In a city where the holidays are greeted with cold weather, people might add a new item to their winter wardrobe this year: the face mask. As reported by ABC 7 news, “People are looking to remember this holiday season with pandemic-related merchandise. According to Etsy, face masks alone have reached $264 million in sales.” As the holiday season approaches quickly, COVID-19 numbers continue to rise rapidly. Chicago has experienced a surge in COVID-19 numbers and has approached the concern in numerous ways, one being several new regulations and precautions instituted across the City and State. 

The city has proposed the need to create new regulations and precautions. In mid-November, city officials created different sets of rules in regards to safely managing the coronavirus and trying to reduce the number of cases present in both the state and the city. 

A Stay-At-Home advisory was issued on November 16th by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. In addition to the Stay-At-Home advisory, Tier Three regulations were put into effect by Governor J.B. Pritzker on Friday November 20th, reinforcing certain mitigation efforts. 

As of November 18, the City of Chicago COVID-19 Dashboard states that the positivity rate for the city is currently at 15.3%. The new rules set in motion in mid-November created challenges and obstacles for the city as the precautions considered many different fundamental aspects of life. 

School Nurse Anne Nelson described how the holiday season will impact the coronavirus pandemic in Chicago. “So I think we are going to see an increase in hospitalizations and a couple of weeks after that we are going to see an increase in deaths, and it’s sad because we’re so close to the vaccine and kind of putting an end to this at least starting in December,” Nelson said. 

Nelson described how people “deserve to have a nice holiday, but not at the expense of other people, and by other people,” Nelson said, “I am thinking of nurses and doctors that work in the hospitals. My heart goes out to them because they, you know no matter how hard they work, people are still going to die.” 

Nelson also mentioned the pattern in which health care professionals “are getting sick too, not necessarily with COVID-19, just from being exhausted.”

She mentioned how traveling will have a large impact this year. “I definitely think you should stay where you are.” 

As the holidays approach and 2020 comes to an end, Nurse Anne commented about what she has learned during the duration of the pandemic. “I have also felt through myself personally, a new sense of purpose. I felt like okay, I have a new job now. My job is not school nursing. My job is public health nursing with a school focus, and I felt like I was, really. It was a very pivotal role for me that made me feel very good, and I also felt very supported by the medical community at Parker,” Nelson said. 

Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy located in Lincoln Park has also experienced challenges regarding the coronavirus and the holidays. The Assistant Manager Aaron Victoria at Pharmaca has noticed some trends. 

“I think that, as expected and predicted by the experts, the holidays are going to make it more difficult to control the number of infections. As humans, we are torn between spending time with our loved ones during the holidays and staying safe by isolating ourselves,” Victoria said. 

While the holidays are impacting the cases of the coronavirus, the coronavirus is also impacting the holidays. 

“We are shopping differently, sharing differently, gathering differently (zoom), and, sadly, many of us have empty seats at our tables,” Victoria said. 

Pharmaca has also experienced changes regarding business and sales. 

“Our particular pharmacy has seen a drop in sales at the retail end of the business. However, our online platform is experiencing record sales this year and specifically this holiday season,” Victoria said. 

Victoria also noticed trends in shopping as customer traffic has changed in the physical store and has shifted to the online platform. 

“Even though the online shopping trend had been gaining strength, COVID-19 has accelerated this process and pushed shoppers more than ever to buy online rather than in_person shopping. In-store sales have also shifted dramatically towards the supplement and Health department; away from makeup, hair and skin care,” Victoria said. 

Through the Millennium Park Christmas Tree is back, there is no ice skating this winter. Sophomore Lily Moss is a long-time  attendee of the Millennium Park Ice Rink “For many years in the winter I have gone with friends and skated at the Millenium Park Ice Rink, but sadly due to COVID this outdoor rink in the middle of the city is closed,” Moss said. “Although this one is shut down altogether, like many other activities in the city, the ice ribbon at Maggie Daley Park is open, but under different rules where if you want to go you must make a reservation and pay $5.” 

The holidays this year will look different because of the virus’s presence, and there are different strategies to celebrate safely, highlighted by Nelson, such as the use of Zoom, baking, and letter writing. She also mentioned the uses of igloos that are seen throughout the city, providing an option for dining. 

Through baking, Nelson explored new ways to connect with people she would usually be with during the holiday season, acknowledging the different aspect this year’s holidays will have.  

“I made several pies and brought them to people that I normally would see on Thanksgiving, and that way I felt like I became part of their celebration,” Nelson said.