On March, 22, the rate at which are COVID positive case count was doubling was just about two days. By April 1, that rate had increased to around 3.6 days. As of this Sunday, April 12, our case doubling rate had reached 8.2 days.
Similarly, our mortality, doubling rate has increased. At the beginning of April it was at 2.5 days, and it is now at 5.5 days.
To be clear, there is nothing good about twice as many people having this virus, or worse, dying from it. No matter how long the increase takes. But we won’t get to zero cases overnight. The fact that our doubling rate continues to increase in every metric is a clear demonstration that there is a deceleration of virus transmission. We are in fact, bending the curve.
* Hospitalization-related numbers…
Perhaps the most accurate leading indicator of our progress is our hospitalization data. Right now, if someone is sick enough with a respiratory illness to need hospital care, then it’s likely that that person has COVID-19, whether or not they have been tested.
On April 6, the number of known COVID patients and suspected COVID patients totaled 3680. On April 10, that number was 4020. On April 11, it was 4104. On April 12 4091. As of today, it was 4283.
As you can see these numbers are increasing. However, so too is our overall hospital capacity. Our hospitals are working every day to add beds. In August of 2019 just to give you a number, way before COVID-19 came to us, our state averaged about 25,500, total beds. As of this weekend, our total bed count is about 30,002.
Other important metrics are ICU beds and ventilators. A week ago, COVID patients as a percentage of ICU beds increased from 35% to 43%, an eight percentage point jump. COVID patients today occupy 40% of our total ICU beds, that’s down from the 43% a week ago.
In the same timeframe, COVID patients as a percentage of total ventilators grew from 24 to 29% of five point jump in a week. COVID patients today occupy 25% of our total ventilators both of those numbers are evidence of positive trends, a declining number percentage of ICU beds, occupied by COVID patients, and the declining number of ventilators occupied by COVID patients. Additionally, our total ventilator numbers are starting to reflect the additional ventilators that we’ve acquired now totaling more than 3000 across the state. Overall these numbers are indicators of our growing ability to manage capacity within the healthcare systems across Illinois.
Remember to pardon all transcription errors.
* More on hospitals…
No region is currently below 15% availability in any of these metrics, but there are individual hospitals that are operating at or near max capacity. Right now hospitals are by and large doing a great job of directing patients, amongst themselves, but if it becomes necessary I will not hesitate to step in to direct ICU patients to hospitals that are more available.
…Adding… From a press release…
* Lots of people coming in…
I am so deeply thankful for the now 3600 retired and out of state healthcare professionals who have applied to join the Illinois fight against COVID-19.
* Dr. Ezike then talked about recoveries…
We sent out these electronic surveys to people to catch their recovery rate at seven days, 14 days, 21 days and 28 days. As you can imagine people are getting better with time.
For people who don’t respond to this survey, we have a staff of 23 individuals who are calling to follow up. We’re making about 300 calls a day to people who didn’t respond, of which approximately half of those results in a successful interview.
So to share those results, I am happy to report that of the people who were surveyed at seven days, 44% have indicated recovery. At 14 days, the number increases to 50%. At 21 days after testing positive, we have 61% of people who responded, either to the initial electronic survey or the follow up telephone call, that they no longer have symptoms. And at 28 days, 69% of people reported no COVID-19 symptoms, and feeling much better. So again, people are getting better people recover from this disease.
It is important to note that not everyone responded to the survey so potentially the averages could be higher.
* On to questions for the governor. Asked about regional cooperation agreements with other governors…
I began this conversation really late last week with some of the East Coast governors. And then, over the last few days with my counterparts in Midwest states surrounding us.
Our goal of course for this is to start to think about what are the preconditions for beginning to allow certain kinds of businesses to open their doors again, to expand the definition of those who can work are those businesses they can have their doors open.
And again, as I’ve said the preconditions that I think are appropriate are a lot testing, tracing and treating. And then I would add to that the availability of PPE to the entire population, even those who might not be able to afford their own PPE so those things together I think are the preconditions and you know there are a lot of other things to discuss.
The governors that I’ve spoken with have been very frankly very positive about this idea. They’ve all been thinking about it individually for their states and understand that speaking with a common voice might be a positive move.
* Is this in part in response to the president saying that he’s going to be the one to dictate everything and he’s in control, if you will…
No. I in fact we’ve been all of us thinking about what’s next. We have our stay at home order in place that the closing of schools and so on. What comes next, what are the things that trigger a change. And you know how much you know how much can we do and how fast can we do it all of that I might add is going to be dependent upon what we hear from the epidemiologists and the doctors.
The governor was asked yet again why he didn’t shut down the primary election and he responded yet again that he had no constitutional authority to do so.
* Another part of that question was poll workers reporting that they had no sanitation supplies or related on primary day…
We were assured by the boards of elections that in fact they had the PPE or the sanitary devices that they needed. And we were willing to provide them. Indeed we were even willing to provide poll workers for them … At least in Chicago, that was rejected. And so, you know, that was their choice. They felt like they had a handle on it.
* Wondering if you can break it down by infection rate relative to the number of residents in Illinois…
I mean, it’s very hard to say because we aren’t testing everybody in the state of Illinois. What we know is that the percentage of people who are tested.
Let me back up just for everybody who hasn’t followed this. We’re testing people who show some symptoms of COVID-19. […]
It might be more useful to look at the broad global data that’s available and I’ll just share that with you as well. About 80% of people who get COVID-19, and by the way we believe everybody is susceptible to COVID-19. Period. End of sentence. You either have had it already, or you’re going to get it, unless we have a vaccine that prevents you from getting it which we don’t currently. So 80% of people who get COVID-19 recover just fine, don’t require hospitalization or anything of a significant medical intervention nature. About 19% require some further hospitalization or other intervention. And then about 1% unfortunately about point seven to 1% pass away, in, in many cases because they have either a comorbidity or they’re in an age bracket that is most susceptible.
* Another question about regional cooperation…
Look the conversations are very much, very similar that each of us might have, a slightly new idea to offer in the conversation. But when I talk about testing tracing and treating everybody understands exactly what that means. And that we in fact need to do that so widespread testing. So for example I talked to a governor, who’s talking about buying a commercial lab that exists in their state and converting it entirely to testing for COVID-19, and it would yield for that Governor 10s of thousands of tests on a daily basis. So that’s something they’re looking at to deal with the testing part. I am looking significantly at not only the increases in testing that we’ve begun to, to see at our seat labs and working with our hospitals, but on the tracing part, looking at models like what they are doing in Massachusetts, where they have a, you know, a case tracing collaborative that exists or at least that they’ve stood up but you know it’s just getting going where they’re just using good old fashioned shoe leather, to make sure and call every single person that may have come in contact with somebody who has COVID-19.
* Asked about Leader Brady’s request for a leaders meeting…
First of all I speak with the leaders all the time. I think every one of the leaders would tell you that I’ve had multiple conversations with them. And I’m always happy to have a, you know, we can convene a zoom conference or teleconference all of that. I’m happy to do any of that anytime with any of them. But I have been very communicative with each and every one of them. I’ve spoken with every leader probably, on average, once a week, maybe, maybe once every two weeks it’s hard to tell, but it’s usually we have an agenda of things that we’re discussing each of us, and we’re trying to make sure that we can keep things moving forward, those who might suggest that we haven’t been having those conversations or not paying attention to the fact that the leaders and I and the fact that I pick up the phone, virtually every day I call multiple legislators on both sides of the aisle to make sure that I’m communicating with them but even more importantly listening to them about concerns that their constituents may have and what we could do in the executive branch to make their their lives easier.
