COVID-19 Timeline

• July 24th – Sixth Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation issued; most COVID EOs reissued; a permissive remote learning EO for the school year issued.


• July 15th – COVID-19 Mitigation Plan released, increasing the number of reopening regions to 11 and providing additional tools to help combat a resurgence of COVID-19.


• July 9th – EO 2020-46 extending the Census Advisory panel through the year.


• June 29th – EO issued suspending Dept. of Ag. Issue certain cannabis licenses.


• June 26th – EO issued extending most prior COVID EO’s until July 26th.


• June 26th – Community Revitalization Order issued to coincide with Phase 4 reopening. Fifth Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation issued.


• June 22nd – Chicago Lakefront reopens.


• June 17th – Restaurants and bars resume outside service.


• June 12th – EO issued cancelling all 2020 State Fairs.


• June 4th – EO issued suspending requirement for sports wagering account to be created in-person for mobile or online betting.


• June 4th – EO issued allowing for limited school reopening (summer classes) after the 2019-2020 school year is over.


• June 3rd – Limited Phase 3 reopening in Chicago. Retail stores, outdoor seating at restaurants, and some other businesses reopened. Park buildings and libraries remain closed until June 8th. No timetable has been released for reopening the lakefront.


• May 29th – Fourth Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation issued. EO issued ending the stay-at-home order and establishing guidelines for Phase 3.


• May 13th – EO issued clarifying healthcare liability limitations only apply to COVID-19.


• May 12th – Fast-Tracking of $25M in DCEO infrastructure grants for local governments.


• May 11th – Portal for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) workers launched.


• May 5th – Governor Pritzker announces five-phase Restore Illinois reopening plan.


• May 1st – EO issued related to marriage licenses; EO suspending various administrative requirements under multiple Acts.


• April 30th – Third Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation issued. EO extending previous EOs through May 29th; EO suspending issuance of 75 new cannabis licenses. Modified SAH order issued.


• April 24th – EO issued amending School Code provisions.


• April 23rd – Governor announces intent to issue extension of SAH order through May 30th and Third Disaster Proclamation; EO issued clarifying evictions procedure.


• April 20th – EO issued extending expired industrial radiology licenses; EO extending temporary public adjuster and insurance producer licenses as well as allowing online learning.


• April 17th – In-person K-12 classes are suspended for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Schools should continue to conduct remote learning. EO issued regarding cadavers.


• April 16th – EO suspending certain IDPH requirements on hospitals and other healthcare facilities to assist same in dealing with patient surges.


• April 14th – EO suspending wage garnishments and asset discovery in debt collection.


• April 13th – Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission adopts emergency rule that creates a rebuttable presumption that first responders and other frontline workers contracted COVID-19 on the job.


• April 10th – EO limiting DHS IG review of certain employees.


• April 9th – EO limiting IDFPR’s authority to increase licensure if it hampers disaster response.


• April 7th – EO suspending various administrative requirements for funeral homes, healthcare worker background checks, etc. See EO 2020-22.


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


• April 1st - Second Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation issued through April 30th. 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 1st - Arts Relief Fund launched to support Illinois artists and non-profits


• March 28th - EO suspending vehicle repossessions; EO extending cannabis application deadlines


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


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


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


• March 26th - Federal government approves state major disaster declaration


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


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


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


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


• March 21st - Stay-At-Home order takes effect at 5pm


• March 20th - Stay-At-Home order issued with exceptions


• March 19th - EO expanding telehealth access issued


• March 18th - 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 17th - Governor Pritzker working with Illinois Sheriffs to prevent evictions


• March 17th - 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 17th - 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 17th - 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 16th - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation allows curbside pickup of medical cannabis outside of dispensaries.


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


• March 16th - 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 15th - 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 15th - Executive Order 2020 – 06 signed, amending 2020 – 05 by exempting certain schools from closing educational services


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


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


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


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


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


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


• Late 2019 - COVID-19 outbreak emerges