Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced in a press conference on March 23 that Chicago would rent more than 1,000 vacant hotel rooms for those infected by the Coronavirus. The rooms are meant to provide space for the need for emergency care in hospitals.

"Currently, individuals with a diagnosis of COVID 19 or waiting for test results, but unable to return safely to home and without hospital care, may be moved to hotels in downtown Chicago rental," the Mayor press office wrote in a statement. "It would ensure that local hospitals and health staff are not put under undue pressure and beds are opened for more seriously ill patients."

Hotel One Sixty Six, a boutique hotel on Chicago's famous Magnificent Mile, was the first hotel to join the housing system.

Hotel room occupants will be recorded for the Chicago Tribune by the Public Health Department of Chicago, Ryan Ori and Lori Rackl. The city must pay hotel room costs as well as three meals a day and expects, among other outlets, to receive reimbursement from the federal government.

The press release notes that hotel staff will be "properly trained" and will not interact directly with guests.