Today’s update discusses:

• webinars to help guide businesses through new Executive Order
• nonprofit donates hundreds of thousands of free masks to Chicago residents
• more about the second lawsuit over the Governor's new Executive Order

RESOURCES

• The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection is planning to host webinars to help businesses navigate Governor Pritzker’s new stay-at-home order. The new Executive Order is expected to increase flexibility for workers and consumers as they continue to practice safety measures to prevent another spike in COVID-19-related illnesses. The webinars will guide businesses through the new regulations, including discussing topics such as what businesses have been added to those deemed essential, new guidelines for non-essential businesses reopening for delivery or pickup, and new requirements for businesses to protect workers and consumers.
• A Chicago nonprofit, Masks4Chi, aims to distribute 350,000 free, reusable cloth masks throughout Chicago beginning today. The masks are meant to not only keep residents safe, but also to spread awareness about mask use in an effort to continue to flatten the COVID-19 curve. In two weeks, Masks4Chi has partnered with several Chicago restaurants to give out thousands of masks, with two free individually wrapped masks included in orders from participating restaurants.

 EMERGENCY POWERS

• As mentioned in yesterday’s update, another Republican lawmaker, John Cabello, filed suit against the Governor regarding the Executive Order set to take effect on May 1. This latest lawsuit seeks to lift the stay-at-home order for everyone in the State of Illinois. Cabello states that small shop owners motivated his actions, and he does not believe the Governor has the authority to mandate residents to stay at home and businesses to remain closed for another 30 days. He encouraged the Governor to ask the Illinois Legislature for additional authority. Governor Pritzker has called the lawsuit irresponsible, stating that the Illinois Attorney General’s Office has filed a motion to take the first lawsuit, filed by Representative Darren Bailey, directly to the Illinois Supreme Court.