COVID-19

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COVID-19

Employers Seek Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccine Incentives

In a February 1, 2021 letter, several employers and business organizations, urged the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) to provide guidance on employer-provided COVID-19 vaccine incentives.

IDPH Punts to Local Health Departments on Implementation of Shortened Quarantine Protocol

Written by Todd K. Hayden, Catherine R. Locallo and Jack Klinker This is an update to our December 3, 2020 Law Alert announcing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) options to…

Educational Support Staff RIF Checklist

As school districts continue to confront the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they may also be facing unprecedented financial challenges. In response to these challenges, all options available to reduce costs, including workforce reductions, may need to be considered. School districts may determine it necessary to implement a reduction-in-force (“RIF”) of its educational support personnel (“ESPs”), including paraprofessionals, administrative assistants, bus drivers, payroll clerks, and custodial and maintenance employees.

Stimulus Bill Gives Employers Option of Extending FFCRA Leave

On December 27, 2020, the federal government authorized $900 billion in stimulus funds through passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act to provide additional relief relative to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

EEOC Updates Guidance on Vaccinations

In the days since the first COVID-19 vaccinations were administered to healthcare workers in the U.S., the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued new guidance for vaccinations in the workplace. The guidance document explains how an employer’s vaccine program interacts with and implicates anti-discrimination statutes like the ADA, Title VII, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (“GINA”). It also provides parameters for employers who wish to require/administer vaccines.

CDC Shortens Quarantine Guidance for Close Contacts

On December 2, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) published an updated quarantine guidance document titled “Options to Reduce Quarantine for Contacts of Persons with SARS-CoV-2 Infection Using Symptom Monitoring and Diagnostic Testing.” This publication provides guidelines which local health departments may choose to adopt to shorten quarantine protocols for close contacts of a COVID-19 case.

CDC Further Updates Travel Guidance

On November 21, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) updated its “COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination” and issued several other travel-related publications.

Are Board Meetings Subject to the Restrictions in the Regional Mitigation Measures?

With all regions in the State operating under mitigation measures which include limits for in-person meetings (10 or 25 persons depending on the region), there is great confusion about whether…

Court Rules That Election Day Does Not Close All Local Governments

In June, Governor Pritzker signed Public Act 101-0642 into law, which included the following language about November 3, 2020, General Election

As School and COVID Continues, So Do the IDPH Revisions on School Exclusion Guidance

On October 13, 2020, less than 30 days since publishing its last revised interim exclusion guidance, the Illinois Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) released its latest version of the “COVID-19 Interim Exclusion Guidance: Decision Tree for Symptomatic Individuals in Pre-K, K-12 Schools and Day Care Programs.