Today’s update discusses:

• petition for Temporary Restraining Order filed by employer/business community against Illinois' Worker’s Compensation Commission
• possible extension of stay-at-home order
• more areas requiring citizens to wear face coverings in public

WORKERS COMPENSATION

• On Tuesday, members of Illinois’ employer and business community asked for a Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”) in the Seventh Judicial District Circuit Court, Sangamon County. The TRO requests relief from the new emergency rules adopted by the Illinois Worker’s Compensation Commission, creating an automatic presumption that any essential worker diagnosed with COVID-19 contracted the illness while at the workplace, thus becoming eligible for coverage under Workers’ Compensation. Absent a successful TRO, the rule is set to be in place for 150 days. Some analysts believe application of the rule could increase the state’s current worker’s compensation cost from $3 billion a year to $13 billion a year.

EMERGENCY POWERS

• During Governor Pritzker’s daily press conference on Tuesday, he hinted at some changes to the current stay-at-home order, indicating he is likely to extend the order, though details of any changes remain unclear. The Governor emphasized the importance of seeing a continuous 14-day decline in the number of positive cases before he would be comfortable lifting the stay-at-home order. Unfortunately, health experts now believe Illinois will not hit its peak in the number of positive cases for another month.

HEALTH

• Des Plaines and Park Ridge now require citizens to wear face coverings in public places during essential trips to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19. These decisions were discussed through virtual council meetings, and the mayors of both towns are expected to issue formal executive orders in the next few days.