Today’s update discusses:

• judicial ruling on Governor’s stay-at-home order
• Workers’ Compensation Commission creating COVID-19 task force
• Governor addressing downstate residents

EMERGENCY POWERS

• Yesterday, a Southern Illinois Judge entered a temporary restraining order (“TRO”) in a lawsuit filed against Governor Pritzker blocking the stay-at-home restrictions to take effect this week. The TRO releases GOP state lawmaker Darren Bailey from having to comply with the Governor’s Executive Order. Bailey has encouraged others to file lawsuits similar to his. Pritzker argued that a ruling like this would set a dangerous precedent as disasters do not always disappear in 30 days. The Governor is seeking an emergency stay of the ruling as the case moves to the Illinois Appellate Court.
• In his briefing on Monday, Governor Pritzker emphasized that COVID-19 is not just a Chicago or Cook County problem, and residents in downstate Illinois are just as susceptible to the virus. Governor Pritzker noted that of the top five counties by infection rate— Cook, Jasper, Lake, Will, and Randolph Counties—two are in downstate.

 WORKERS COMPENSATION

• Following a withdrawal of the emergency rule creating a presumption that essential workers diagnosed with COVID-19 contracted the virus in the workplace, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission has put together a task force to look at all options relating to COVID-19. The task force will form a committee of practitioners to assist in examining the problems created by the pandemic and possible actions the Commission may take to help solve these problems.