Governor JB Pritzker announced that he will be issuing a new Executive Order next week extending Illinois’ stay-at-home order through May 30. The current order ends on April 30.
The new Executive Order will be issued next week and the official language is not yet public. The IMA will provide specific guidance to manufacturers when the language is released.
The IMA was successful in ensuring that the new order continues to include the same exemption for “essential manufacturing” that is defined as:
Manufacturing companies, distributors, and supply chain companies producing and supplying essential products and services in and for industries such as pharmaceutical, technology, biotechnology, healthcare, chemicals and sanitization, waste pickup and disposal, agriculture, food and beverage, transportation, energy, steel and steel products, petroleum and fuel, mining, construction, national defense, communications, as well as products used by other Essential Businesses and Operations.
However,
the Executive Order will include brand new safety requirements specifically for manufacturers who continue to operate
. These new safety measures include the following items that must be followed starting on May 1:
- Face coverings must be provided to all employees who are not able to maintain six feet of social distancing
- Manufacturers may only operate essential lines
- Occupancy limits for essential businesses
- Encourage staggered shifts
Thank you for the hundreds of manufacturers that responded to our urgent letter this morning that was delivered to the Governor’s leadership team. As a result of our combined manufacturing voice,
the Administration removed language that would have substantially restricted manufacturing
while also creating an “inventory” requirement to remain open, meaning that companies with excess inventory may not have been allowed to operate. This would have devastated supply chains and critical manufacturing in Illinois.
In addition, here are other significant changes that will begin on May 1:
- Illinoisans over the age of 2 years must wear masks when out in public when they cannot maintain a six-foot distance. Face coverings will be required in all indoor spaces such as stores.
- Golf courses and state parks will be allowed to reopen. Fishing and boating are allowed with no more than two people per boat.
- Greenhouses, garden centers, and nurseries may reopen as essential businesses. Retail stores that are non-essential may reopen to fulfill telephone and online orders through curbside pickup or delivery.
- The Department of Public Health will issue guidance to hospitals and surgical centers to allow for certain elective surgeries.
Again, the IMA will provide specific guidance once the language is officially released.
