Above / Find the Naperville Municipal Center located at 400 S. Eagle Street. Now closed for Stay-at Home Order, the city government building just steps from the Riverwalk also is accessible from its rear entrance where the Freedom Shrine, an impressive exhibit of historic document replicas, serves to commemorate the efforts taken to ensure this nation’s freedom.
Local media has been advised of the following and more…
The new executive order issued April 23, 2020, by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker will include the following modifications noted in his press release, effective May 1.
• OUTDOOR RECREATION: State parks will begin a phased re-opening under guidance from the Department of Natural Resources. Fishing and boating in groups of no more than two people will be permitted. A list of parks that will be open on May 1 and additional guidelines can be found on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website HERE . Golf will be permitted under strict safety guidelines provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and when ensuring that social distancing is followed.
• NEW ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES: Greenhouses, garden centers and nurseries may re-open as essential businesses. These stores must follow social distancing requirements and must require that employees and customers wear a face covering. Animal grooming services may also re-open.
• NON-ESSENTIAL RETAIL: Retail stores not designated as non-essential businesses and operations may re-open to fulfill telephone and online orders through pick-up outside the store and delivery.
• FACE COVERINGS: Beginning on May 1, individuals will be required to wear a face-covering or a mask when in a public place where they can’t maintain a six-foot social distance. Face-coverings will be required in public indoor spaces, such as stores. This new requirement applies to all individuals over the age of two who are able to medically tolerate a face-covering or a mask.
• ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND MANUFACTURING: Essential businesses and manufacturers will be required to provide face-coverings to all employees who are not able to maintain six-feet of social distancing, as well as follow new requirements that maximize social distancing and prioritize the well-being of employees and customers. This will include occupancy limits for essential businesses and precautions such as staggering shifts and operating only essential lines for manufacturers.
• SCHOOLS: Educational institutions may allow and establish procedures for pick-up of necessary supplies or student belongings. Dormitory move-outs must follow public health guidelines, including social distancing.
The Illinois Department of Public Health will also be issuing guidance to surgi-centers and hospitals to allow for certain elective surgeries for non-life-threatening conditions, starting on May 1. Facilities will need to meet specific criteria, including proper PPE, ensuring enough overall space for COVID-19 patients remains available, and testing of elective surgery patients to ensure COVID-19 negative status.
MODELING COVID-19 IN ILLINOIS
While earlier projections relied on data from other countries applied to the United States, the modeling released today analyzes two months’ worth of daily data on COVID-19 deaths and ICU usage here in Illinois.
Top researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Northwestern School of Medicine, the University of Chicago, the Chicago and Illinois Departments of Public Health, along with McKinsey and Mier Consulting Group working on behalf of the City of Chicago and Cook County, worked on these projections as a cohort under Civis Analytics, a data analytics firm with experience spanning the public and private sectors.
According to the state model, the stay at home order is having its intended effect of flattening the curve in Illinois.
Rep. Grant Wehrli Responds to Extension of Stay Home Order through May 30, 2020
Today Governor JB Pritzker announced the extension of the Stay Home Order for Illinoisans through May 30. Along with the continuation of the Order, the Governor announced some modest changes to associated restrictions. In response to the Governor’s announcements, State Representative Grant Wehrli has released the following statement:
“The Governor took modest steps in the right direction today, but I believe he needed to go much further with regard to economic recovery. Small business owners have been devastated by executive orders that have forced them to close their doors. Many may never reopen as a result of the financial hardship they’ve had to endure through no fault of their own. Small businesses are eager to reopen and are more than willing to ensure proper social distancing, utilize heightened cleaning techniques, and require the wearing of face coverings by employees and patrons. Simply allowing for online or call-in orders with curbside pick-up is not going to allow many of these businesses to dig out of the financial hole in which they find themselves.
“The ability for hospitals to move forward with some elective surgeries and important health screenings that have been postponed due to the Order is welcome news. Not only will this decision put non-COVID healthcare workers back to work, it allows Illinoisans to receive what will in some cases will be lifesaving early detection of serious illnesses.
“Reopening some State Parks to allow for hiking, fishing and boating will go far in improving the publics’ emotional well-being and morale. Getting fresh air while enjoying Illinois’ beautiful public lands is important as people face another 5 ½ weeks of a Stay Home Order. Similarly, reopening greenhouses and nurseries is a common-sense step. As people continue to spend almost all of their time at home, providing them with the items they need to enjoy outdoor gardening and landscaping is a win-win. Illinoisans can enjoy an at-home, outdoor activity and additional small businesses can reopen their doors and call their employees back to work.”
FYI: In quick response from Rep. Wehrli’s office to queries PN received after the Governor’s announcement… No mention yet has been made about fines for not wearing a protective mask and the Governor said he is “counting on people doing the right thing, but if he sees wide spread incompliance he will rein people back in and tighten down restrictions again.”
Also, as a note of clarity, an “order” is not yet a law.
From the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce
To ensure each of you are aware, Governor Pritzker announced today that the Stay-At-Home order has been extended through the end of May. However, there are some modifications that will serve a number of NACC Members including businesses in the following industries: Animal Grooming, Golf Courses. Greenhouses, Garden Supply Companies and Plant Nurseries.
In addition, retail stores designated as non-essential businesses and operations may re-open to fulfill telephone and online orders through pick-up outside your store and delivery.
The NACC has been working since the onset of this crisis to keep our Members up to date on resources available to support the business community. Access our COVID-19 web page for updates and links to valuable business resources.
Our entire NACC team is committed to supporting your business and organization during these challenging times. Please reach out to me anytime to discuss your individual concerns and how we can best support you.
Reba Osborne, Director, Government Affairs (630) 544-3387 | rosborne@naperville.net
What follows will be a running tally of commentary…
Note also recent Guidelines for Opening Up America Again…
Note Phase 3 Guidelines for opening up to Restore Illinois beginning May 29, 2020…
Wash your hands often, but don’t wash away commonsense.
Since January 22, 2020, when Edward Hospital first sent details about this pandemic, a “What You Should Know” post was updated regularly through March 18 until it simply was too long. Ever since, this website has included COVID-19 daily by the numbers. Without knowing what the next day, even next hour, would present, PN also has connected to www.worldometers.info (set to Greenwich Mean Time) where simple graphs and other info are easy to follow, even when data seems inconsistent, changing so rapidly during these uncharted times. Every country, every state is listed for readers to compare and contrast the marked differences of the infection by the populations.
Still, advice remains… Help keep the community safe. Stay home and take fresh air breaks in your yard whenever possible. Wear a face mask or bandana in public places when unable to keep 6′ distances. Cover coughs and sneezes.
Hold onto hugs for future giving. Again, keep a 6′ social distance whenever taking walks to appreciate nature. Enjoy the flowers of spring in every neighbor’s garden. Remember moments of laughter. Sing. Call family and friends. Have faith, hope and charity to fulfill unmet needs of less fortunate.
Practice safe protocols and continue vigilance as signs indicate the curve of infections is flattening. Have high hopes the world will be getting back to work soon. Thanks for reading. —PN
