Gov. Pritzker Announces Modified Stay at Home Order Will Be Extended Through May to Continue Progress

MODIFIED STAY AT HOME ORDER

Lifting mitigation measures is only possible with widespread availability and access to COVID-19 testing, tracing and treatment. The data show that if the state were to lift mitigations abruptly this week, this would result in a second wave of infections, hospitalizations and deaths.

After consulting with doctors, scientists and experts in Illinois and across the world, the Governor has announced he will sign a modified version of the state’s stay at home order that will go into effect on May 1 and extend  through the end of the month. The modified order will strengthen the state’s social distancing requirements while allowing residents additional flexibility and provide measured relief to non-essential businesses in the safest way possible.

The new executive order will include the following modifications effective May 1:

• OUTDOOR RECREATION: State parks will begin a phased re-opening under guidance from the Department of Natural Resources. Fishing and boating in groups of no more than two people will be permitted. A list of parks that will be open on May 1 and additional guidelines can be found on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website HERE . Golf will be permitted under strict safety guidelines provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and when ensuring that social distancing is followed.

• NEW ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES: Greenhouses, garden centers and nurseries may re-open as essential businesses. These stores must follow social distancing requirements and must require that employees and customers wear a face covering. Animal grooming services may also re-open.

• NON-ESSENTIAL RETAIL: Retail stores not designated as non-essential businesses and operations may re-open to fulfill telephone and online orders through pick-up outside the store and delivery.

• FACE COVERINGS: Beginning on May 1, individuals will be required to wear a face-covering or a mask when in a public place where they can’t maintain a six-foot social distance. Face-coverings will be required in public indoor spaces, such as stores. This new requirement applies to all individuals over the age of two who are able to medically tolerate a face-covering or a mask.

• ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND MANUFACTURING: Essential businesses and manufacturers will be required to provide face-coverings to all employees who are not able to maintain six-feet of social distancing, as well as follow new requirements that maximize social distancing and prioritize the well-being of employees and customers. This will include occupancy limits for essential businesses and precautions such as staggering shifts and operating only essential lines for manufacturers.

• SCHOOLS:  Educational institutions may allow and establish procedures for pick-up of necessary supplies or student belongings. Dormitory move-outs must follow public health guidelines, including social distancing.
The Illinois Department of Public Health will also be issuing guidance to surgi-centers and hospitals to allow for certain elective surgeries for non-life-threatening conditions, starting on May 1. Facilities will need to meet specific criteria, including proper PPE, ensuring enough overall space for COVID-19 patients remains available, and testing of elective surgery patients to ensure COVID-19 negative status.

Adams County, Illinois is home to over 65,000 individuals and the regional hub for healthcare, retail, and industry in west central Illinois. Adams County is a tight knit community that is built on small business and thrives on social interaction, but also collaboration. We have persevered through many challenges and crises while supporting our entire community and ensuring responsible recovery. In January, when Adams County began public health emergency operations and the Adams County EOC was activated, the County of Adams set three primary goals for the management of the COVID-19 crisis.

• Take actions that protect the health and well-being of the residents of Adams County, with extraordinary emphasis to congregate living setting and vulnerable populations.
• Maintain the critical function of our healthcare system, while increasing capacity for medical surge.
• Protect and maintain critical infrastructure, government functions, and critical resources.

These goals remain the focus of continued response efforts and provide the groundwork as we develop the recovery process.

The purpose of this document is to outline our preliminary process to Reset, Restart, Revitalize, and Reopen Adams County while maintaining COVID-19 disease management. The framework aligns with state and national efforts that are emerging. The criteria for decisions in this document include that it be evidence-based, fiscally responsible, socially tolerable, and politically supportable by local and state leadership. The renormalization planning effort consists of three pillars, addressing specific components of risk and burden within our community. These include Disease Management, Emotional and Social Outlets, and Economic Revitalization. Each team of experts has brainstormed and prioritized specific community components and then met with other teams to resolve conflicting issues. The result of these virtual planning sessions is the documents to follow and includes a phased opening with scientific and measurable community indicators. These indicators give health and emergency management officials guidance on progressing through these phases responsibly.

