COVID-19 volunteering

As Governor Pritzker made clear on Friday Afternoon with Executive Order 2020-10, which went into effect yesterday evening at 5PM, it is critical that we all Stay at Home unless there is an essential need such as picking up groceries or medication and/or work that needs to be done (thank you all of the workers in the frontlines). And for those most vulnerable among us, especially seniors and those with underlying health conditions, even those essential outings should be done with great care or avoided if possible. 

I need your help to make staying at home possible for all of our community members. 

1. Please share accurate information regarding Governor Pritzker's Stay at Home Order. Questions about the Stay at Home Order? Click HERE for more information.

2. Volunteer with #TeamRam to call seniors

Join #TeamRam to call seniors in our district's communities from your own home. We will be asking if they have any general questions in regards to what is happening as well as asking what assistance and/or services they may need. Our constituent service team is able to follow up with them. This is an all in effort to make sure people have accurate information and get the help they need and deserve. All volunteers will be trained, no experience required.

Are you able to help us call and assiste seniors to ensure they have all they need for just a few hours? Sign up HERE for senior calls.

3. Volunteer with #TeamRam to pick up and deliver groceries to those advised not to leave their home

Our office will connect you with someone who is advised not to leave their home at this time. You'll pick up and drop off groceries. This not only keeps our vulnerable community members safe, it contributes to keeping our entire community safe. 

Grocery delivery is among the most common needs we're hearing from constituents right now. Can you help ensure seniors and those with underlying conditions have food security in the coming weeks? Sign up for grocery delivery HERE.

Thank you all in advance. This is a strange, difficult, and perilous time. That said, I'm finding hope in how members of our communities are caring for one another.

State resources for residents during COVID-19

While there is no question we are living through an unprecedented and unsettling time, I know we'll get through this together. 

Over the last week, I've witnessed the incredible support offered by our communities - folks delivering food and supplies to the most vulnerable in our society, patronizing our small businesses by buying gift cards as well as utilizing delivery and carry out options, finding ways to support those on the front lines: healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, and more, and following difficult guidance to keep one another safe. 

If you have suggestions, thoughts, and/or comments on what can be done to improve this unprecedented and unsettling situation, please let me know.

Additionally, I have appreciated and have faith in the leadership of Governor Pritzker, Illinois Department of Public Health Secretary Dr. Ngozi Ezike, state and local elected officials, and our community leaders. 

To learn about the action being taken, you can watch Governor Pritzker's daily press conference live on Facebook at 2:30PM on his page HERE.  You can visit the Illinois Department of Public Health's website for up to date information HERE. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady is holding daily online Q&A sessions at 11AM available HERE. 

Still, the coming weeks and months will not be easy. As the coronavirus situation continues to unfold, it is my commitment to provide timely, accurate information for residents of the 8th District--our team is here for you. 

In accordance with guidance from the Governor's office, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Illinois Department of Public Health, #TeamRam will be working remotely. However, we'll be available and ready to help as always. We're available via telephone and/or email Monday through Friday 9AM-5PM, and frequently checking our voicemail as well as our email system outside those hours to ensure we're helping with all urgent constituent matters. 

Call us: 872-208-5188

Message us: www.senatorram.com/contact-us

Below, we've compiled resources to help us all get through this difficult time. Have questions? Are there other resources you would like to know more about? Don't hesitate to reach out. 

Read more …

Coronavirus Update March 13, 2020

I want to provide an update on COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in Illinois and inform you of some of the steps our state government is taking in response to COVID-19 to slow the spread of the virus and keep our residents safe and informed:

• The Governor declared a Disaster Proclamation (Illinois' version of a Declaration of a State of Emergency) to ensure our government has access to every tool necessary to manage the spread of COVID-19.
• The Governor, in consultation with public health professionals and State Superintendent Carmen Ayala, has decided to close all schools in Illinois, public and private, from Tuesday 3/17 through Monday 3/30.
• The Governor and health professionals including Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, have called on every individual in our state to do their part to limit the virus' spread and protect our most vulnerable residents by practicing social distancing, staying home when they are sick, washing hands for 20 seconds, avoiding large crowds, and generally not treating their whereabouts as business as usual.
• The State of Illinois, Cook County, and the City of Chicago have all issued bans on gatherings of more than 1,000 people, and Governor Pritzker and our state's executives are asking those who administer gatherings of greater than 250 people to cancel or indefinitely postpone such public gatherings.
• The Pritzker administration is filing emergency rules in coordination with the Illinois Department of Employment Security to clarify that individuals unemployed due to COVID-19 can generally qualify for unemployment benefits to the full extent permitted by federal law.
• The Governor's office is holding press conferences every day to keep the public informed. Up to date information and video of these press conferences can be found on the Illinois Department of Public Health's website. 

For more information on the impact of COVID-19 in our local community, you can watch a video of the Facebook Live I hosted with Senator Martwick and health experts from the local and state levelHERE.

There is a lot of misinformation circulating about COVID-19. I ask that you consult trusted sources for updates, including the Center for Disease Control, the Illinois Department of Public HealthCOVID-19 hotline: 1-800-889-3931 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and the FAQ section below.

Please do not hestitate to call us at 872-208-5188, send a message at www.senatorram.com/contact-us, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Above all, I urge you not to panic. The State of Illinois is prepared to handle the developing situation, and I'm confident our officials will do their best to keep our residents safe.

Frequently Asked Questions about Coronavirus

What is coronavirus?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), coronaviruses commonly cause mild to moderate illness in people worldwide. Most of the time, they aren't much different from a cold or flu virus— coronavirus symptoms may include fever, cough and shortness of breath, and usually only last for a short amount of time. There are no specific treatments for coronavirus, but to relieve symptoms, patients are instructed to take pain and fever medications, drink plenty of liquids, and stay home and rest.

What’s the status of coronavirus in Illinois?

Currently, the number of coronavirus cases in the state remains low, but it continues to climb. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has posted coronavirus case totals and test results on its website, updated daily. 

Read more …

Villivalam, Martwick hold Facebook live for Coronavirus info

State Senators Ram Villivalam and Robert Martwick recently held a Facebook LIVE event alongside public health experts. Susan Reisberg, a Nursing Supervisor at Skokie Health Department and Evonda Thomas-Smith, Assistant Director at Illinois Department of Public Health, joined the senators to talk about the novel Coronavirus and took questions from viewers submitted online. The event has now been viewed by over 12,000 people.

You can watch the full the video at Facebook.com/RobertMartwick.