full”: Thousands of Chicagoans receive COVID-19 vaccine at UIC arena as dentistry, nursing and medical students pitch in.

Illinois identifies 17 more cases of U.K. coronavirus variant.

Will County approves $3 million for health department COVID-19 vaccinations.

Lan’s Old Town restaurant shut down after weekend party violates COVID-19 restrictions.

* Sun-Times live blog headlines…

More suicides by Black Cook County residents in 2020 than in any year in over a decade

Mayor’s office says about 50% of first doses going to Black, Latino residents

Africa reaches 100,000 known COVID-19 deaths as danger grows

Biden to visit Michigan vaccine plant as winter throws a curve

Chicago’s federal court to begin COVID-19 testing protocol for workers, jurors

What’s a positive habit you’ve developed during the pandemic? What Chicagoans told us.