The framework identifies four distinct phases, with three phases following the current mitigation measures in place. Phase 0 – Reset – outlines our current situation and provides guidance to our community on what they can do now, not just focusing on what cannot be done. Phase 1 – Restart – focuses on maintaining most of the mitigation measures in place now but looking for early wins for responsible social interaction and alternate business models that allow for social distancing of those businesses who were labeled non-essential. Phase 2 – Revitalize – may be attainable after a three to six week period measuring the health indicators. This phase begins to incorporate more responsible social interactions with face coverings and indoor capacity with percentage limitations, but incorporating more business stimulating our economy. Phase 3 – Reopen – begin to see a larger but controlled opening of business and social gatherings increasing indoor capacity to 50% of all with social distancing.

We recognize that building a framework must maintain flexibility to the changing situation in all three pillars across the community. Our community is dedicated to a collaboration across all sectors and engaging our citizens in producing a safe and healthy environment.

Click for full Road to Recovery Framework Presentation

 Adams County Announces Small Business Emergency Loan Program 

Information & Application

Quincy, Illinois (April 20, 2020) – In an effort to assist small businesses that may have been negatively impacted by the Stay-At-Home Order from COVID-19, the Adams County Board unanimously approved establishing the Adams County Small Business Emergency Loan Program. The loan funding sources include up to $250,000 from Adams County and up to $100,000 from Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials. Two Rivers will take the lead on administering the program using existing staff. 

“The City of Quincy established a similar emergency loan program last week, and the County wanted to be able to offer the same type of assistance to small businesses in the Adams County areas,” stated Kent Snider, Adams County Board Chairman. “We have partnered with Two Rivers, and they have agreed to administer the program as it directly correlates to their mission to provide leadership for local governments and promote economic development.” 

The basic terms of the program are: 

• Max Loan: $10,000 

• 1% interest rate 

• First payment is deferred for up to 6 months, loan must be paid back in 12 months (or 18 months from when the loan check was issued) 

• Businesses must have at least 2 employees (non-owners), and no more than 50 employees maximum 

• Loan funds must be used for payroll, rent or mortgage payments, insurance, utilities 

• The borrower must not have any outstanding debts with the County and must be able to demonstrate COVID-19 related economic injury to their business 

The Board established a loan review committee to evaluate the loans consisting of the Adams County Board Chairman, 2 Adams County Board members, the Two Rivers Executive Director and Two Rivers Loan/Grant Administrator, an Adams County bank representative, and the Adams County Treasurer. 

The loan application can be found on the Adams County website at www.co.adams.il.us, under Announcements, or on the Adams County Together website at www.adamscountytogether.com. 

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Businesses will have to send support information to document their financials and will be required to sign a personal guaranty on the loan amount. Officials believe the loans could be processed within 10-14 working days of an approved application and checks issued. 

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We have all been inundated with resources from the local, state and federal level. As part of the Adams County Together Initiative, a Resource Team has been formed to help both individuals and businesses navigate the best course of action to take when considering various programs.

Beginning today, Monday, April 13, those looking for individual or business assistance can make in person, phone, or online Zoom meeting appointments. In person meeting locations include in the City of Quincy, as well as Adams, Brown and Pike Counties.

“We are all here to help our community through this difficult time,” states Marcel Wagner, president of the Great River Economic Development Foundation. “We are currently accepting appointments for assistance in understanding which program is best for individuals and organizations, and all in person appointments are held at a safe distance at each location.”

To schedule an individual assistance appointment, please call (217) 222-YMCA Ext 202.

To schedule a business appointment via Zoom or in Quincy, please call (217) 430-4313. For a business appointment in the county, please call (217) 224-8171.

A full schedule, list of locations, as well as contact phone numbers can be found online at www.AdamsCountyTogether.com on the home page when you click “Contact The Resource Team.”