Illinois Public Media News

This is part of Essential Voices, a series of interviews with people confronting COVID-19. David Vega is a fourth year-medical student at the Indiana...

Many of us have been spending more time with our pets because of the stay-at-home order in the state, or even adding new pets to our households. Illinois animal rescue groups report that interest in fostering or adopting animals has increased during the coronavirus pandemic. 

With the ever-growing case numbers and deaths from COVID-19, and the order of the day being to stay at home, people are looking for ways to do something to contribute to the cause. For Jean Huddleston of Champaign and one of her friends, that meant sewing 800 masks, which she has donated to health care workers and first responders.

As we continue to practice social distancing, isolation and loneliness are affecting many- especially seniors. We’ll hear more about how one retirement community is keeping their residents connected through technology. 

The country’s transportation workers are performing essential jobs, sometimes putting their lives at risk, during the coronavirus pandemic. We spoke with a central Illinois airline employee and Transport Workers Union of America International Vice President Thom McDaniel about what they're seeing.