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Coronavirus Information

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) considers the coronavirus to be a serious public health threat and the President has issued a national emergency declaration. It is important that you are aware of the disease and the efforts necessary to prevent its spread. 

Symptoms
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can spread quickly from person to person. Symptoms can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

Call your health care professional if you develop sysmptoms and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19.

Prevention 
The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. There are simple everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including: 

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
  • Adhere to CDC and local guidelines concerning social distancing to reduce the ability of the virus to spread.

If you are sick, to keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you should:

  • Stay home except to get medical care 
  • Call ahead before visiting your doctor
  • Wear a facemask
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes
  • Avoid sharing personal household items
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

Federal action

The CARES Act contains several important provisions, including:

  • Direct cash payments of up to $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for couples, as well as $500 per child.
  • Enhanced unemployment insurance, including an additional $600 per week on top of assistance provided by the State of Illinois.
  • $350 billion Payroll Protection Program for small businesses.


The Families First Coronavirus Response Act contains several important provisions, including:

  • Free coronavirus testing
  • Enhanced unemployment insurance
  • Paid sick leave for many Americans
  • Expanded food assistance programs
  • Increased Medicaid benefits
  • Waived Medicare copays for COVID-19 testing

The IRS has moved Tax Day from April 15 to July 15 due to COVID-19. All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalities.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac have suspended evictions and foreclosures during the outbreak.

And, the the United States Small Business Administration has approved Illinois' request for a disaster declaration. All Illinois small businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis are now eligible to apply for low-interest disaster relief loans at disasterloan.sba.gov, which can help make ends meet during this difficult period of time.

State action 
Illinois has ramped up its efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Governor Pritzker launched coronavirus.illinois.gov to serve as a hub for all Illinois coronavirus updates and news.

The State of Illinois issued a "stay-at-home" order to drastically curb the spread of COVID-19

  • Effective March 21 at 5 PM through April 30, all non-essential businesses will be closed and residents are encouraged to stay home. You will still be able to leave your home to buy groceries, go to the pharmacy, get gas, and take walks. All local roads, including interstate highways and tollways, will remain open.
  • All K-12 schools, public or private, will be closed through the end of the month.
  • Several grocery stores across Illinois will offer special shopping times for vulnerable customers, including senior citizens and those with underlying health conditions, before stores open to the general public. Among the grocers with new hours for elderly shoppers are Jewel-Osco, Whole Foods, Safeway, Mariano's, Target, and Wal-Mart.

Travel Warnings 
The global coronavirus pandemic is significantly affecting travel. International travel has been restricted - you should check with your airline for the most up-to-date information about flight schedules. Domestic flight schedules have also been affected, contact your airline for updates. The latest travel guidance from the CDC can be found here.

Further Information 
Experts have been working hard to understand this new strain of coronavirus. Because new information is coming out every day, please visit the sites below to stay up to date.

The Centers for Disease Control provides updates on the virus and safety information for the public and healthcare professionals.

The Illinois Department of Health provides updates on the disease's spread within the state, as well as frequently asked questions available here.

The State Department provides a list of travel advisories for those who are planning to fly outside of the United States.

Resource Pages 

More information about small business resources during this COVID-19 outbreak can be found here. 

More information about unemployment insurance and benefits during this COVID-19 outbreak can be found here. 

More information about resources available for your family during this time can be found here. 

The safety of you and your loved ones is of the utmost importance. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call my office at (202) 225-3515.