IMA COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update - #63
Please visit the IMA’s dedicate d CO VID-19 page for updates and resources.   

Illinois is preparing to gradually reopen its economy. While many manufacturers are currently operating as essential businesses, others are preparing to resume or expand operations. In order to help manufacturers navigate the next phase of restoring our economy, the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association in partnership with FTI Consulting, created the IMA Safety and Reopening Guide . This guide is a comprehensive document with information from state and federal agencies, as well as best practices from other states and industry-leading IMA members. Every manufacturing operation is unique and a “one-size-fits-all” approach does not work for all manufacturers; however, this guide will help manufactutrers determine how best to proceed moving forward in a safe manner. 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) released new interim guidance today for manufacturing workers and employees. Guidance includes distancing, duration of contact, type of contact, and other distinctive factors such as transportation.  Click here to see the new interim guidance.
 
Yesterday, the Small Business Administration offered additional guidance on the PPP program as it pertains to an evaluation of an applicant’s economic need for a loan. Under the new SBA guidance, businesses receiving less than $2 million in PPP loans will be eligible for a safe harbor provision meaning that their loan request was deemed to have been made in good faith and will not be subject to further review . Businesses with loans of more than $2 million “may still have an adequate basis” for a loan but the SBA will be able to review their loan application to determine the need for the loan. If the SBA determines that the applicant should not have received a PPP loan, then the SBA will seek reimbursement of the loan ( question 46 ).

Daily COVID-19 Results
 
Governor JB Pritzker held his daily press conference and announced:
 
  1. There are 3,239 new cases of coronavirus in Illinois.
  2. There are a total of 3,928 deaths related to coronavirus in Illinois, including 138 additional deaths announced today.
  3. A total of 87,937 cases have been confirmed in at least 99 of the 102 counties. These numbers include many individuals who have already recovered.
  4. There have been 512,037 individuals tested for coronavirus in Illinois.

Press Conference Key Updates

  • The Governor announced that IDES and DCEO have joined forces to launch new program to connect Illinois residents with jobs. This new online portal, entitled Get Hired Illinois, serves as a hub for jobs, job fairs and skills training. Employers looking for employees can also use this program to find Illinois residents looking for work. This portal can be accessed at Illinois.gov/gethired.
  • A new pandemic unemployment assistance program opened up on Monday allowing 1099-workers, such as sole proprietors and the self employed, to apply for unemployment insurance. Since the program opened on Monday, more than 50,000 UI applications have been filed by 1099-workers.
  • IDES has processed over 1,076,000 traditional unemployment claims from March 1 to May 9. This number is six times higher than the number unemployment claims filed during the same timeframe during the 2008 recession.

Regional Metrics Updates

Governor Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan uses health metrics and data to determine 5 phases of reopening the state. The Illinois Department of Public Health began publicly updating their data so that the four regions can see where they stand with regard to moving to the next phase on May 28. Click here to see the data in your zone .  
Employer Resources & Programs

On Wednesday, May 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. CST, the IMA will be hosting a webinar with FTI Consulting to present highlights from the IMA Safety and Reopening Guide and provide an opportunity for questions of our staff and FTI’s experts. You can register for that webinar here , and submit your questions ahead of time via email .  

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Mark Denzler
President & CEO
Illinois Manufacturers' Association
Disclaimer : The information in this email is provided for general informational purposes only as a benefit of your membership in the Illinois Manufacturers' Association. No information contained in this email should be construed as legal advice from the IMA or the individual author, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.