* Now on to a few questions from reporters trying to get him to whack the president. Do you worry that the criticism of the Trump administration could come with retribution that prevents Illinois from getting PPE and other help in the COVID battle?…
Well I compliment the administration when they do things right, when they deliver on their promises, and I’ve been critical when they don’t. And I think that is the proper way for me to operate I’m defending and working on behalf of the people of Illinois. And each time I have been critical we’ve actually received more from the federal government. And each time I’ve been complimentary it’s because they delivered on a promise to us and I was glad that I wanted people to know that.
* There’s a lot of talk about the president reopening the country. Are you going to be working with the white house as the president claims, or do you want to work mostly with state experts…
Well I’ll listen to anybody. But I what I won’t do anything that will jeopardize the safety and health of people here in Illinois.
* What is your administration heard about hydroxychloroquine? The President has said it should be used as a coronavirus cure. Do you think that’s good advice?…
Dr. Ezike: There are multiple different treatments that people are trying off label. Off label means that there’s a medicine that’s approved for a different cause but is now being tried for COVID-19 patients. So there are many, there’s antibiotics, there are antimalarials, which are anti parasitics, there are anti virus medicines. So, all different types of medicines are being employed. And then what we need to really figure out if it’s the right way forward and now it would go on to get FDA approval for a specific indication is to have these randomized controlled trials randomized controlled double blind trials, as the governor already described and so when you get these large scale trials and then you prove scientifically with sufficient power that there is one treatment is either better than placebo or better than an alternate treatment. Then that’s how it goes on to move for FDA approval.
So, again, anecdotally that’s where it starts where you get, as I hear stories that we tried this at work, we tried this work and the next step is to take it into trials. And so, again, people in terms of what recommendations are officially put out are usually based not on anecdotes, but more so on trials and the results of trials and so we’re looking forward to getting some of those results of some trials that might be going on so that we can spread on if some of these anecdotes actually proved to be factual and work great.
* With multiple projections showing billions of dollars in lost revenue due to COVID-19 and the Comptroller’s office showing nearly $200 million in cost What is your plan to close the gap in this year’s budget and when will you present a new FYI 21 plan?…
We’ll be talking about that later this week. It’s obviously been very much on our minds.
I spend an awful lot of time every day focused on trying to reduce the infections across the state and reduce the hospitalizations and the need for ventilators and of course reduce the death rate.
I have also had my budget and economy team working hard on exactly how big the hole will be from a revenue perspective as well as obviously the expanding that we’ve had to do to protect people in the state, and then try to project forward what does this mean for a budget in 2021.
And then ultimately we’re going to present our best ideas, and our best estimates to the legislature, who is finally responsible for passing a budget. But we’ll be presenting that going forward.
I think no one should mistake the fact that this is going to be a very, very difficult fiscal financial challenge for the state of Illinois. It’s one of the reasons why I think all of us should be communicating with our federal representatives here to work hard to get the government in Washington DC to help all of the states because we really have this problem in common with all the states you hear Governor’s say this all the time. We have big holes in our budgets as a result of what’s happened with COVID-19 it’s nobody’s fault it just is where it is and we’re going to have to deal with it.
* Given your concerns about summer events do you think the Illinois State Fair should proceed as scheduled?…
Well, we’re going to have to make decisions relatively soon because contracts have to be signed. And I think that was really the point I was making a few days ago when I talked about summer festivals was more or less just a lot of planning goes into these things and decisions have to be made.
So, yeah, I mean we’re gonna have to make some decisions. And I have as much fun as anybody does at the state fairs and I’m hopeful that we could have both our state fairs the one in DuQuoin and the one in Springfield. But I am also just going to listen to the experts and make sure that we do the right thing so that we don’t spread this COVID-19, and that we don’t have a spike in you know all the hospitalizations and ultimately and people passing away.
he Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 1,222 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 74 additional deaths.
Clay County is now reporting a case. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 23,247 cases, including 868 deaths, in 88 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years.
* Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) gave himself a “co-hawk” (get it?) haircut to raise money to help local servers and waitstaff who lost their jobs. You can find out how to contribute by clicking here. This is a photo he sent me…
Today, I am calling on Governor Pritzker to convene the four legislative leaders to share what planning is underway as it relates to the reopening of our state. As no official notice has been made about extending the current stay-at-home order, I believe we need to begin discussions on an eventual, responsible opening of our state’s economy. And while I appreciate the governor’s willingness throughout this crisis to talk with me one-on-one, it is important for the leaders to meet.
Looks like member management to me. I’ve inquired as to whether he’s privately asked the governor for a leaders meeting before issuing this press release and am awaiting a response. I’ve also asked the same question of the governor’s office and asked the two Democratic leaders if he had talked to them about this. Madigan’s spokesperson said he wasn’t aware of any such request.
…Adding… From the SDems…
The Senate President talks with Leader Brady regularly and is always willing to talk with the governor and other leaders.
*** UPDATE *** The governor was asked about it today…
First of all I speak with the leaders all the time. I think every one of the leaders would tell you that I’ve had multiple conversations with them. And I’m always happy to have a, you know, we can convene a zoom conference or teleconference all of that. I’m happy to do any of that anytime with any of them. But I have been very communicative with each and every one of them. I’ve spoken with every leader probably, on average, once a week, maybe, maybe once every two weeks it’s hard to tell, but it’s usually we have an agenda of things that we’re discussing each of us, and we’re trying to make sure that we can keep things moving forward, those who might suggest that we haven’t been having those conversations or not paying attention to the fact that the leaders and I and the fact that I pick up the phone, virtually every day I call multiple legislators on both sides of the aisle to make sure that I’m communicating with them but even more importantly listening to them about concerns that their constituents may have and what we could do in the executive branch to make their their lives easier.
Ernie Tedeschi, a former economist for the U.S. Treasury, told The New York Times that it is the coronavirus itself – and not state orders to shut down businesses – that is the driving force behind the apparent recession now.
“States that haven’t yet closed businesses or put their populations on some sort of lockdown aren’t escaping enormous spikes in unemployment,” he said. “The pain is not just deep, it’s wide. This punctuates that the fundamental problem with the economy right now is the pandemic.”
That is my thinking as well. First fix or at least significantly mitigate the underlying problem and the economy will hopefully come back. It ain’t gonna come back if the problem is not fully addressed.
As the U.S. has embraced social distancing policies in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19, many businesses have shut their doors either voluntarily or by government order. […]
In order to find out the states whose unemployment percentages are most and least affected, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two key metrics. These metrics compare unemployment claim increases for the week of March 30 to both the same week in 2019 and the first week of 2020.
In order to find out where the pandemic has caused businesses to struggle most, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the share of small businesses operating in high-risk industries to small-business credit conditions and the state’s small-business friendliness.
* Here are a few states with their stay at home order dates, their rankings for unemployment insurance (UI) application increases and WalletHub’s small business rankings. In both instance, the higher the number, the better off the states are. Illinois stacks up well in both counts, even though it was one of the first states to adopt a stay at home order…
March 21: Illinois - Rankings: UI 42nd, Biz 45th;
March 30: North Carolina - Rankings: UI 7th, Biz 9th;
March 31: Arizona - Rankings: UI 12th, Biz 7th;
April 2: Georgia - Rankings: UI 4th, Biz 12th;
April 2: Maine - Rankings: UI 23rd, Biz 19th;
April 3: Florida - Rankings: UI 18th, Biz 16th;
April 3: Mississippi - Rankings: UI 5th, Biz 4th;
April 4: Alabama - Rankings: UI 24th, Biz 27th;
Still no order: Iowa - Rankings: UI 31st, Biz 31st
This isn’t a perfect metric by any means, but it does show you that economies shut down because of the virus. People essentially voted with their feet.
