What businesses and workers are considered essential during this crisis?

• Healthcare workers 
  • Those who work at hospitals; clinics; dental offices; pharmacies; public health entities; healthcare manufacturers and suppliers; blood banks; medical cannabis facilities; reproductive health care providers; eye care centers; home healthcare services providers; mental health and substance use providers; ancillary healthcare services — including veterinary care

• Essential Government Functions
  
  • All first responders, emergency management personnel, emergency dispatchers, court personnel, law enforcement and corrections personnel, hazardous materials responders, child protection and child welfare personnel, housing and shelter personnel, military, and other governmental employees
  • Human Services Operations
    • Any provider funded by DHS, DCFS or Medicaid; long-term care facilities; home-based and residential settings for adults, seniors, children, and/or people with disabilities or mental illness; transitional facilities; field offices for food, cash assistance, medical coverage, child care, vocational services or rehabilitation services; developmental centers; adoption agencies; businesses that provide food, shelter, and social services and other necessities of life for needy individuals. This excludes day care centers except under special circumstances, for example, certain essential workers such as government employees still qualify for child care services. 
  • Essential Infrastructure
    • Working in food production, distribution and sale; construction; building management and maintenance; airport operations; operation and maintenance of utilities, including water, sewer, and gas; electrical; distribution centers; oil and biofuel refining; roads, highways, railroads, and public transportation; ports; cybersecurity operations; flood control; solid waste and recycling collection and removal; and internet, video, and telecommunications systems
  • Stores that sell groceries and medicine
    • Grocery stores, pharmacies, certified farmers’ markets, farm and produce stands, convenience stores, and others involved in the sale of groceries and medicine
  • Food, beverage and cannabis production and agriculture
    • Food and beverage manufacturing, production, processing, and cultivation, including farming, livestock, fishing, baking, and other production agriculture
  • Organizations that provide charitable and social services
    • Businesses and nonprofit organizations, including food banks, when providing food, shelter, social services, and other necessities of life 
  • Media
    • Newspapers, television, radio, and others
  • Gas stations and businesses needed for transportation
  • Financial institutions
    • Banks, currency exchanges, consumer lenders
  • Hardware and supply stores
  • Critical trades
    • Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, cleaning and janitorial staff for commercial and governmental properties, security staff, operating engineers, HVAC, painting, moving and relocation services, and other service providers that maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operation of residences, Essential Activities, and Essential Businesses and Operations
  • Mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery and pick-up services
  • Educational institutions 
    • For purposes of facilitating distance learning, performing critical research, or performing essential functions
  • Laundry services
  • Restaurants for consumption off-premises
    • Delivery or take-out only
  • Supplies to work from home & Supplies for Essential Businesses and Operations
    • Businesses that sell, manufacture, or supply products needed for people to work from home and for essential businesses
  • Transportation 
    • For purposes of Essential Travel
    • Includes airlines, public transportation, Uber, Lyft, and taxis
    • Auto repair shops and bike shops included 
  • Home-based care and services
  • Residential facilities and shelters
• Professional services
  • Legal services, accounting services, insurance services, real estate services
• Critical labor union functions
  • Administration of health and welfare funds and personnel checking on the wellbeing and safety of members
• Hotels and motels 
  • To the extent used for lodging and delivery or carry-out food services
• Funeral services

See Governor Pritzker’s full executive order regarding COVID-19: https://www2.illinois.gov/Documents/ExecOrders/2020/ExecutiveOrder-2020-10.pdf