A list of Illinois community-based COVID-19 testing locations can be found here.
The Illinois Department of Health announced it would deploymobile COVID-19 testing teams to locations with high demand, such as schools, processing plants, and high-risk workplaces. (March 17)
ECONOMIC RESPONSE
Essential Service Designations:
Essential service providers include health care workers, grocery employees, funeral home employees, pharmacists, hardware store workers, plumbers, electricians, daycare providers, bank tellers, and roles that are essential to the supply chain. Police, firefighters, and paramedics will also continue to work. (March 20)
Labor & Workforce Guidance, Standards and Regulations:
Chicago released outdoor dining guidelines for the fall and winter requiring restaurants and bars to have a sidewalk cafe permit in order to participate. (September 21)
Governor Pritzker announced $16.6 million in federal funding that will help connect unemployed Illinoisans with COVID-19 response jobs. (September 11)
The Illinois Department of Public Health released COVID-19 guidelines for temporary workers. (August 27)
Governor Pritzker announced penalties for businesses that fail to comply with the statewide mask mandate. (August 7)
Governor Pritzker signed a bill that will provide worker compensation benefits for front-line and essential workers who contract COVID-19 on the job under certain conditions (June 5)
Illinois has released specialized health and safety guidelines arrangedby industry categories for businesses and offices reopening during Phase Three. (May 24)
Economic Stimulus & Relief:
Governor Pritzker announced the state would end its eviction moratorium. Pritzker also announced that applications for the second round of rental assistance funding had been made available, along with a separate program to support homeowners with mortgage assistance. (May 17)
Governor Pritzker extended Illinois’ evictions moratorium until May 29. (May 3)
Governor Pritzker authorized the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity to create the Utility Disconnection Avoidance Program, allocating $80 million towards the fund. (April 26)
Governor Pritzker announced $1.6 billion in federal aid to expand access to early childhood education and childcare, which includes $140 million in direct grants to childcare providers over the next three weeks. (April 16)
The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and the Citizens Utility Board announced upcoming events to help utility customers struggling with the cost of bills during the COVID-19 pandemic. (March 8)
Governor Pritzker signed a bill that would extend worker compensation benefits until June 30 for first responders and frontline essential workers who were exposed to and contracted COVID-19 through their job. (March 1)
Governor Pritzker announced an expansion of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program, which would provide additional federally funded food benefits for children across the state. (February 24)
Governor Pritzker announced that Illinois would dedicate an additional $20 million in CARES Act funding to provide aid to child care providers. He also announced that the maximum monthly co-pay for parents enrolled in the Child Care Assistance program would be reduced to $1.25 for January and February 2021. (January 4)
Governor Pritzker announced that $30 million in CARES Act funding had been allocated to welcoming centers across Illinois, as well as $18 million in funding for housing and utility assistance for families. (October 16)
Illinois extended its utility moratorium through Winter 2021 for eligible low-income residential customers and those who report that they are experiencing financial or COVID-19-related hardship. (September 23)
Governor Pritzker announced that Illinois would apply for additional unemployment benefits through the Lost Wages Assistance program. (August 26)
Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Housing Development Authority announced the opening of the state’s Emergency Mortgage Assistance, providing grants for income-eligible homeowners. (August 24)
The Illinois Housing Development Authority allocated $150 million to help income-eligible renters through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, and $150 million to help homeowners impacted by the pandemic through the Emergency Mortgage Assistance program. (August 10)
Chicago MayorLightfoot announced $33 million in federal funding for housing grants for Chicago residents, including mortgage, and rental assistance. (July 27)
Governor Pritzker announced that $250 million in relief would be dispersed to local communitiesto assist with the response to COVID-19. (July 1)
Business Support & Resources:
Governor Pritzker signed legislation that extends businesses’ ability to sell cocktails for pickup and delivery. (June 3)
Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity announced an expansion of DCEO’s community navigator program, which aims to help small, minority-owned businesses connect with emergency resources during the pandemic. (May 12)
Governor Pritzker announced $3.4 million in funding help small businesses access federal COVID-19 emergency programs. (January 22)
Governor Pritzker said he would extend the statewide moratorium on evictions for another 30 days and provide new protections for landlords. (November 16)
Governor Pritzker announced $46 million in small business relief through the Business Interruption Grants program. (October 30)
The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced the availability of $5 million in funding for agriculture businesses suffering interruptions as a result of the ongoing pandemic. (October 2)
Governor Pritzker announced $245 million in grants for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. (September 16)
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced the opening of seven new Small Business Development Centers. (July 7)
