After certain business groups successfully got the courts to overturn the governor's emergency order, the Illinois legislature turned that emergency order into legislation, legislation that was signed by the governor on June 10, 2020.
So once again, at least until December 31, 2020, workers in a wide variety of employments have a rebuttable presumption that COVID-19 is an Occupational Disease and is covered by the Workers Compensation Act.
The list of covered work goes well beyond first responders and health care workers; it covers a great many types of businesses and essentially extends Workers Comp coverage for COVID-19 for workers in those businesses who must have contact with the public or groups of workers greater than 15.
The list of covered employments includes:
grocery and pharmacy; food, beverage and cannabis production; charitable and social service organizations; gas stations and businesses needed for transportation; financial institutions; hardware and supply stores; critical trades; mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery and pick-up services; educational institutions; laundry services; restaurants for consumption off-premises; essential business and work-from-home suppliers; home-based care and services; residential facilities and shelters; professional services; day-care centers for children of essential workers; manufacture, distribution and supply chain for critical products and industries; critical labor union functions; hotels and motels; and funeral services.
