Mayor Lori Lightfoot will be at the pitcher’s mound on Thursday as the two public health officials who have shepherded Chicago and Illinois through the pandemic are honored for their work during the Cubs home opener, the mayor’s office says.
Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike will throw out the first ceremonial pitches before the Cubs play ball in front of a limited number of fans at Wrigley Field.
Political appointees whose work in normal times is largely behind-the-scenes, Arwady and Ezike have been front and center at news conferences during the pandemic, advising the public about the COVID-19 outbreak, prevention and, now, the vaccine rollout.