Governor Pritzker announced $900 million in funding in grant programs for communities and businesses most impacted by the pandemic and recent civil unrest. The grants include fund for emergency rental mortgage assistance, Business Interruption Grants, and poverty mitigation programs. (June 17)
Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity announced a $7.3 million investment from the US Small Business Administration for the Illinois Small Business Development Center program to support Illinois businesses and entrepreneurs in starting, growing and maintaining their businesses. (May 27)
SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS
Reopening:
Governor Pritzker released guidelines for Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois plan, which will go into effect on June 11 and allow for a full reopening of all businesses and activities. (June 7)
Governor Pritzker issued an executive order that would allow fully vaccinated residents to not wear masks inside and outdoors. (May 19)
Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed that the entire state would move into the Bridge Phase of the Restore Illinois reopening plan. Pritzker has also said he would be revising his executive order to meet revised CDC mask guidance. (May 14)
Governor Pritzker announced that Illinois would move into the Bridge Phase of the Restore Illinois reopening plan beginning May 14. (May 7)
The Illinois Department of Health has authorized local health departments with low COVID-19 vaccine demand to vaccinate residents ages 16 and above. (March 26)
Governor Pritzker announced the introduction of the “Bridge Phase,” which will serve as a transition period with higher capacity limits and increased business operations between Phase 4 and Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois Plan. Pritzker also announced that vaccine eligibility would be expanded to all residents beginning April 12. (March 19)
Governor Pritzker extended emergency orders until April 4. (March 5)
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Region 4 would move to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan. (February 5)
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Region 8 and Region 9 would move to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan. (February 3)
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced that Region 7 would move to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan. (February 1)
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that Region 1 and Region 2 would move to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan. (January 25)
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Region 6 would return to Phase 4 of the Restore Plan and Region 7 would advance to Tier 1. (January 22)
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced that Region 5 would move out of Tier 2 mitigations and into Tier 1 mitigations, which allow limited indoor dining. (January 20)
Governor Pritzker announced certain regions across the state would be eligible to move out of Tier 3. Additionally, restaurants and bars in qualifying regions are permitted to resume indoor dining with limited capacity. (January 15)
Governor Pritzker filed an emergency rule to extend COVID-19 safety rules, including mask wearing and social distancing, for another 150 days. (January 6)
Illinois received the first shipment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the Illinois Strategic National Stockpile. Additional shipments are expected in coming weeks. (December 14)
Governor Pritzker said that statewide virus restrictions would remain in place for at least a few weeks. (December 2)
Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health announced that Tier 3 COVID-19 resurgence mitigations would be implemented. (November 18)
Mayor Lightfoot announced a ten-person limit on weddings, birthday parties, funerals, and some social events starting November 16. (November 12)
Governor Pritzker announced that new COVID-19 resurgence mitigations would be implemented in Regions 5, 7, and 8. (November 12)
Governor Pritzker announced new COVID-19 resurgence mitigations would be implemented in Region 2. (October 30)
Governor Pritzker announced new COVID-19 resurgence mitigations would be implemented in Regions experiencing a surge in cases, including limiting social gatherings and imposing rules for bars and restaurants. (October 30)
Mayor Lightfoot announced a curfew for nonessential businesses and that indoor service at bars that don’t serve food would no longer be permitted. (October 23)
Mayor Lightfoot announced that Chicago bars that do not serve food would be allowed to reopen for indoor service, and bars and restaurants would be allowed to serve alcohol until 1:00AM. In addition, the city would allow shaves, facials, and other personal services. (September 28)
Governor Pritzker announced a new statewide restaurant and bar policy requiring all patrons to wear a mask while interacting with employees. (August 25)
SCHOOL PLANNING
K-12:
Governor Pritzker announced that $7 billion in federal funding would be allocated the state’s K-12 school districts. (March 31)
The Illinois State Board of Education reduced the 6-feet social distancing guidance to 3-feet. (March 10)
Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health announced updated guidance for youth and adult recreational sports. The guidance put sports into three risk levels—lower, medium, or higher—based on the amount of contact between athletes and their proximity during play. (October 28)
Chicago Public Schools announced that all students would continue with remote learning when the second quarter started in November, but that some of the district’s “most vulnerable” children would return at the end of the calendar year. (October 16)
State Higher Education:
A list of Illinois universities and colleges that planned to reopen in the fall can be found here.
Produced by Marathon Strategies, an independent PR firm that delivers intelligent communications and research solutions. For information, email Phil Singer at [email protected]
