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Effective Saturday March 21 at 5:00 PM until the end of April 7, 2020, all Illinois residents are subject to a stay at home order from the Governor of Illinois. Governor Pritzker announced these measures at a 3:00 press conference today, March 20, 2020, at which he stated “I fully recognize I am choosing between saving people’s lives and saving people’s livelihoods.” This order requires all individuals to shelter in place in their residences, to practice social distancing and for all business operations which are not “Essential Businesses and Operations” to cease all activities within the state other than “Minimum Basic Operations”. Working from home is exempt from the order. Except for certain exceptions, all public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside of a single household are prohibited and all places of public amusement are closed. It is permitted to leave the home for health and safety, necessary supplies, for outdoor activity, to take care of others and to perform work at Essential Businesses and Operations.

The intent of the order is to ensure the maximum number of people self-isolate in their places of residence to the maximum extent feasible, while enabling essential services to continue, and to slow the spread of Coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) to the maximum extent possible.

What Businesses are Covered by the Orders?

All for-profit, non-profit and educational entities in Illinois are covered. “Essential Business and Operations” – which are permitted to continue – include, stores that sell groceries and medicine; food, beverage and cannabis production and agriculture; professional services including legal, accounting, real estate and insurance services; organizations that provide charitable or social services; media; gas stations and businesses needed for transportation; financial institutions; hardware and supply stores; critical trades (e.g., building and construction tradesmen and tradeswomen); mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery and pick-up services; educational institutions (for facility distance learning); laundry services; restaurants for consumption off-premises; certain work supply businesses (e.g., those that sell, manufacture or supply products needed for people to work from home and those that sell, manufacture or supply Essential Businesses and Operations with the support or materials necessary to operate): transportation businesses; home care; day care; manufacture, distribution and supply chain for critical products and industries; critical labor union functions; hotels and motels; and funeral services.

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