Chicago hotels to house Coronavirus patients

Chicago's plan to reserve at least 1,000 hotel rooms through partnerships with five hotels is the first sweeping strategy unveiled in the U.S., aimed at relieving pressure on hospitals that are the only treatment option for people with severe cases of COVID-19. City officials said they've shared plans with numerous other cities though the first patients here moved in on Tuesday.

Samir Mayekar, deputy mayor for neighborhood economic development in Chicago, said the city's public health team wanted a plan that teamed with hotel owners and their staff, rather than a takeover run entirely by public employees as used by cities in Asia and Europe.

Jose Gonzalez said his decision to sign on as a cook for hotel-bound patients in Chicago was influenced by his family's financial situation. Until Monday's announcement, he was part of an 18-month strike by workers at Hotel 166 on the city's North Side.

Gonzalez got by working overnight shifts at another hotel until warnings about the coronavirus slowed guest visits there and his work hours were slashed.

"I'm leaving my trust in the city of Chicago and their health department," Gonzalez said. "At the end of the day, I've got bills to pay and I have to move my family forward."

Officials said the reserved hotel rooms are intended for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 but have mild symptoms that don't require a hospital stay. They also could be used by people awaiting test results but unable to stay home due to the risk of spreading the virus to family members, particularly those who are vulnerable to more severe symptoms due to their age or other health issues.