Tier 3 Statewide Mitigations Announced Taking Effect Friday, November 20
On Tuesday, Governor Pritzker announced new Tier 3 Mitigations for the whole State to begin Friday, November 20 at 12:01am. The Governor cited the states exponential increase in deaths, hospitalizations, ventilator usage, and the rate of community spread. The Governor stressed that this is not a stay at home order like the one we experienced earlier this year. However, according to projections if mitigations are not followed and there is no bend in our positivity rates there could be 17,000-45,000 new deaths between now and March, 2021 and a full stay at home order such as the one put in place earlier this year could be issued.

While we understand that many are adhering to the public health guidelines already, this third tier mitigation strategy is intended to suppress the spread of the virus and ensure our hospitals do not become overrun. This new tier aims to limit gatherings and encourages people to stay home to the greatest extent possible, while permitting some industries to remain open at significantly reduced capacities with proper safety measures in place.
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

Personal Care Service
  • 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

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

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 request, 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

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

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, see IDPH guidance

Office
  • 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

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

The Governor's press briefing can be viewed here. Illinois Department of Public Health regional metrics can be viewed here.
Last week Governor Pritzker extended the statewide eviction moratorium for another 30 days as allowed by state law. However, some changes have been made to the moratorium to address landlord concerns. Tenants wishing to participate in the moratorium must provide documentation stating that they should be protected under the executive order. The full executive order can be found here.

The Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing has provided the summary below and offers Renny, the online tool to answer questions about these changes.
COVID-19 Count as of Wednesday, November 18th:


If you have questions related to COVID-19 you can contact the Illinois Department of Public Health:
Hotline: 800-889-3931
Email: dph.sick@illinois.gov

City of Chicago's Department of Public Health:
Hotline: 312-746-4835
Email: coronavirus@chicago.gov
Secretary of State Facility Closures and Updates
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced Driver Services facilities statewide will be closed to the public for in person transactions effective Tuesday, Nov. 17 and will reopen on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic. White is encouraging the public to take advantage of online services.
 
In addition, White announced that 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. As a result, expired driver’s licenses and ID cards will remain valid until June 1, 2021. CDL (Commercial Driver License) holders and commercial permit holders are excluded from this extension due to federal requirements.
 
Many transactions with the Secretary of State’s office may be conducted online at www.cyberdriveillinois.com, some of which include:
 
  • Renewing a license plate sticker;
  • Renewing a valid driver’s license for qualifying drivers;
  • Renewing a valid ID card for those age 22-64 (seniors 65 and older have free, non-expiring IDs);
  • Obtaining a driver record abstract;
  • Filing Business Services documents, such as incorporations and annual reports; and
  • Customers with issues involving administrative hearings may contact adminhearings@ilsos.gov.
 
Those who are eligible for online driver’s license renewal will receive a letter from the Secretary of State’s office with a PIN necessary for online renewal. Those whose driver’s licenses or ID cards expired between Feb. 1, 2020 and Jan. 31, 2021, who qualify for online renewal should receive their PIN letter in December 2020 or January 2021. Those whose driver’s licenses or ID cards expire after Feb. 1, 2021, will receive their PIN letter approximately 90 days before their expiration date.

White noted that 19 CDL (Commercial Driver License) facilities will remain open for CDL written and road exams. These CDL facilities are:
 
Belleville, 400 W. Main St.; Bradley, 1111 Blatt St.; Charleston, 1010 E. St.; Danville/Tilton, #5 Southgate; DeKalb, 1360 Oakwood St.; Elk Grove Village, 650 Roppolo Dr.; Marion, Mascoutah, 9221 Beller Dr.;
1905 Rendleman St.; Moline/Silvis, 2001 Fifth St., Ste. #10; Olney, 1302 S. West St.; Peoria, 3311 N. Sterling Ave., #12; Princeton, 225 Backbone Rd. East; Quincy, 2512 Locust St.; Rantoul, 421 S. Murray Rd.; Rockford, 4734 Baxter Rd.; Salem, 1375 W. Whittaker St.; South Holland, 41 W. 162nd St.; Springfield, 2701 S. Dirksen Pkwy.; and West Chicago, 1280 Powis Rd.

