Executive Order 2020-21 - Illinois.gov

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https://www2.illinois.gov/Pages/Executive-Orders/ExecutiveOrder2020-...

Executive Order 2020-21 - Illinois.gov
EXECUTIVE ORDER IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
(COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 19)
WHEREAS, I, JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, declared all counties in the State of Illinois
as a disaster area on March 9, 2020 (First Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation) in response to
the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19); and,
WHEREAS, I again declared all counties in the State of Illinois as a disaster area on April 1,
2020 (Second Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, and, together with the First Gubernatorial
Disaster Proclamation, the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations) in response to the
exponential spread of COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, in a short period of time, COVID-19 has rapidly spread throughout Illinois,
necessitating updated and more stringent guidance from federal, state, and local public health
officials; and,
WHEREAS, for the preservation of public health and safety throughout Illinois, and to
ensure that our healthcare delivery system is capable of serving those who are sick, I find it
necessary to take additional significant measures consistent with public health guidance to
slow and stop the spread of COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, social distancing, which consists of maintaining at least a six-foot distance
between people, is the paramount strategy for minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in our
communities; and,
WHEREAS, certain populations are at a higher risk of experiencing more severe illness as a
result of COVID-19, including older adults and people who have serious chronic health
conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease or other conditions; and,
WHEREAS, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) currently has a population of
more than 36,000 male and female inmates in 28 facilities, the vast majority of whom,
because of their close proximity and contact with each other in housing units and dining halls,
are especially vulnerable to contracting and spreading COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, the IDOC currently has limited housing capacity to isolate and quarantine
inmates who present as symptomatic of, or test positive for, COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, to ensure that the Director of the IDOC may take all necessary steps, consistent
with public health guidance, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the IDOC facilities and
provide necessary healthcare to those impacted by COVID-19, it is critical to provide the
Director with discretion to use medical furloughs to allow medically vulnerable inmates to
temporarily leave IDOC facilities, when necessary and appropriate and taking into account the
health and safety of the inmate, as well as the health and safety of other inmates and staff in
IDOC facilities and the community;
4/10/2020, 12:19 PM

Executive Order 2020-21 - Illinois.gov

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https://www2.illinois.gov/Pages/Executive-Orders/ExecutiveOrder2020-...

THEREFORE, by the powers vested in me as the Governor of the State of Illinois, and
pursuant to Sections 7(1), 7(2), 7(8), and 7(12) of the Illinois Emergency Management
Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305, I hereby order the following, effective immediately and for the
remainder of the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations:
Section 1. The following provisions of the Illinois Unified Code of Corrections, 730 ILCS
5/3-11-1, allowing for the furlough of IDOC inmates are hereby suspended as follows: (a) as
set forth in Section (a), providing the allowable time period for furloughs, the phrase “for a
period of time not to exceed 14 days”, is suspended and furlough periods shall be allowed for
up to the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations as determined by the Director
of IDOC; and (b) as set forth in Section (a)(2), the phrase “to obtain medical, psychiatric or
psychological services when adequate services are not otherwise available” shall be
suspended and furloughs for medical, psychiatric or psychological purposes shall be allowed
at the Director’s discretion and consistent with the guidance of the IDOC Acting Medical
Director.
Section 2. The IDOC shall file emergency rules as needed to effectuate the intent of this
Executive Order.
Issued by the Governor April 6, 2020
Filed by the Secretary of State April 6, 2020

4/10/2020, 12:19 PM