Public Health Officials Announce 1,105 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 1,105 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 18 additional deaths.
– Cook County: male 50s, 2 females 60s, 2 males 70s, 3 females 70s, 2 males 80s, female 80s
– DuPage County: male 60s
– Kane County: male 40s, 2 males 90s
– Kendal County: male 60s
– LaSalle County: male 80s
– St. Clair County: female 70s
Bond, Knox, Menard, and Montgomery counties are now reporting cases. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 4,596 cases, including 65 deaths, in 47 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to 99 years.
For all personal protective equipment (PPE) donations, email PPE.donations@illinois.gov. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
*All data is provisional and will change.
Governor’s Office Daily COVID-19 Q & A
March 29, 2020
Production of Sanitation Products
Q: Can distillers produce Hand Sanitizer or other Anti-Septic products?
A: On March 18, 2020, the Federal Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) authorized Distillers to produce alcohol based anti-septic products such as hand sanitizer without obtaining additional permits from the TTB.
Q: Is there a waiver for the FDA rule, which requires new distilleries that now manufacture sanitizer with the “WHO” formula to add a bittering agent to prevent consumers from drinking the sanitizer?
A: The Illinois Liquor Control Commission and the Illinois Liquor Control Act does not regulate alcohol which is not made for a beverage purpose such as denatured or wood alcohol. See 235 ILCS 5/1-3.01 and 235 ILCS 5/2-1. Accordingly, as long as the TTB authorizes Distillers to produce anti-septic products without additional permits, Illinois Distillers may produce such products as well subject to Federal requirements.
K-12 Education
Q: Is mandatory testing for elementary and secondary education being extended?
A: The Illinois State Board of Education has received a waiver for the 2019-2020 school year from the U.S. Department of Education of the assessment requirements in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Community
Q: Who can hotel owners call if they are willing to convert space for use by Illinois?
A: They can contact their district legislator who, in turn, will contact the governor’s office.
Tax
Q: Why does the Tax Payment Extension exclude 2020 estimates? This is inconsistent with federal IRS changes and will impact filers who pay quarterly estimates.
A: While the Federal government’s extension to file and pay income taxes due April 15th to July 15th also extended the due date for its first-quarter estimated payment, the second-quarter payment is still due June 15th.
Current Illinois law provides for the extension of the deadline to file and pay income tax if the Federal government does so. Still, it does not extend this treatment to the filing and payment of estimated quarterly payments.
This request, along with the many other requests to delay tax payments will be considered but must be weighed against many competing needs.
Business Compliance
Q: Can fingerprint vendors still attend required in-class training in small numbers?
A: Under Executive Order 16, the provisions of the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004, 225 ILCS 447/20-20(a) and 225 ILCS 447/25-20(a), requiring training to be completed in the classroom, are suspended. To view Executive Order 16, click here.
Q: Did the Governor’s Executive Order 16 prohibit repossessions of motor vehicles? What authority does the Governor have to do this?
A: Per Executive Order 16, the repossession of vehicles is suspended. The Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation allows Illinois agencies to coordinate State and Federal resources, including but not limited to the Strategic National Stockpile of medicines and protective equipment, to support local governments in preparation for any action that may be necessary
related to the potential impact of COVID-19 in the State of Illinois. To view Executive Order 16, click here.
Q: Does the Stay-at-Home order include public and/or private campgrounds?
A: To determine whether a business is considered essential or is in violation of the Stay-at-Home Order, please contact DCEO’s helpline 1-800-252-2923 or CEO.support@illinois.gov.
Q: Are fabric stores considered essential businesses?
A: Per Executive Order 10, craft and fabric stores such as Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and JoAnn Fabrics are not essential. Homemade masks are not used in hospitals. People can continue to make homemade blankets, clothing, hats, etc. by purchasing the materials online. Fabric/craft stores can fulfill online orders but otherwise need to be closed. For essential business inquiries, contact DCEO’s helpline at 1-800-252-2923 or CEO.support@illinois.gov
Q: Will the cannabis deadline be extended beyond the March 30th extension?
A: The application submission deadlines in the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act and implementing regulations for submitting applications by March 16, 2020, which previously were suspended pursuant to Executive Order 2020-03 and extended through March 30, 2020, are suspended to April 30, 2020. To see the Executive Order, click here.