Illinois Moves to a Tier 3 Mitigation Order: Governor Pritzker and public health officials today announced new mitigation measures for the entire state which will take effect at 12:01 am this Friday, November 20, 2020 and run through in indeterminate amount of time. While not technically a “Stay-at-Home” Order, these new mitigations aim to limit gatherings and encourages residents to stay home as much as possible and follow proper safety measures when out in public. These additional mitigation measures include the following:

Manufacturing:

• Additional COVID training for all employees required even if previous training occurred

• Operators should coordinate with IDPH to implement testing protocols and contact tracing – “upon a request by IDPH”, consistent with available testing supplies

• All employees must wear face coverings at all times unless eating or drinking. Exemptions only for safety purposes

• Only manufacturing staff and key personnel allowed in facilities. Non-production employees must work remotely. Non-essential staff and visitors are not permitted. Exemptions only for critical equipment repairs, supply deliveries and safety reasons (“critical visitors”)

• “All critical visitors” must have an Employee Health and Safety (EHS)-approved risk-assessment done in advance, including travel history, tracking, and temperature check prior to entrance

• Implement additional workstation realignment “when feasible”

• Stagger and space shifts, and designate shift entrances and exits (when possible) to minimize interactions of employees across unique shift groupings

• Station sanitation required at beginning and ending of shifts

• Operators must suspend COVID-related incentive pay and promote staying home when sick or showing symptoms

• Implement temporary leave policies to accommodate workers who are sick

• Develop and implement safety protocols for employee travel vans to promote spacing, require face coverings, temperature checks, air circulation, and vehicle sanitization

Please note that CICI is reaching out to IDPH for availability of any guidance on the requirements for manufacturers.

Bars and restaurants:

• All bars and restaurants close at 11pm and may reopen no earlier than 6am the following day

• No indoor service

• All bar and restaurant patrons should be seated at tables outside

• No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed).  Tables should be 6 feet apart

• No standing or congregating outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting

• No dancing or standing indoors

• No tables exceeding 6 people

• Reservations required for each party

• No seating of multiple parties at one table

• Indoor gaming terminals must suspend operations

• Includes private clubs and country clubs

Health and fitness centers:

• Operate at no more than 25% capacity

• No indoor group classes

• Face coverings must be worn at all times, including while engaged in individual exercise regardless of person or machine spacing

• Reservations required

• Locker room areas should be closed

Hotels:

• Hotel room occupancy should be limited to registered guests only, with the maximum allowance being the number of individuals permissible per existing fire code for each applicable guest room

• Fitness centers should be closed, or operated only on a reservation model with capacity limited to 25% of the maximum occupancy for the room

• Grab and go food allowed

• Event and meeting space closed

Indoor recreation, theaters, cultural institutions (e.g. casinos, bowling, arcades, movie theaters, museums and zoos:

• Gaming and casinos close

• Indoor recreation centers, including theaters, performing arts centers and indoor museums and amusement centers, close

• Live streaming of performances encouraged with social distancing of performers and minimum operational staff

• Outdoor activities allowed at 25% capacity or less

• Outdoor group activities limited to 10 persons or less, participants/guests must wear face coverings at all times

• Reservations required for each guest for outdoor activities

Meetings, social events and gatherings (including weddings, potlucks, etc):

• Limit in home gatherings to household members

• Meeting rooms, banquet centers, private party rooms, private clubs and country clubs may not host gatherings

• No party buses

• Funerals are limited to 10 family members of the decedents, not including staff

Offices:

• All employees who can work remotely should work remotely

Organized group recreational activities (sports, indoor sports and activity facilities, etc.):

• Pause all indoor group sporting and recreational activities including youth and adult recreational sports, individual training may remain (with facility reservation). Includes park districts and travel leagues

• Outdoor sports and recreation allowed

• Participant groups and practices outdoors limited to 10 persons or less with social distancing

• Face coverings required for all activities at all times

• Locker rooms should be closed

Personal care services:

• Operate at lesser of 25 clients or 25% capacity

• Face coverings must be worn at all times by clients and service providers

• Suspend services where a face covering cannot be worn (e.g. facials, beard trims)

• Physical, occupational and massage therapy allowed as deemed necessary by a medical provider, but appointments must be spaced by a minimum of 15 minutes and facilities should take steps to sanitize and circulate clean air through service rooms before and after each service

• Virtual consultations recommended

Retail (including service counters):

• Operate at no more than 25% capacity, including general merchandise stores, “big box” stores that offer groceries and pharmacy, and convenience stores

• Grocery stores and pharmacies may operate at up to 50% capacity

• Encourage delivery or curbside pickup options wherever possible

• When in-store shopping is necessary, promote efficient trips and consistent circulation

Increased Mitigations Measures Ordered Across the Country - Updated Specific State Information on COVID-19 Orders: Across the country, several cities and states are increasing their mitigation measures in hopes of stemming the rise in COVID-19 cases. Illinois has already ordered a number of these measures already, including limiting indoor bar and restaurant service and limiting the number of people in gatherings (see above).  Probably one of the more draconian measures have come from the city of Philadelphia where city officials there have banned indoor gatherings of any size in any location, public or private, except among individuals who live together.  Other states like New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan, California, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Washington have issued similar additional mitigation measures.

Attached to this Update is the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) comprehensive chart detailing some these state specific orders and mitigation measures as well as executive orders and legislation relating to business liability.  This chart is now being updated twice a week now.

Secretary of State Closes Driver Services Facilities:  Secretary of State Jesse White is closing down Driver Services facilities statewide for in person transactions effective today, Tuesday, Nov. 17 through Monday, Dec. 7, 2020.   Secretary White is encouraging the public to take advantage of online services at www.cyberdriveillinois.com

In addition, expiration dates for driver’s licenses and ID cards will be extended until June 1, 2021. This June 1, 2021 extension also includes those who have February, March, April and May 2021 expiration dates. Expired driver’s licenses and ID cards will remain valid until June 1, 2021. Commercial Driver License (CDL) holders and commercial permit holders are excluded from this extension due to federal requirements.

Nineteen CDL facilities will remain open for written and road exams. You can find these CDL facilities at https://www.ilsos.gov/facilityfinder/facility

All other Secretary of State departments are open to serve the public.

Update on COVID-19 Cases: IDPH is reporting 597,849 positive tests of COVID-19 in Illinois, an average increase of 12,261 new positive tests per day since reported here 5 days ago on November 12.  In total, 9,255,658 tests have now been conducted in Illinois for the virus, an average increase of 98,111 tests per day since November 12. 

The state’s average positivity rate over all 11 regions is at 12.5% for the last week, and 12.4% over the last 5 days.  As of today, 10 of out Illinois' 11 regions are recording a 7-day average positivity rate either lower than or the same as last week.  The only region still increasing is Region 7 (Kankakee and Will Counties).  You can see where the various regions are at in terms of their positivity rates, hospitalizations and other metrics at this link. 

Unfortunately, IDPH is reporting a total of 10,875 deaths, an average increase of 79 per day since November 10, which is down from 94 last week.

You can also check where these cases are occurring at the State of Illinois COVID-19 website which also contains more information on this outbreak.

Also, IDPH has a case breakdown of the number of positive cases in Chicago and each county relative to the number of fatalities.  The IDPH website also now includes a breakdown of the cases under each zip code in the state.

For information on other states and countries, John Hopkins University has developed this website that provides invaluable resources at a one-stop location detailing testing and tracing trends, timelines of COVID-19 policies, and interactive maps.

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