IMA COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update - #20
The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association has been communicating directly with manufacturers across Illinois as the situation changes and will continue posting resources online at the IMA’s dedicated page www.ima-net.org/covid-19/ .
 
Daily COVID-19 Results
 
Governor JB Pritzker held his daily press conference and announced:
 
  1. There are 461 new cases of coronavirus in Illinois.
  2. There are a total of 73 deaths related to coronavirus in Illinois, including 8 today.
  3. A total of 5,057 cases have been confirmed in at least 47 of the 102 counties.
  4. There have been 30,446 individuals tested in Illinois.
 
Press Conference Key Updates
 
New or critical items of note that were discussed today by the Governor and local leaders:
 
  1. The Governor discussed the ongoing work of turning McCormick Place Convention Center into and alternate care facility that will have 3,000 beds up and running by the end of April, with the first 500 beds coming online by the end of the week. McCormick Place will be dedicated to non-acute coronavirus cases.
  2. Governor Pritzker also announced that Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin and MetroSouth Health Center in Blue Island will temporarily reopen to help with capacity needs.
  3. The State of Illinois is building its stockpile of essential medical equipment and has been doing so with the help of private businesses. If you would like to donate product, please email ppe.donations@illinois.gov
 
Employer Resources & Programs
 
The IMA is continuing to offer conference calls and webinars this week to update manufacturers and businesses about changing laws, rules, and regulations.
 
On Tuesday, March 31, the IMA is partnering with the law firm Conn Maciel Carey for a webinar on the following topics:
 
  • Strategies for employers to prevent workplace exposures while complying with Federal and State level labor employment laws
  • OSHA's guidance about preventing workers from exposure to COVID-19 and related regulatory risks
  • FAQs for employers with guidance from the CDC
 
To register for this webinar, please click here .
 
Question & Answer Section
 
Our partners at HeplerBroom recently penned an article regarding the coronavirus' impact on business interruption coverage. The article seeks to answers the question:

Is direct physical loss being redefined with the current coronavirus pandemic?
 
While looking at cyber losses as a comparison and providing supporting case law regarding contingent business interruption (CBI), HeplerBroom concludes:

"It is very interesting to witness the evolution of business interruption coverage and how courts seem to be broadening their interpretation of these policies as more and more “nonphysical property damage” losses become prevalent, such as, pandemics and cyber-related claims. That said, as more and more businesses come to realize that these types of losses pose a serious threat to their operations and contingency planning, the insurance industry will increasingly be called upon to develop new products and/or craft exclusions in an effort to address these loss exposures. For the time being, however, courts will continue to grapple and likely offer unpredictable opinions on how these policy terms, conditions and exclusions should be construed ."

For more questions and answers related to COVID-19, please visit the Question & Answer section on the IMA website.

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Mark Denzler
President & CEO
Illinois Manufacturers' Association
Disclaimer : The information in this email is provided for general informational purposes only as a benefit of your membership in the Illinois Manufacturers' Association. No information contained in this email should be construed as legal advice from the IMA or the individual author, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.