Until governments at all levels take a serious and effective approach to this virus, people are not going to feel safe.
* I’m told that Pritzker and his staff started reaching out yesterday. Here’s Greg Hinz…
With an eye on what’s happening on the coasts, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has begun talking with his peers in other Midwestern states about adopting a joint policy on reopening the Midwest economy as the COVID-19 pandemic curve appears to be flattening.
Pritzker’s office is confirming that both he and key staff members have been on the phone as governors in the Northeast and Pacific Coast areas step up regional coordination in advance of an expected national move by President Donald Trump that may or may not fit local priorities.
“The governor is interested in exploring something like what’s happening on the East and West Coasts for the Midwest,” spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh told me in a phone call. “It would be some sort of regional cooperation.”
“The conversations are being had,” she said, while declining to confirm whether Pritzker has spoken directly with his counterparts in Indianapolis, Madison or elsewhere. “I think our goal is to work together on things such as what do you do about stay-at-home orders, legalities and so forth.”
* Meanwhile, business interests were completely surprised by the governor’s workers’ comp move yesterday. Here’s Hannah Meisel…
Illinois Manufacturers’ Association President and CEO Mark Denzler told The Daily Line on Monday that he last spoke to Workers’ Compensation Commission members on Friday afternoon, and was not warned of the emergency rule coming down the pipeline.
Instead, Denzler said he thought commission members were on the same page as him in believing the Illinois Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act would cover any situation that arose if an essential worker were infected with Covid-19.
According to the law, “a disease shall be deemed to arise out of the employment if there is apparent to the rational mind, upon consideration of all the circumstances, a causal connection between the conditions under which the work is performed and the occupational disease.”
Denzler said he understood the rationale of assuming a nurse, for example, would most likely be exposed to Covid-19 at work, but said employees in manufacturing, retail or hospitality could still be able to claim workers’ compensation if they came down with the virus even if they were not exposed at work.
“It’s going to make it very difficult for employers to defend against [workers’ compensation] claims,” Denzler said. “I’m disappointed that the commission did not reach out to the employer community to have a discussion about this and the governor’s office didn’t reach out to employer community to see if there could be a compromise…as opposed to a dictate coming down on a Monday morning.”
The governor initially said yesterday that the new rules would allow workers to receive workers’ comp if they got COVID-19 on the job. But that’s definitely not what the new rules actually say. It’s now automatically presumed workers got the virus on the job.
During the Vietnam War, Vice Admiral James Stockdale spent seven years being tortured in a Hanoi prison. When asked about his experience, he noted that optimistic prison-mates eventually broke, as they passed one imagined deadline for release after another. Stockdale’s strategy, instead, was to meld hope with realism—“the need for absolute, unwavering faith that you can prevail,” as he put it, with “the discipline to begin by confronting the brutal facts, whatever they are.”
Do yourself a favor and read the rest of that article. Lots of sobering stuff in there about tests, drug shortages, the limitations and serious shortcomings of antibody tests and plenty more.
And, by the way, “brutal facts” does not mean twisted facts. It means real actual honest to goodness facts, which seem to be in short supply.
Also, it’s not been widely reported, but Abbott’s much acclaimed ID Now rapid test, which provides results in 5-13 minutes, can only process one sample at a time.
That means running the machine 24 hours without pauses or glitches, produces between 111 and 288 results. That’s fine for an individual hospital, but it’s not so great for widespread testing.
The Office of Illinois Comptroller has established an online portal showing the state’s COVID-19 coronavirus-related purchases and amounts spent on necessary supplies for the ongoing fight against the deadly virus.
As of April 10, Illinois has spent more than $174 million on purchases related to COVID-19, including such supplies as ventilators, masks, gloves, gowns, protective eyewear, hand sanitizer, swabs and more.
The site will be updated daily.
This effort is part of Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s transparency initiative to make state spending, revenues and other public data easily accessible to taxpayers, the media and elected officials.
“As long as this unprecedented public health crisis continues, my office will prioritize payments for the tools and supplies our frontline health care workers need to protect themselves, their patients and our communities,” Mendoza said.
“I hope our online portal showing Illinois’ investment in fighting this deadly virus will help drive home the message that none of this should be taken lightly and that people need to stay home and stay safe.”
* Chicago Magazine is out with its list of 50 most powerful women in the city. Frankly, many if not most would be on my list of the city’s most powerful people, regardless of gender.
Before her 30th birthday, Caprara had served as chief of staff to two different members of Congress. She has since overseen Hillary Clinton’s $190 million PAC — the largest in presidential campaign history — and, without the benefit of membership in the Illinois old boys’ network, run the campaign that beat Republican governor Bruce Rauner by almost 16 points. Now Governor Pritzker’s chief of staff, she’s been his point person for the state’s massive coronavirus response. And she’s funny on Twitter, too.
Just about anyone who knows her will read that last sentence and likely think of this…
You mean, let me understand this ’cause, ya know maybe it’s me, I’m a little #@&%*$ up maybe, but I’m funny how? I mean, funny like, I’m a clown? I amuse you? I make you laugh? I’m here to #@&%*$ amuse you? What do you mean funny? Funny how? How am I funny?
She’s quite something. And she more than earned that place on the list.
* Multiple reporters ask the governor multiple questions every day about when and how he plans to ease or even lift his stay at home order, which is a little more than three weeks old. It’s like they don’t listen to what he said the day before or even five minutes before. And many of their stories don’t really inform readers/viewers about what the answers actually were, which then prompts more questions because the public is confused.
While the state of Illinois’ stay-at-home order currently runs through April 30, Governor J.B. Pritzker says there are at least three things that will need to happen before restrictions can be significantly eased.
During his press conference Monday, Pritzker said that there is a chance that the stay-at-home order could be modified after it expires on April 30, but cautioned that there is still a long way to go before all businesses can re-open and gatherings can once again be held.
Barring a vaccine, Pritzker says that the lack of herd immunity leaves a three-fold path toward a significant move toward normalcy.
To sum up the meat of the story…
1) Widespread testing (at least 10,000 test results each and every day);
2) A contact tracing system must be in place;
3) “We need a treatment to lessen the severity of the symptoms, so that fewer people go to the hospital, fewer move from a regular hospital bed to an ICU bed, and fewer go from an ICU bed to a ventilator.”
This answer isn’t new, by the way. He’s been saying the same thing for days and days.
* But Pritzker opened himself to more questions when he briefly mentioned possible changes. Here’s Doug Finke…
Pritzker again declined to speculate on whether K-12 schools will reopen this school year or whether they will remain closed as they are in some other states.
“I promise I will tell you as soon as I know the answer to that question,” he said.
However, when the governor was asked if he might lift his stay-at-home order by May 1, he indicated changes were coming.
“I think it’s likely that there will be adjustments to the orders that we have put in place,” he said without specifying what they may be or timing of an announcement.
“I promise I will tell you as soon as I know the answer to that question,” is a good response. I mean, it’s not like he’s gonna wait for a reporter to ask a question about schools before announcing his decision.
