Today’s update discusses:

• state’s projected economic shortfall for current and next budget years
• an alternative housing program in Cook County
• Chicago’s Mayor's conditions for lifting social distancing restrictions

ECONOMIC

• Governor Pritzker announced this week that Illinois is projecting a $2.7 million revenue shortfall in the state’s current fiscal year, which ends June 30, and a $4.6 billion shortfall in the upcoming fiscal year. Governor Pritzker has directed the state’s Office of Management and Budget to freeze all nonessential hiring, travel, and operational expenditures for the remainder of the current fiscal year.

HEALTH

• In a press release on April 15, 2020, the Cook County Department of Public Health announced a COVID-19 alternative housing program for recovering patients, health care professionals, and first responders. This housing is intended to help patients recover once they are outside of hospital care, especially those who may not be able to adequately self-isolate at home.

SOCIAL

• In a press conference on Wednesday, Chicago’s Mayor, Lori Lightfoot, announced that the new data on COVID-19 cases indicates that mitigation efforts like social distancing have clearly been effective, but she expects certain milestones to be met before lifting restrictions. Mayor Lightfoot expressed that she would like to see a sustained and substantial drop in cases, improved ICU and ventilator capacity, widespread testing, and contact tracing before lifting any restrictions, noting that “these four metrics are key.” The Mayor reminded residents that it is “exactly the wrong time to let our guard down.”