Get your COVID-19 questions answered here
Monday, Mar 23, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I told you over the weekend that legislators are submitting questions to the governor and his office is responding to them in writing every day. Here’s one from the latest Q&A…
Childcare
Q: A healthcare provider is looking to set up a temporary daycare location for their healthcare workers. Can they get any reimbursement for this from the State?
A: Per the Governor’s Executive Order 10, all child care programs are closed; however, home day care programs can care for up 6 children. Where possible, children should be kept at home. The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development, in partnership with IDHS and IDCFS, has established a structure and system for child care providers to apply for an “emergency child care license” to provide care for essential workers. Please refer to the following link for additional resources: https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/OECD/Pages/For-Communities.aspx.
Liquor
Q: What will happen to liquor licenses that expire soon?
A: Due to the hardships on liquor license holders as a result of the COVID-19 virus outbreak, all licenses expiring on March 31, 2020, April 30, 2020, and May 31, 2020, are extended until July 31, 2020. […]
Housing
Q: Is there consideration for reimbursing local housing agencies for making arrangements out of current homeless prevention funds? Are there other plans for assisting with homelessness / those seeking shelter in places where shelters are no longer taking new clients?
A: Through local continuums of care, DHS is making $6 million available for isolation housing for those who are experiencing homelessness. Homeless service providers will also receive a 5% increase in funding. Visit the Department of Human Services for more information.
Also in that new guidance is a clarification on auto dealers. I told you yesterday that the governor’s office said auto dealer sales were not deemed an “essential” service. But this is from the new Q&A…
Q: Are car dealerships essential services?
A: Car dealerships may stay open for repair and parts. Car dealerships may also remain open by appointment for individuals who need to purchase a car for essential travel. Showrooms should be closed. For further guidance, please call DCEO’s helpline 1-800-252-2923 or CEO.support@illinois.gov.
* Here are the Q&As I’ve been able to collect thanks to a generous legislator…
* March 22
* March 21
* Stay at home EO FAQ
* March 19
* March 18
Tell us what you find.
…Adding… The Illinois House Republicans have put together a website to answer your questions. Click here. Also, click here for a good Tribune explainer.
- ISPRETIRED - Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 9:17 am:
I have heard that some day cares in Chicago are requiring parents to continue paying in order to keep their kids slots. If not you are dropped. I would tell them to shove it, but some are desperate.
- Cubs in '16 - Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 9:53 am:
===requiring parents to continue paying in order to keep their kids slots===
Government funding should immediately be suspended for any daycare engaging in this practice.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 10:12 am:
== Government funding should immediately be suspended for any daycare engaging in this practice.==
Not all daycares get government funding, and some are simply closing their doors for the duration. Two of the largest daycares in Riverton, IL (just outside of Springfield) are closing altogether, citing the stringent emergency rules. There are essential workers who are not able to show up to work in Springfield today, scrambling for some kind of daycare because of the closure of these two businesses. The state better address this issue fast, there seems to be a lot of confusion out there among large daycare providers
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 10:15 am:
Good call on the dealerships issue; close the showroom, but be open by appointment only. I was wondering how that would get handled.
- Huh? - Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 11:48 am:
Wonder if IDOT is going to shut down highway construction projects.
- RNUG - Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 12:00 pm:
I need to take mine to the dealer for repair; it turned the Check Engine light on a couple of days ago. Luckily I’m a decent shade tree mechanic with the proper tools and diagnosed it myself. It has a minor emissions control issue the warranty should cover. But it can wait until things get better before I take it to the shop. And if things get worse, I’ll order the needed part and spend several hours replacing it.
But most people can’t do that. So they need the dealers and repair shops to be open.
- Suburban Mom - Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 12:07 pm:
Our local car repair place is coming to your house to pick up your car and then returning it to you after service. You don’t go anywhere or interact with anyone; you can leave the keys in the car or the mailbox or whatever.
The repair guys are obviously interacting, but from their e-mails they really want to keep their business viable and try to avoid laying people off if they can.
- Jakita Wagner - Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 12:47 pm:
Are Facebook resale sites a good idea right now? It seems to me a pretty handy way to spread the disease.