White announced that seven facilities will be offering drive-through services for license plate sticker transactions ONLY. These facilities were selected due to the configuration of the buildings which allowed for drive-through transactions. The seven drive-through facilities are: Chicago North, 5401 N. Elston Ave.; Chicago West, 5301 W. Lexington St.; Rockford-Central, 3720 E. State St.; Macomb, 466 Deer Rd.; Springfield, Dirksen 2701 S. Dirksen Parkway; Tilton, #5 Southgate Dr. and Chicago South (opens Nov. 19), 9901 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity:
BIG Grants Round Two
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has opened Round 2 of BIG grants. The first wave of Round 2 grant recipients was announced last week here. The department is still reviewing applications of those who applied in the Round 2. If you applied in Round 2 and did not receive a grant in the first wave you do not need to reapply. The application is still open for new applicants or for those that applied in Round 1 and did not receive a grant.

For more information visit DCEO's website here and for assistance with your application, please contact CEO.BIG@illinois.gov.
Restaurant Strong Fund:
Grant Opportunity
To help restaurants prepare for the months ahead, Grubhub is teaming up with the Restaurant Strong Fund to provide restaurants with financial assistance. Eligible restaurants in Chicago can apply for a $10,000 grant to help cover the costs of equipping your restaurant for winter. This includes additional infrastructure to extend outdoor dining, more personal protective equipment for your employees or other needs for your restaurant during this time. To apply, submit details about your restaurant and winterization plan to the Restaurant Strong Fund. The deadline to apply is Sat, Nov 21 unless capacity is reached beforehand. Apply here.
Chicago Hospitality Grant Program
The Chicago Hospitality Grant Program is now open! The $10 Million Chicago Hospitality Grant will provide bars and restaurants with grants of $10,000 each. Remember funds must be used to cover operational costs including payroll expenses, replenishment of inventory and/or mortgage, rent and utilities payments. Grants will be distributed via lottery to recipients throughout the city, with a portion of the grants reserved for businesses in low- and moderate-income Community areas. 

The application closes Monday, November 23 at 11:59pm. The application and more information can be found here.
ComEd Assistance:
Small Business Program, Reconnection of Gas and Electric for Residents
ComEd announced a new bill-assistance program to help eligible small businesses facing financial difficulties. ComEd’s Small Business Assistance Program provides eligible small-business customers that are past due on their energy bills with a one-time grant equal to 30 percent of their total ComEd balance (up to $1,000) for a limited time. Customers whose electric service has not been disconnected can then set up their remaining balance due on a payment plan of up to six months.
 
Small-business customers can visit ComEd.com/SmallBizAssistance or call 1-877-4-COMED-1 (1-877-426-6331) to learn more or apply for the Small Business Assistance Program.
ComEd has continued the suspension of service disconnections for low-income customers and those who express a financial hardship through March 31, 2021.

Chicagoans previously disconnected from their electricity or gas service can call to have their utilities reconnected and obtain financial assistance based on eligibility:

ComEd (electricity) 800-334-7661
Peoples Gas (gas) 866-556-6001
Dispensary 33:
Cannabis Compassion Program
Over the years Dispensary 33 located in Andersonville has donated over $200,000 to our patients in financial need. They created a the Cannabis Compassion Program - to donate 1% of sales to economically distressed patients, free of charge. Qualifying patients who are admitted to the program will receive store credit to go towards their medical purchase. More details on the program and the application can be found here.
Olive-Harvey College:
Cannabis Program
Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy
State Representative, 14th District

Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

5533 N Broadway

Chicago IL 60640
773-784-2002(phone)
773-784-2060(fax)