HeplerBroom understands how staying abreast of the latest developments related to COVID-19 is important to your business and planning for the future. We have assembled some of Illinois’ additional executive, legislative, and regulatory actions related to COVID-19 that may affect you and summarized them below.

HUMAN RESOURCES

• The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) reported that monthly unemployment claims totaled 133,763. This unemployment number is almost five times what it was over the same period in 2019 when unemployment was at a near-record low. No doubt, COVID-19 has significantly affected the State of Illinois by causing a skyrocket in unemployment and, thus, unemployment claims.

FUNDING

• The Governor announced that the federal government has approved Illinois’ request for a federal major disaster declaration. As a result, this declaration will allow for additional emergency funding for hospitals and expanding telehealth programs for quicker and better access to doctors via telecommunications. By gaining funding, Illinois can ensure that COVID-19 patients are seen and taken care of in a timely manner, while also caring for other non-coronavirus patients without exposing them to the quickly spreading virus.

A public emergency such as the one we are experiencing with COVID-19 is unlike anything any of us has ever experienced. In an effort to continue to keep citizens safe, Illinois has also worked to keep many businesses and services running. Like many, HeplerBroom attorneys are diligently working from their homes to keep both clients and the community at large updated as to executive, legislative, and regulatory actions in the midst of COVID-19.