But then he went beyond that response and now we’d like to know what sort of changes might be in store.
* Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) has written an open letter to the governor. This is just one excerpt and, in context, he is also calling for limited openings of some retailers, which I’m not sure I agree with since the peak has not yet arrived. But, anyway, here you go…
New studies are showing that wearing a covering of any kind on the face can significantly slow the spread of the disease. Even today, I still see many store employees and customers in a busy grocery store without any protective equipment. Restaurants offering carry-out and delivery are also not requiring staff to wear PPE.
It should become a requirement for all employees and customers to wear face coverings inside stores and restaurants.
Today, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) has launched a significant statewide radio campaign aimed at educating consumers about the safeguards they should adopt when visiting a grocery, pharmacy or retail store. The public service advertisement (PSA) will air 2,100 times over the next 10 days in every media market throughout the state. The buy includes airtime on African American radio stations as well as a version of the ad to be broadcast on Spanish language stations.
“From the earliest stages of this pandemic, retailers have implemented sweeping changes to how they operate their stores while at the same time meeting unprecedented customer demand. The goal of this PSA is to ensure customers take precautions to keep themselves and other customers safe while also protecting our essential retail workers,” said Rob Karr, president & CEO, Illinois Retail Merchants Association. “As always, retailers across the state are working diligently to ensure safe working and shopping environments for all who enter our stores. As the Governor has noted several times, we need consumers to also do their part.”
Going to the store? Here’s a few tips.
Wear a cloth mask that covers your nose and mouth…
Remember, both inside and outside the store, stay at least 6 feet apart…
When possible, avoid using cash.
And, try to have one member per family go shopping.
Please thank retail employees. They are working for you.
Retailers are committed to keeping employees and customers safe…and our shelves stocked.
The Illinois Retail Merchants Association is the voice for retail - and we thank you for doing your part.
The unemployment claims process has been a source of hardship for all too many Illinois residents as it has been for dozens of states across the nation. So many families are hurting at a scale of this country hasn’t seen ever in our lifetimes. And our state unemployment filing systems which were built a decade ago, for a much lower number of claims, simply haven’t kept pace. This was the painful truth that we discovered when unemployment began to spike.
Also, as per usual, please pardon all transcription errors.
* OK, one bit that wasn’t in the release…
These IDES employees did in a month what might normally take most of the year.
* Dr. Ezike…
And talking about unemployment, it’s important to recognize and acknowledge the toll that it takes on individuals as well as communities, not only financially but mentally and emotionally. Unemployment has been linked with a number of psychological disorders, particularly anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and a decrease in self esteem.
Workers’ Compensation can help with some of the financial impacts, but I also ask that we also support each other with the societal and emotional impacts during these tough times
* Illinois Nurses Association exec talks about the change to workers’ comp…
As a result of their sacrifice nurses in Illinois are starting to get sick and infected. Sadly, we’ve seen some employers argue with nurses about where they became infected completely ignoring the obvious risk created by the work they do every day.
Nurses should not be left to deal with the long term and costly consequences of becoming infected with COVID-19 on their own. On behalf of the Illinois Nurses Association, we want to thank Governor JB Pritzker for making this important change in the law to see that nurses and all essential workers receive their rightful benefits under Illinois Workers Compensation Law. Due to this change, there were there will now be a fair and reasonable presumption that a nurse who becomes infected with COVID-19 during this crisis became infected on the job, which will then ensure that she receives the workers compensation benefits that are rightly deserved.
* On to questions for the governor. We’ve learned that a poll worker died on the south side literally 14 days after the election. Should the election have been held?…
As you know, and I’ve said this before, the Governor of Illinois does not have the constitutional right, legal right to shut down the election here. It’s different in different states, we don’t have that here, so I couldn’t shut it down.
What I did do though is in the weeks before the election, I began virtually every day or certainly frequently telling people, you can vote today, early voting you can get a mail ballot today, send in and get one. We were encouraging people not to go to the polls if they could avoid going to the polls, and indeed I think that’s exactly the same thing that we need to do even more so when we get to the general election, I’m advocating that everybody should be applying for a mail ballot if they can, and that’s virtually everybody, and to vote by mail.
He was then asked the question again and gave the same response.
* Republicans held a news conference this morning, very concerned about this same issue of unemployment and said that really you’ve dropped the ball there, should have been more people that could have been quicker. Do you think you now have it in place to help people faster?. The governor went over what he said earlier and in his press release and then said..
I would say that this is still a work in progress. There’s no doubt about it, much better than it was, much better than it was.
I also want to say that, this pandemic, this COVID-19 knows no partisanship. And in the process of my work here on dealing with COVID-19 I’ve had lots of interactions with Republicans and Democrats, many have been extraordinarily constructive in their offering ideas and assistance and the things that we need. Some not so much. And I think that I draw a distinction between those who stand up in this moment and try to help, and those who, you know, hold press conferences to complain.
* Where did you come up with the list for the workers comp on who’s essential and who’s not. And why is the news media not a part of that?…
Overall the essential worker list is something that came from the Department of Homeland Security originally. And then we’ve added, we’ve created a list that’s even larger than the Homeland Security Department, put out with regard to workman’s comp. And we started with what we thought were the people who are very much on the very front lines, the people who are interacting literally daily potentially with someone with COVID-19, they’re treating. Think about a nurse in a hospital right now. I don’t think there’s anywhere that you could be a nurse right now in the state of Illinois, that you’re not in some fashion interacting with a person who has COVID-19 or potentially as COVID-19. And the same thing for the folks the firefighters and you think about what they do, just listen to the list of things that Chuck [with AFFI] said so you know look is it something that the workman’s comp commission could consider expanding to other areas, yes but we felt like the people who are on the very front lines most exposed, those are the people want to make sure it got covered first.
* Asked about McCormick Place…
…If you look back over the course of six days, there’s a kind of a leveling effect right we’ve had days that are above today’s, days that are below, but there’s a leveling effect that you can kind of see in those numbers, and more. So even as you look at the numbers of new cases, it really looks like there’s a leveling there. So, you know, when we look at all of that and then we see well when does someone transfer out to McCormick Place it’s really when the hospitals become full, and they’re not yet full
* Is it President Trump’s decision to end the stay at home order or is it your decision? [This question was asked the other day]…
Well I think he’s gonna issue some advice about it. But it is true that it’s up to the governors to make decisions about the executive orders that we’ve put in place and, and all of the governors that I’ve talked to, and especially me we want to lift these orders as soon as we can, we want to get things back to more normal as soon as we can. But one thing that we have to pay attention to is what direction are these curves going and what are the what is the advice that we’re getting from again the scientists and the doctors who know more about immunology, and about, you know, all the issues of COVID-19, than you know the elected official is not a doctor.
* There’s a lot of people out there wondering, you know, how are we going to reopen schools are you going to go ahead and close them down for the rest of the year and do e-learning…
I promise I will tell you as soon as I know the answer to that question
Is that coming this week?…
At this moment I can’t tell you whether it’s coming this week
And then he went on to explain - again - the reasoning behind this process.
