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* 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.
* On to selected headlines from the Tribune’s live blog…
Illinois National Guard opens drive-up COVID-19 testing site in Markham
South suburban first responders to get distribution of N95 protective masks
As Chicago, other cities report racial disparities in COVID-19 cases, Illinois Democrats call on Trump administration to collect nationwide data
More than 360 retired teachers offer free virtual tutoring to Illinois students as schools remain closed
The number of background check requests for gun transactions breaks records in March as coronavirus lockdown took effect
200 residents of Aurora homeless shelter bused to Schaumburg hotel to help prevent spread of coronavirus
* From the Sun-Times’ live blog…
At Chicago shelter for immigrant kids, more than half test positive for COVID-19
Infectious disease expert awaiting murder trial requests release to research COVID-19
Things to do with your kids while self-quarantining at home
Why Blacks are hit hardest by COVID-19 — and what that says about health care in America
The Cook County medical examiner’s office Monday confirmed 55 additional COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total in the county to 581.
A 16th employee at the Cook County Circuit Court clerk’s office has tested positive for COVID-19.
Chicago police Monday announced 30 more confirmed case of COVID-19, bringing the number of cases in the department to 200.
* Roundup…
* WHO officials say it’s unclear whether recovered coronavirus patients are immune to second infection
* Illinois business climate better than most states amid pandemic, study shows - Illinois has the 7th least affected small business marketplace
* States largely have authority over when to shut down, reopen during coronavirus pandemic
* ‘There is no downtime’: What it’s like for ER doctor dealing with COVID-19 during a 10-hour shift
* As demand grows, association says Illinois Secretary of State not helping license new truck drivers
* Five inmates that tested positive for COVID-19 in the state prison system have died: Rice had been in prison since the early 1980s on charges related to child molestation when he admitted he earlier had kidnapped, raped and killed an 11-year-old Oak Forest boy. Rice received an additional 80-year term for the murder.
* Chicago primary voters notified of possible virus exposure
* At least 2,300 nursing homes have coronavirus cases — and the reality is likely much worse: The new coronavirus is racing through America’s nursing homes, and the impact has been far greater than the federal government has said.
* Microsoft, UPS and health care companies create app so you can donate masks to hospitals
* John A. Logan, SIU classes to continue online only into summer semester
* Responding to Blaine Wilhour’s questioning of safety measures
* Shutdown could cost Quincy more than $2.3 million in lost tax revenue
* How Macon County’s local governments are operating in a socially distant world
* Little Village coal plant smokestack implosion sparks outrage, plans for class action lawsuit
* As Cook County grapples with climbing death count, pop-up morgue troubles neighbors
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 14, 20 @ 1:36 pm
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The Governor and his counterparts are right to have the conversation, and hopefully this dampens some of the reflexive criticism about “putting money over lives,” as if any discussion of economic activity is callous until we have totally eliminated the risk of anyone getting sick or dying.
Comment by bailbond Tuesday, Apr 14, 20 @ 1:49 pm
Manufacturers have claimed for years that if an injury is a risk to the general public, then it’s shouldn’t be covered by workers comp, so Denzler is on traditional ground.
But since the general public is supposed to stay home, and people are going out only for work, there’s more of a reason to believe that exposure to the coronavirus is work-related.
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Tuesday, Apr 14, 20 @ 1:50 pm
There should be a mechanism for holding employers accountable when their employees are considered essential but they don’t provide for sufficient protections. That’s happening all over the country, hence the numerous wildcat strikes.
Comment by PJ Tuesday, Apr 14, 20 @ 2:03 pm
* Five inmates that tested positive for COVID-19 in the state prison system have died…
I feel sorry for four of them… Chomo Rice was living on stolen time.
Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Apr 14, 20 @ 2:17 pm
Perhaps Mark should have shared his brainstorm with the hospital bosses….seems they did not the message
Comment by Annonin Tuesday, Apr 14, 20 @ 2:32 pm
The City of Peoria could be looking at a $50 million budget deficit due to the coronavirus pandemic. Without state or federal help, city officials think as many as 7 out of 10 city employees could be laid off:
https://www.pjstar.com/news/20200414/peoria-faces-possible-50-million-budget-deficit-because-of-coronavirus
Comment by Leatherneck Tuesday, Apr 14, 20 @ 9:58 pm