COVID-19 Timeline:

• April 6^th – EO issued allowing simple verbal attestations for public benefits applications.

• April 1^st – Second Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation issued through April 30^th. All COVID-19 EOs extended through this date. EO issued allowing unlicensed medical and nursing students to provide healthcare assistance related to the pandemic response. 

• April 1^st – Arts for Illinois Relief Fund launched to support Illinois artists and non-profits

• March 28^th – EO suspending vehicle repossessions; EO extending cannabis application deadlines.

• March 27^th – EO suspending school testing, attendance requirements, expanding daycare access for essential employees. 

• March 26^th – EO suspending IDOC transfers; EO allowing remote witnessing and counterparty signatures

• March 26^th – Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund announced to assist non-profits, with $23M in initial commitments from individuals, corporations, and philanthropies.

• March 26^th – Federal government approves state major disaster declaration.

• March 25^th – Three programs totaling $94M to support small businesses announced

• March 24^th – Governor issues EO streamlining healthcare worker background checks 

• March 23^rd – Essential Equipment Task Force announced, which is a P3 (State, IMA, iBIO) to manufacture PPE and medical supplies.

• March 23^rd – State executes contracts to obtain 3.5 million masks and other PPE

• March 21^st – Stay-At-Home order takes effect at 5 P.M.

• March 20^th – Stay-At-Home order issued with exceptions. See details below.

• March 19^th – EO expanding telehealth access issued

• March 18^th – Governor Pritzker announces coronavirus.illinois.gov, a website to update the public about COVID-19, which will be updated daily. Local health department websites are likely to have more up to date information about number of cases.

• March 17^th – Governor Pritzker working with Illinois Sheriffs to prevent evictions. 

• March 17^th – Illinois utility companies have agreed not to shut off services at least in the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation. Many have agreed not to shut off service for even longer periods.

• March 17^th – Governor Pritzker activates 60 National Guard members to assist with the response to COVID-19. More service members are likely to be called upon in the coming weeks.

• March 17^th – Governor Pritzker applies for a statewide Economic Industry Declaration with the U.S. Small Business Association. If approved, small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the coronavirus would have access to up to $2 million in low-interest loans. 

• March 16^th – Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation allows curbside pickup of medical cannabis outside of dispensaries.

• March 16^th – Illinois Gaming Board announces suspension of all licensed video gaming operations, effective at 9 pm on March 16^th through March 30^th.

• March 16^th – Executive Order 2020 – 07 signed, suspending all on-premises consumption of food and beverages in businesses, prohibiting gatherings of 50 or more people, and allowing for public bodies to meet remotely.

• March 15^th – Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces she is working on a relief package for restaurants forced to close their dining rooms by Executive Order 2020 – 07.

• March 15^th – Executive Order 2020 – 06 signed, amending 2020 – 05 by exempting certain schools from closing educational services. 

• March 13^th – Illinois Gaming Board announces a 14 day closure of casinos, beginning March 16^th.

• March 13^th – Executive Order 2020 – 05 signed, closing schools from March 17^th through March 30^th.

• March 13^th – Executive Order 2020 – 04 signed, to limit gatherings of 1,000 people or more.

• March 12^th – Executive Order 2020 – 03 signed, to extend the deadline for Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act applications from March 16^th to March 30. 

• March 11^th – Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Employment Security announce people who cannot work due to COVID-19 and do not receive paid sick leave from their jobs qualify for unemployment benefits.

• March 11^th – WHO characterized the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic.

• March 9^th – Governor J.B. Pritzker declared the State of Illinois as a disaster area in effect for 30 days.

• Late 2019 – COVID-19 outbreak emerges.