* So to follow up on that what are the some of the conversations you’re having about how you make that happen. I mean do we open the economy, so to speak in phases, or is this something that’s all at once, what are the conversations and what are the effects that they are having and what are the experts telling you sure there’s not exactly a perfect consensus right but but you’ve laid out some of the things that we’re talking about, which is what is a phase I mean we talk about phases what what is phase one look like for about two or three or four, what is the first thing you do and and how does that work what rules you have to put in place does everybody wear a mask, you know, do you require that?…
I’ve encouraged everybody the CDC is encouraged everybody, but there’s no requirement that people who go out and public must wear a mask or go into a grocery store anywhere else. So that’s, you know, a question, what are all the rules for each industry that’s the other thing is you start to talk industry by industry a manufacturer is very different than a clothing store. What are the rules do we have to start thinking, you know, the way that a fire marshal determines how many people can be in your store in your grocery store, based on the number of square feet so that if there’s a fire everybody can get out. Do we now need to have public health administrator, determining, you know how many people at any given time can be in a certain store for us to reopen those stores for decisions that are going to be made over the next two weeks before your current state home order expires. Well, you couldn’t make all of those there’s no doubt about it but but I have been talking to industry leaders, and people who lead workers in those industries, because the most important thing is safety and health, and we have to start with that as some basis of understanding between businesses workers, you know that if people are going to go back to work or if we’re going to open up. You know opportunity for people. You know back in their industries. Will they feel safe, because that’s it’s very important to feel safe and to actually be safe. And that’s what we’re trying to work on. And again, it’s going to be talking about phases, we have to look at these things very much industry by industry, and then ask the question. So, and when does that change to you know how long do you go, what is the gating issue. I told you what the gating issue is for, you know, for any significant moves here, you know testing tracing and treatments. And then, you know, I think, more PPE availability. And then, what’s the next phase I think the next phase is a vaccine. … And I’m also very concerned to make sure that the workers who go back to work, are safe so those are things that I’m spending time on mayor in the room
* Mayor Lightfoot said this afternoon she expects that state home order to be extended. Can you give people any idea when you can confidently say if it’s going to be extended. Or when you might know? [The question has been asked and answered repeatedly today and every day for weeks, so I’m just gonna skip this one.]
* Starting today, independent contractors in Michigan can apply for unemployment benefits. Some gig workers are wondering why the same can’t be done right now in Illinois. Why is it taking longer here and when will Illinois workers be able to apply?…
The federal money that comes to support that new independent contractor support doesn’t come until May. So we’ve got to make sure that we’ve got a system that determines who’s eligible and who’s not before we can distribute money that isn’t here yet.
I mean some states, by the way, have gone ahead and taken something they’ve got in their own coffers and offer that to the gig workers and independent contractors. But that’s not something that’s available to us in the state of Illinois.
* You characterized the emergency rules approved by the workers compensation commission this morning as rules that covered essential workers, if they’re infected by COVID-19 on the job. However, the actual rules don’t read that way. They say all workers deemed essential by your executive order who come down with COVID-19 will be reasonably presumed to have caught it at work. The employment community says that this is not only an egregious overreach but also illegal because they argue such a large change can only be approved through legislation. Is that what was intended?…
My intention is to protect the workers of Illinois, the people who are most affected by this COVID-19 we are in a pandemic in an emergency. This is what we need to do right now to protect people.
* Will the program be fully implemented by the week of May 11 does that mean implementation or people can start to apply in May?…
That’s a great question. I’m glad it got asked because I want to clarify. People can apply now. They can send in their application now. It will be determined to be either eligible or ineligible for the current system and if it’s enabled will because it’s an independent contractor 1099 gig worker that that person’s application will then move to being ready to be processed by the new system that will be stood up and ready to go in early May or early mid May
* Are you considering shifting state workers from other agencies to IDES to help meet demand for unemployment filing, and what do you say to the unemployed Illinois residents who have been trying for weeks and haven’t been able to get through to file claims?…
Well the answer to the second half is everything I just said when I stood up here and told you what it is that we’re working through here, and all the challenges that we’ve had, as to moving workers from other departments.
I want to explain that there are federal rules that apply to those who take unemployment application so those who are responsible for taking your unemployment application at IDES, they have to be trained in a certain way. This is sensitive information for individuals. And so that’s why you can’t just grab people from anywhere and why we’re making sure that the people who are working the call centers, the people that are working at IDES, remember what did I say, I said we’re bringing back retired workers. They’ve all been trained. And so they’re doing from home, but the point is that they’re eligible to be able to do this right away and so we have expanded the workforce and IDES to take those applications by phone and and to help with the applications online.
Not exactly empathetic.
* We’ve received a copy of the cease and desist notice from the state police to the Pekin Country Club. What do you hope is the outcome from that?…
I can’t give you a specific answer to the question, Rebecca . The police are ultimately responsible for enforcing the stay at home order and all of the executive orders that we put in place that would interact with the public. So, you know that’s that’s why the state police are involved.
* Being that it’s been stated that COVID-19 is no one’s fault, how do you balance the extra cost employers and even taxpayers that pay for first responders could bear with this emergency rule from the workers comp commission?…
Well, what I can tell you is that in the middle of an emergency, the only way they have to operate is to protect people as best you can, their health and safety. And to the extent that it’s required that someone has to pick up the tab for that, but sometimes that will fall on the people who are most able to pick up the tab.
Having said that, we have challenges with our unemployment insurance in the state, every state does. Indeed that’s why we’re talking to our federal officials about making sure that they’re going to help us replenish that unemployment insurance trust, because it is, it’s happening everywhere in the country and to a greater degree or lesser degree to each state, but every governor that I’ve talked to has said they’re going to need help.
* And then he was asked a question about why the Supreme Court and the Chicago city council can hold virtual meetings, so “what is the holdup with the state legislature?”
Um, the state can, by statute, waive rules for local governments in an emergency. The governor cannot waive rules for the General Assembly, a co-equal branch. The Supreme Court can make its own rules, which it did. Anyway, here’s his response…
Well, it is, unfortunately, a fact of state law today that the state legislature cannot meet electronically or in any way other than in person. That doesn’t mean they couldn’t meet, and then decide not to meet, and instead have a meeting by Aoom or some other method, but that is not currently state law. In order to change that you’d have to have a meeting of the legislature. So, you know, I know that the leaders on both sides of the aisle are having some discussions about how they might do that effectively. We’re certainly going to assist them to make sure that it’s a method that’s safe and healthy for all the legislators, I don’t know when that will be.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 1,173 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 74 additional deaths.
Cook County: 2 males 30s, 1 female 40s, 3 males 40s, 7 males 50s, 6 females 60s, 8 males 60s, 8 females 70s, 5 males 70s, 8 females 80s, 4 males 80s, 3 females 90s, 2 males 90s, 1 female 100+
DuPage County: 1 male 40s, 1 female 60s, 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
Fayette County: 1 female 90s
Jasper County: 1 female 90s
Kane County: 1 female 90s
Lake County: 1 male 40s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 80s
McHenry County: 1 male 70s
Will County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 70s, 2 males 80s
Johnson County is now reporting a case. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 22,025 cases, including 794 deaths, in 87 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years.
…Adding… It’s only one day, but that’s the lowest number of new cases reported since April 6th.
The rapid spread of COVID-19 and uncertainty created within regulated industry has necessitated the modification of evidentiary rules regarding practice before the Commission to ensure first responders and front line workers, who are most susceptible to exposure to COVID-19, are afforded the full protections of the Workers’ Compensation Act in the event they are exposed to or contract the virus.
In other words, if you contract COVID-19 and you’re one of the covered workers, you’re automatically assumed to qualify for workers’ comp.
