Cook County Reopening Plan

Service Information

The Cook County Reopening Plan for Offices Under the President (OUP) outlines OUP’s phased approach to reopening Cook County facilities to employees and the public. Download the overview or the full plan.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Offices Under the President – the six bureaus and 34 departments that report directly to the President – began preparing for and responding to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 and President Preckwinkle officially declared a disaster for Cook County on March 10, 2020. As the virus upended residents’ lives and disrupted our economy, Cook County government pivoted to working remotely while maintaining all essential government services.

OUP prepared a phased approach to transitioning employees to on-site work in accordance with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois Plan. As of June 1, 2020, the Northeast Region, which includes Cook County, transitioned to Phase 3: Recovery under the Restore Illinois Plan, which allowed businesses and workplaces to reopen by observing capacity limits and public health precautions. To outline OUP’s approach to reopening Cook County facilities to employees and the public, President Preckwinkle’s administration created this Cook County Reopening Plan for Offices Under the President. 

Entering County Facilities

  • All employees will be required to present employee IDs and undergo thermal screening.
  • Public visitors will be required to undergo thermal screening.
  • All public visitors and employees will be required to wear face masks and practice physical distancing.

 

Personnel Support

  • The Bureau of Human Resources (BHR) provided employees and managers with handbooks and online training before returning to the workplace.
  • BHR updated telecommuting, time and attendance and physical distancing policies to allow for staggered start times and alternating days.
  • BHR increased employee outreach and availability of employee assistance programs and telework training.
  • The Bureau of Asset Management (BAM) will provide PPE and other supplemental materials to employees upon return to the workplace.

 

Facilities Modifications

  • BAM added COVID-19 signage throughout facilities with instructions on how to queue, use elevators, physically distance.

  • BAM is modifying public service counters with plastic guards and other protections.

  • BAM modified workspaces, cubicles, conference rooms, courtrooms and other congregate areas to facilitate physical distancing.
  • BAM increased air filtration and sanitation schedules.

Downloads