Requirements per Executive Order starting May 1st

While the latest Executive Order from the Governor is not officially released yet, the Chamber has been receiving questions regarding preparations for those who can now open starting May 1 (tomorrow). Media outlets have published the draft order and below are some of the requirements you as business owners and managers need to be prepared for. The full order published by media can be read here. Please continue to visit grundychamber.com for COVID-19 response updates. When the governor’s site releases the official order and more guidelines, they will be on our website and social media pages. Please email [email protected] or call President & CEO Christina Van Yperen at 815-715-2806 if you have any questions.

Key requirements from the order:

“Wearing a face covering in public places or when working. Any individual who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering (a mask or cloth face-covering) shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a face-covering when in a public place and unable to maintain a six-foot social distance. Face-coverings are required in public indoor spaces such as stores.

Requirements for essential store: Retail stores (including, but not limited to, stores that sell groceries and medicine, hardware stores, and greenhouses, garden centers, and nurseries) designated as Essential Businesses and Operations under this Order shall to the greatest extent possible:

• provide face coverings to all employees who are not able to maintain a minimum six-foot social distance at all times;
• cap occupancy at 50 percent of store capacity, or, alternatively, at the occupancy limits based on store square footage set by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity;
• set up store aisles to be one-way where practicable to maximize spacing between customers and identify the one-way aisles with conspicuous signage and/or floor markings;
• communicate with customers through in-store signage, and public service announcements and advertisements, about the social distancing requirements set forth in this Order (Social Distancing Requirements); and
• discontinue use of reusable bags. Households must limit the number of members who enter stores to the minimum necessary.

Requirements for non-essential stores: Retail stores not designated as Essential Businesses and Operations may re-open for the limited purposes of fulfilling telephone and online orders through pick-up outside the store and delivery –which are deemed to be Minimum Basic Operations. Employees working in the store must follow the social Distancing Requirements, and must wear a face covering when they may come within six feet of another employee or a customer.

Requirements for manufacturers: Manufacturers that continue to operate pursuant to this Order must follow Social Distancing Requirements and take appropriate precautions, which may include:

• providing face coverings to all employees who are not able to maintain a minimum six-foot social distance at all times;
• staggering shifts;
• reducing line speeds;
• operating only essential lines, while shutting down non-essential lines;
• ensuring that all spaces where employees may gather, including locker rooms and lunchrooms, allow for social distancing; and
• downsizing operations to the extent necessary to allow for social distancing and to provide a safe workplace in response to the COVID-19 emergency.

Requirements for all businesses: All businesses must evaluate which employees are able to work from home, and are encouraged to facilitate remote work from home when possible. All businesses that have employees physically reporting to a work-site must post the attached guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health regarding workplace safety during the COVID-19 emergency.”

-Gatherings of 10 or more are still prohibited.

Some businesses are still required to be closed such as “All places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, including but not limited to, locations with amusement rides, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, aquariums, zoos, museums, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, playgrounds, fun plexes, theme parks, bowling alleys, movie and other theaters, concert and music halls, and country clubs or social clubs shall be closed to the public.”

A reminder the link to the full order is above.