In any proceeding before the Commission where the petitioner is a COVID-19 First Responder or Front-Line Worker as defined in Section (a)(2),if the petitioner’s injury or period of incapacity resulted from exposure to the COVID-19 virus during a COVID-19-related state of emergency, the exposure will be rebuttably presumed to have arisen out of and in the course of the petitioner’s COVID-19First Responder or Front-Line Worker employment and, further, will be rebuttably presumed to be causally connected to the hazards or exposures of the petitioner’sCOVID-19First Responder or Front-Line Worker employment.
The term “COVID-19 First Responder or Front-Line Worker” means any individuals employed as police, fire personnel, emergency medical technicians,or paramedics and all individuals employed and considered as first responders, health care providers engaged in patient care, correction officers, and the crucial personnel identified under the following headings in Section 1 Part 12 of Executive Order 2020-10 dated March 20, 2020: “Stores that sell groceries and medicine”; “Food, beverage, and cannabis production and agriculture”;“Organizations that provide charitable and social services”; “Gas stations and businesses needed for transportation”; “Financial institutions”;“Hardware and supplies stores”; “Critical trades”; “Mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery, and pick-up services”; “Educational institutions”;“Laundry services”;“Restaurants for consumption off-premises”; “Supplies to work from home”; “Supplies for Essential Businesses and Operations”; “Transportation”; “Home-based care and services”; “Residential facilities and shelters”; “Professional services”; “Day care centers for employees exempted by [Executive Order 2020-10]”; “Manufacture, distribution, and supply chain for critical products and industries”; “Critical labor union functions”; “Hotels and motels”; and “Funeral services”
Wow.
Members of the news media are not included even though that’s becoming an issue.
* Press release…
The Illinois employer community has released the following statement regarding an emergency rule adopted Monday by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, which creates an automatic presumption that any essential worker diagnosed with COVID-19 contracted the illness at the workplace, even if they are working remotely or currently not on the job. The following statement should be attributed to the business groups listed below:
“Manufacturers, retailers, grocers, pharmacies, food banks, convenience stores and countless essential businesses across Illinois are doing all they can to protect workers while also meeting unprecedented demand for food, medical supplies, protective equipment and other important services needed during this pandemic. At the same time, many industries are suffering from unprecedented losses and closures including the hotel, hospitality and tourism industry. Yet, this commission chose to suddenly impose a drastic policy change that will significantly increase costs and require employers to pay for medical expenses and salary benefits if an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19 without proof the illness was contracted at the workplace. Many of these industries are waiting for relief from the federal and state government in an attempt to make payroll and retain workers, but will now be on the hook for additional costs if they’re lucky enough to re-open when the governor’s Stay at Home order is lifted. At a time when the state is discussing how to provide relief for employers trying to maintain jobs, this move runs contrary in every way.”
It should be noted this so-called “emergency rule” was adopted with less than 24 hours’ notice and sets a disturbing precedent because it may violate the Illinois Open Meetings Act while making substantive rule changes outside of the legislative process. Further, the Governor has been providing daily updates on COVID-19 yet this issue has never been discussed as an emergency.
Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois
Chemical Industry Council of Illinois
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association
Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association/Illinois Association of Convenience Stores
Illinois Retail Merchants Association
National Federation of Independent Business
Valley Industrial Association
I’m told the governor will address this topic at his press conference today. Stay tuned.
‘Great news on the testing front’ in Illinois as hard-hit NYC rations supplies
Trump says he’ll decide on easing guidelines, not governors
Six ways the coronavirus pandemic will hit Chicago’s economy hard
Longtime 911 operator expressed concerns about COVID-19 precautions at work weeks before dying of virus, daughter says
The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed Sunday that 39 more people have died from coronavirus-related causes, sending the county’s total past 500 deaths.
Monday, Apr 13, 2020 - Posted by Advertising Department
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Every day, my office and my colleagues’ offices, democrat and republican, are inundated with calls and emails asking for help in filing for unemployment. These are people desperately asking for help, telling me they can afford to pay their rent, buy their groceries to the family.
These Illinoisans are desperate. They are frightened, which explains why the Illinois State Police were brought in to provide security for the Illinois Department of Employment Security employees. Those employees are working hard. They’re doing everything they can do. But clearly, the demand continues to exceed the manpower at IDES.
He then read three emails from frustrated constituents who could not get through to IDES and continued…
I know these are unprecedented times. But it has been over three weeks since bars and restaurants were forced to close in Illinois, leading to mass layoffs. … (M)ore residents of Illinois will be laid off or fired. And they will be seeking government assistance through unemployment.
Within the last two weeks I’ve sent the governor two, or more, requests, asking him to bring in an outside firm or to redeploy employees from other agencies to fix this problems. Those requests have gone unanswered.
This is not acceptable. We have co-equal branches of government. We were elected, I was elected to represent the best interest of our constituents, and I feel that my responsibility goes beyond the 82nd District.
And today we are demanding on behalf of Illinois that this program with unemployment insurance, be fixed immediately, so that those struggling Illinoisans can get the relief they desperately need during these trying times.
* Rep. Grant Wehrli spoke next…
It is time for this governor to step up and fix the problems with IDES and not just complain about things at the federal level. This is 100% under his control. We need these solutions now. We’re here to work collaboratively with him if there’s things that we can do legislatively that he needs we’re here to help, but to simply just defer this as a federal problem, and not address it is just unacceptable.
I did bring this to the attention of the governor’s office where I was basically told to go away. They did not want to address this and they did not want to hear from a legislator on this topic and that’s unfortunate.
* Rep. Mike Marron…
A few months ago no one could have predicted how the coronavirus was going to ravage our state. But once it got here, it became apparent that a stay at home order was going to be a reality. Prior to that happening IDES’ system should have been advanced to accommodate for the large influx in applicants that the order was going to create.
* On to questions. The governor has blamed many of these problems and outdated computer systems that weren’t built to handle this level of demand. Is this the result of failure to upgrade technology across state government over many years?…
Durkin: This is not about rear-view mirror politics. We shouldn’t go back and point fingers at previous administrations. This administration’s been working for the past year and a half. They have the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and their job is to predict, to ensure that the state of Illinois is prepared, and they have vision, to be able to prepare themselves for any man made or natural catastrophe. So, this is the administration’s responsibility to be able to ensure that we have a computer systems in place that are able to address every possible problem that the state could encounter. Maybe it is maybe it’s a problem but the fact is, it should get done, it should have been done. That is why we have, as I said earlier, we have an agency that is responsible for ensuring that state of Illinois is prepared for the worst circumstances.
* Can the shifting of personnel that the House Republicans propose be done immediately or would it take time for the shift? And what about training?…
Wehrli: That’d be a question for the administration, to be honest with you. But we’re three weeks into this and they haven’t even taken step one to even look at this as a possibility. So, I understand that they have many things on their plate right now, but this is an issue that they should have started addressing weeks ago and not just rely on suggestions from the legislators who are hearing of these problems on a daily basis.
* Rep. Wehrli was asked who in the administration told him to ‘go away’?…
I’m not prepared at this point in time to name names, but it was very disheartening when a member of a co-equal branch of government reaches out to try to get some solutions going, and the direct quote was ‘Get a life.’
That’s unacceptable. I understand that they’re in a high stress situation right now. But we need solutions, not name calling and basically just disregarding a member of a co-equal branch of government that’s inappropriate.
* The governor just put out information that IDES staff had worked 6500 hours of overtime. They’ve upgraded the website and they’ve expanded call center capacity. How much more can they do?…
Durkin: I just saw that release about 15 minutes before this press conference. And I find it really ironic that this is the response that I get from the administration, after sending in two letters to the governor, his chief of staff within the last two weeks. That’s great, but we have to do more. That’s it.
