Today, Governor JB Pritzker ordered Illinois residents to ‘stay at home.’ The Governor’s Executive Order is available via this link. The order is effective at 5:00 p.m., Saturday, March 21, 2020, through the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, which currently extends through Tuesday, April 7, 2020. I urge you to read the executive order carefully and in its entirety.
The order requires all individuals currently living in the State of Illinois to stay at home or their place of residence. Individuals may only leave their residence to perform essential activities. Under the order, “essential activities” are: for health and safety; for necessary supplies and services; for outdoor activity; for certain types of work; and, to take care of others.
The order provides that all non-essential business and operations must cease. “Essential Businesses and Operations” that may continue include: stores that sell groceries; food production and agriculture; organizations that provide charitable and social services; media; gas stations and businesses needed for transportation; financial institutions; hardware and supply stores; critical trades; mail, post, shipping, logistics and delivery services; educational institutions (for the purposes of facilitating distance learning); laundry services; restaurants for off-premises consumption; supplies to work from home; supplies for essential businesses and operations; transportation; home-based care and services; residential facilities and shelters; professional services; day care centers for employees exempted by this order; manufacturing, distribution and supply chain for critical products and industries; critical labor union functions; hotels and motels; and, funeral services.
Essential businesses and operations are mandated to take proactive measures in maintaining social distancing. These measures may include, where possible: designating six-foot distance; providing hand sanitizer and sanitizing products; separating operating hours for vulnerable populations; and, providing online and remote access for employees.
The Governor’s Executive Order is available via this link. The order is effective at 5:00 p.m., Saturday, March 21, 2020, through the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, which currently extends through Tuesday, April 7, 2020.
IML is posting all of this information and more on our COVID-19 resources page available at iml.org/covid. The State of Illinois’ central website for COVID-19 is available at coronavirus.illinois.gov. Please check both websites regularly as they are updated continually. IML legal staff has created a special “FAQs and Resources” document, available via this link.
As a reminder, Governor JB Pritzker signed Executive Order Number 7 which suspends the requirement of the Open Meetings Act requiring in-person attendance by members of a public body. The Governor has encouraged that public bodies postpone the consideration of public business when possible and to allow for a process for video, audio and/or telephonic access for members of the public when a meeting is necessary. You may wish to cancel all regular public meetings during the next two-week period. Emergency or special meetings could be called as needed. This is a local decision and should be made according to the best interests of your individual community.
Today, President Trump directed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to move the Federal Tax Deadline from April 15 to July 15.
Yesterday, the Governor announced the deferral of state and local sales tax payments for small- and medium-sized bars and restaurants. Additional information has been made available through an Informational Bulletin from the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR).