Illinois State House District 13 issued the following announcement on March 25.
First, let me start with the most important for all of us to do. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, PLEASE DO NOT walk into an ER, doctor’s office, hospital or clinic. Call your doctor, urgent care, hospital or clinic from home first and follow their instructions. Do not call 911 unless you are injured or very seriously ill. By taking these steps, we will all help ensure that Illinois’ healthcare system is prepared for the expected surge in COVID-19 patients.
Personal Protective Equipment
Access to personal protective equipment (PPE) has been critical for our first responders dealing with this outbreak. PPE includes items such as N95 masks, gloves, gowns, single-use protective kits, among other things. While the state government has taken many steps to expand Illinois’ PPE supply, demand for this equipment is rising rapidly.
We are calling on all businesses, organizations, and individuals with unused stocks of PPE to please donate these supplies. This includes nail salons, tattoo parlors, theaters, elective surgery centers, and others. To donate please contact IDPH at PPE.donations@illinois.gov and pickup will be arranged.
Child Care for Essential Workers
The “Stay at Home” executive order temporarily closed child care programs in Illinois and families are advised to keep their children at home wherever possible. However, we know this is not an option for many essential workers serving on the front lines of this outbreak. The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development, along with IDHS and DCFS, are working to provide these critical services for our essential workers.
If you are an essential worker in need of these services, you can locate your nearest provider on the COVID-19 Emergency Provider Search. You can also call the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies Hotline toll-free at (888) 228-1146. The helpline will be available from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Monday through Friday to answer calls, but callers will be able to leave a message 24 hours a day.
For as long as the public health emergency continues, licensed and licensed-exempt child care homes may serve up to six children of essential workers as a legally license-exempt home. No application or registration is required. Child care homes just need to notify the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) system that you are offering emergency child care for children of essential workers. This way we can match you to families in need of these services.
Child care centers can apply to become an Emergency Child Care Center during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. To apply, complete an IDCFS Application for Child Care Facility License and submit it to Emergency.Daycare@illinois.gov. You may need to submit updated IDCFS Authorization for Background Checks for Child Care. Centers are recommended to serve no more than 50 children per center with a maximum group size of 10 per classroom.
IL Treasurer’s Small Business COVID-19 Relief Program
Treasurer Michael Frerichs has announced a new initiative to support small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The Treasurer’s Office will deposit up to $250 million with approved financial institutions. These financial institutions will then use this money to provide below-market rate loans to affected small businesses. These loans, capped at 4.75%, can be used to provide bridge funding, pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills.
This program works with participating financial institutions – loans will not be made directly between the Treasurer’s Office and businesses. If you are a financial institution interested in becoming an Approved Program Depository, or if you are a small business looking for a list of Approved Program Depositories, please visit the IL Treasurer’s website.
Expanding Our Health Care Workforce
To prepare for the expected surge in COVID-19 cases, we need all hands on deck. IDFPR has released new guidance to allow doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who have recently retired or left the field to temporarily reinstate their licenses. Expedited licensing is also available for health care professionals who currently practice out of state.
Physicians, surgeons and physician’s assistants whose licenses have been expired or inactive for less than three years may temporarily restore their license with no fee or continuing education requirement. Nurses and respiratory care therapists with licenses that have been expired or inactive for less than five years may also temporarily restore their license without paying a fee or taking continuing education courses.
Out-of-State physicians, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, and respiratory care therapists may temporarily practice in Illinois if they are licensed in another state and are in good standing. All temporary licensees must be operating under the authority of IEMA/IDPH or at a long-term care facility, hospital or FQHC. Temporary licenses expire September 30, 2020.
Ventra Pass Accounts
The CTA is offering a one-time prorated credit for any remaining days left on an active 7- or 30-day pass, based on when the pass was last used. For example, a 7-day pass that was activated on March 15 and used only that day, would be eligible for a prorated refund reflecting six unused days. Prorated credits will be issued as Transit Value that is added to the cardholder’s Ventra account. Transit Value can be used to purchase passes in the future or for rides paid for individually from your value balance.
To receive this Transit Value credit, please email customerservice@ventrachicago.com no later than April 13, 2020. Be sure to include the account holder’s name, transit account ID number, and the type of pass (7- or 30-day) you are requesting credit for in your email.
Passes are only activated when tapped at a rail station or on a bus, so if you do not need to ride CTA using one of these passes, simply save your Ventra Card with inactive passes until things return to normal. You can log in to your account online to see if you have any active or inactive passes. If you have autoload enabled, you can easily deactivate this feature through the Ventra app or on the website.
The CTA continues to run rail and bus service for those working in essential services or traveling for other essential purposes.
Original source can be found here.
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