* Beyond writing letters, what more can the legislature do to assert its power as co-equal in managing the crisis?…
Durkin: If the governor is going to in the month of May. If he decides that he is going to extend the executive order. I will say that it’s, it’s appropriate to have the legislative leaders involved with that executive order to see if modifications should be made based on where we are at with the health and safety, Illinois, because we can’t lose sight over the fact of what’s happened to our economy. We have to be able to do everything we can to reduce the number of elements who are contracting COVID, but we also have to reduce the amount of individuals who are filing for unemployment.
* Has there been any talk of the General Assembly reconvening? … What communication have you had with Speaker Madigan?…
Durkin: There’s been talk but we have no idea when we’re going to return to session. People have speculated maybe in May we may go into June.
I have had communications with a speaker. I can’t count how many times we have, but it’s been around administrative issues. … I told the speaker that it was important that we reconvene some working groups to discuss important state issues that we anticipate that will come up during the time in which we return. … And I’m pleased that the speaker has taken up my offer, and we will begin [the working groups process] shortly.
* Do you foresee problems with labor agreements and shifting employees to facilitate the shifting from one agency to another?…
Durkin: I guess that’s between AFSCME and also the administration. But I just want to re emphasize that Illinois with the stroke of a pen was able to shut down private business, which we did. The administration should be able to work through quickly under the emergency powers in which the governor has exercised, with labor agreements to reposition state employees from other agencies into the Department of Employment Security for a temporary period of time.
* Is May 11 an acceptable timeline for these 1099 workers to begin receiving benefits?…
Durkin: No, I think May 11 is too long for the gig economy people. Those people need money just like everybody else to pay their bills and take care of their families, things like that, so that’s that’s not acceptable to me. But at least it’s a timeline to start with.
* When will we know the fiscal impact?…
Durkin: I think that we’ll find out probably within the next two weeks of what the Office of budget and management numbers will have for us. We are going to see a significant, significant drop off of revenues. I could predict that with some certainty. … I imagine that the state will be not millions but billions of dollars in the hole when it’s all said and done over the next month and a half. But until we receive numbers back from the administration, I’m not going to put a specific dollar amount into place other than the fact that, like every other state, we will be running behind.
* Downstate residents feel no one is looking out for them on unemployment and testing for COVID-19. What should be done to spread the wealth from Chicago? [The question was from a Quincy TV reporter]…
Michael T. Marron: Well, I would agree with the question. I get that feedback from a lot of constituents, and it doesn’t help. When you have a problem like this, or, you know, a lot of the other departments have been non responsive as well when we’re trying to get answers from people as to whether businesses qualify for the exemption under the executive order, it’s been frustrating.
I think one thing that Governor could do, it’s largely optics, but I think he could think about holding a press conference from somewhere other than the city of Chicago. I mean I understand that Chicago’s a very critically important part of the state. I love the city, but the Capitol is Springfield and I think people in my district, and what find it offensive that every day his press conferences are from the Thompson center, instead of from his office in Springfield. Those are just small things that I think people downstate. I think they take over to and it’s understandable.
And I do feel like, you know, the circumstances are somewhat different for us down here. Because the population density is smaller we haven’t seen the numbers, although I have largely supported the governor and the actions that he’s taken to keep us safe. I do think that he could listen to us a little bit better, those of us that represent downstate and he could have a better presence down here definitely that would improve things a lot I feel
* The House Republicans are holding a press conference right now about the problem with the state’s flooded unemployment insurance application system. You can click here to watch it.
Gov. Pritzker plans to focus his afternoon press conference on this very topic and the administration has released this background material ahead of that…
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the United States economy, leading to an unprecedented number of unemployment claims. Through the five weeks from March 1 to April 4, Illinois received 513,173 initial unemployment claims. That is greater than the total number of initial claims for the entirety of 2019 (489,831) and five times greater than the claims filed in the first five weeks of the 2008 great recession.
Whew.
* More…
ACTIONS TAKEN BY IDES TO MEET INCREASED DEMAND
The administration moved swiftly to increase capacity on the IDES website and ramp up efforts at the IDES call center to meet the unparalleled number of unemployment claims. Since March 1, the IDES website has fielded over 6.5 million sessions and the IDES call center has processed thousands of calls per day.
Overhauling the IDES Website Infrastructure
While the original capacity of the IDES website was sufficient to process a standard level of traffic and claims, it was not a match for the unprecedented traffic it has received in recent weeks. As a result, IDES worked with DoIT to move its website to an entirely new hardware infrastructure with more capacity to handle increased demand. IDES also expedited the process for new users to register and submit a claim, cutting red tape in the validation process. Since these updates, loading times for those using the website are now averaging below one second, and server and mainframe utilization has remained below 50 percent.
Expanding Call Center Capacity
IDES updated its phone system to increase capacity by 40 percent, reducing wait times and the number of claimants receiving a busy signal. The daily call center hours have been extended to respond to those waiting in the queue after closure. Additionally, IDES is in the process of establishing an outside call center with an additional 200 agents who will assist in the application and certification process.
Currently, IDES has 173 employees working to answer and process calls, 273 working to process claims, and 93 administrative and support staff, including those in the mailroom. In total, these employees have now worked 6,500 hours of overtime with many working through the weekend to meet the dramatic increase in demand. IDES has also reenlisted recently retired staffers with unemployment benefit insurance experience to work on contract to assist the department during this crisis. These retirees will be provided with laptops to allow them to assist from home.
Building Private Partnerships
The administration has sought out partnerships with technology and consulting companies who have stepped up to provide their expertise during this critical time. This includes an exciting partnership with Google AI, Quantiphi, and Carasoft to launch a 24/7 web bot on the IDES website to immediately provide answers to frequently asked questions to those who choose to use the feature. IDES is also
working closely with companies like Accenture, IBM, and Deloitte to continue to expand capacity in its existing systems and implement new programs.
ACTIONS TO EXPAND INSURANCE ELIGIBILITY
Recognizing the immense financial challenges facing working families during this time, the administration has moved quickly to expand access to benefits and implement new programs enacted via legislation from the U.S. Congress.
Emergency Rules to Ease Eligibility Requirements
IDES filed an emergency rule to make it easier for individuals who are laid off due to a temporary closing of a business to continue to qualify for benefits. These individuals no longer have to register with Illinois Job Link to regularly certify they are seeking employment. IDES also filed an emergency rule expanding the definition of “able and available to work” to allow claimants to apply for jobs beyond their normal scope, in order to certify for unemployment.
Waiving the Waiting Week
Before collection of the regular 26 weeks of unemployment benefits begins, a claimant normally experiences a waiting week during which they do not receive benefits. Through an executive order from Governor Pritzker, the waiting week for claimants was entirely waived. This change allows a claimant to receive two weeks of benefits, rather than the usual one week of benefits as their first payment.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
FPUC provides an additional $600 each week in 100% federally funded benefits to anyone entitled to regular state unemployment benefits. FPUC is available for weeks beginning on or after March 29, 2020 and continuing through the week ending July 25, 2020.
The administration acted immediately to implement this federal program and provide much needed resources to Illinois residents. As a result, IDES began disbursing funds through this program, starting the week of April 5, 2020, which was the first week the federal legislation allowed FPUC to be paid. From March 29, 2020 through the week ending July 25, 2020, benefits will be applied automatically to claimants who qualify.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
PUA provides 100% federally funded unemployment benefits for individuals who are unemployed for specified COVID-19-related reasons and are not covered through other avenues in the unemployment insurance program, including self-employed sole proprietors and independent contractors. IDES is contracting with Deloitte to implement and maintain a web-based solution for PUA as quickly as possible. IDES will have this program fully implemented by the week of May 11.
PEUC Provides up to 13 weeks’ worth of 100 percent federally funded benefits to individuals who have exhausted their rights to regular state unemployment benefits of up to 26 weeks in Illinois. PEUC is potentially available for weeks beginning on or after March 29, 2020 and continuing through the week ending December 26, 2020. PEUC will be retroactive once implemented. IDES received USDOL guidelines on April 10 and expects to have the program fully implemented the week of April 20.
So the question is how do you operate society when we begin to bring down the level of infection and make sure that people are able to begin to go back to work in various industries? So I’m talking to industry leaders about that. I’m talking to economists about that. I’m also, very importantly, listening to the scientists and the doctors to make sure that we do this right because what we don’t want, the last thing we want is to begin to open things up and then have a big spike in infections.
* The Question: Should he have added legislative leaders to that list of people he’s consulting? Make sure to explain your answer, please.
The CARES Act extends temporary benefits for people who usually do not qualify for unemployment benefits: self-employed, independent contractors and sole proprietors. […]
If deemed eligible, these self-employed Illinois workers will get 39 weeks of enhanced benefits starting in May.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security has not yet opened an online portal for self-employed workers to apply for benefits.
In recent days, [US] Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia, who has expressed concerns about unemployment insurance being too generous, has used his department’s authority over new laws enacted by Congress to limit who qualifies for joblessness assistance and to make it easier for small businesses not to pay family leave benefits. The new rules make it more difficult for gig workers such as Uber and Lyft drivers to get benefits, while making it easier for some companies to avoid paying their workers coronavirus-related sick and family leave. […]
New Labor Department guidance says unemployment benefits apply to gig workers only if they are “forced to suspend operations,” which could dramatically limit options for those workers if their apps are still operating. Other workers also face a high hurdle to qualify for benefits.
(U)nder the additional eligibility criterion established by the Secretary here, the driver may still qualify for [Pandemic Unemployment Assistance] benefits if he or she has been forced to suspend operations as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency, such as if an emergency state or municipal order restricting movement makes continued operations unsustainable.
* Here’s what that means…
While the program will cover #gigeconomy workers, it only extends to those who are “forced to suspend operations” because of #COVID19, leaving those who could still turn their apps on—even if they can’t find work—in a grey area.
The website for Michigan workers to apply for unemployment benefits is down. […]
The disruption comes only hours after the window for independent contractors and self-employed workers could start applying for benefits as part of a new source of federal funding.
Workers normally go to the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) when applying for benefits. The site first buckled under a surge of new claims at the end of March. The Michigan Governor has previously urged patience while the state has worked to get the site up and running.
At least Michigan had something in place for gig workers. Illinois does not have anything ready yet and the IDES site can’t handle unemployment applications from “traditional” workers as it is.
* From the governor’s office…
The U.S. Department of Labor took weeks to roll out stringent and confusing regulations around how to implement an entirely new program. The state of Illinois is working through those regulations now and is contracting with an outside firm to help us stand up the additional benefits for 1099 workers in the coming weeks, but it’s clear the Trump administration is working to limit who qualifies for benefits.
The libertarian-leaning Illinois Policy Institute has tried reaching out more to Democratic legislators since Gov. Bruce Rauner lost his reelection bid. Rauner at one point was so close to the group that he fired several of his longtime staffers and replaced some of them with IPI staff, which did not work out well, to say the least.
The organization’s political wing has contributed money to more than a few legislative Democrats’ campaign funds in recent months, and they were able to introduce some bipartisan legislation last year and this year — although the spring session is now mostly a bust because, as I write this, the General Assembly has no set plans to return amid the pandemic.
An IPI staffer even posed for a picture with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and posted it on Twitter last year. “Looking forward to working with his administration,” the caption read. It’s been on a serious mission to change its image.
If you go to its website, you’ll see the IPI has devoted an entire section to empathetic interviews with small business owners about how they’re faring during the pandemic. They’re well-written, including one featuring the owner of a Chicago restaurant.
“In general, everyone is standing, waiting in the wings until we’re allowed to open back up regularly, which obviously no one knows when that’s going to be yet,” the owner was quoted as saying.
The organization claimed this week in a private Facebook group it runs that it wants the state to begin planning to reopen the economy and “give people visibility on what that might look like.”
But then it tipped its hand in the comment section.
“As an owner of 2 small businesses, one essential (radon mitigation), one a restaurant … nothing I can say will express the absolute disdain I have for this man or his policies,” a commenter complained about Pritzker.
A Policy Institute staffer replied to her comment asking if she would be open to speaking to a member of the IPI team. “We’ve been doing our best to give our community a voice on our site and pressure JB to reopen the state’s economy.”
Another commenter predicted that Pritzker “and his boss lori lightfoot will kill Illinois.” An IPI staffer replied with the same request to speak with her about her story. “We’ve been featuring small business owners on our site to try to pressure the governor to reopen the state’s economy.”
The IPI’s privately admitted agenda did not go over well with the governor’s press secretary, as you might imagine. She let it fly.
“COVID-19 has left a trail of devastation across the globe. There is no country, no city, no community that is immune,” wrote Jordan Abudayyeh. “Every day, we grieve with the families who have lost loved ones in this battle. And we yearn for the time when life can return to normal.”
“We usually ignore the Illinois Policy Institute’s institutionalized and reflexive partisanship, but in this time of crisis, we cannot afford to let this dangerous ideology go unanswered. We all want the economy to reopen — no one more than the Governor,” Abudayyeh continued. “But to suggest that should happen before the science says it is safe is not only foolish, it’s dangerous.
“In Illinois, more than 500 people have succumbed to the virus and more than 16,000 people have been sickened. Those numbers climb every single day and because of that fact, an overwhelming majority of Illinoisans are working together to flatten the curve. The IPI has lobbied for some atrocious policies in the past, but this time their efforts could mean the difference between life and death for many Illinoisans. They need to stop lying to people about what’s at stake in this crisis and own up to the public responsibility we all have to be committed to a truthful and honest conversation about our collective public health.”
Yikes.
A spokesperson for the IPI said they want the governor to establish “a process and timeline to safely and effectively open the economy, so we are not only protecting lives but also safeguarding livelihoods.”
But a timeline simply isn’t possible right now because literally nobody can say with certainty when this will all end.
The spokesperson went on to say that the governor’s refusal to discuss this is causing uncertainty, which is “making residents wary.”
Wary of what, he didn’t say.
“We will continue to tell their story,” he said. And continuing the pressure, no doubt.
I’m thinking there will be no more photo-ops with the governor.
* Meanwhile…
Morgan Stanley: “While we understand the desire for optimism, we also caution that the US outbreak is far from over. Recovering from this acute period in the outbreak is just the beginning and not the end. We believe the path to re-opening the economy is going to be long.” pic.twitter.com/dnrcTS89SV
* Ever have one of those mornings when literally everything goes wrong? Yeah. That was my morning. Anyway, keep it Illinois-centric and be nice to each other, please.
…And I sent an incorrect password to subscribers. What a day.
