Pritzker Seemingly Opens Door to Another Statewide Lockdown
Governor JB Pritzker seemingly opened the door Thursday to another statewide lockdown if COVID-19 cases continue a drastic spike.
With COVID-19 cases in Illinois up 270% since October 1, Governor JB Pritzker seemingly opened the door Thursday to implementing mitigations similar to another statewide stay-at-home order.
Pritzker lamented “drastically increasing” COVID-19 positivity cases, which have reached over 10% positivity in nearly every corner of the state. He says the dire case positivity could lead to even worse problems in the next few weeks.
“If others don’t change their behavior, we are going to experience a surge in hospitalizations much higher than we are now,” Pritzker said. “If the current trajectory continues, if our hospitals continue to fill up, if more and more people continue to lose their lives to this disease, we’re going to implement further statewide mitigations, which nobody, and I mean nobody, wants.”
Pritzker said all of the options in his “Restore Illinois” plan “are under consideration,” including moving to Phase 2 or Phase 3 of mitigations. Phase 3 includes requiring non-essential workers to work from home, suspending organized indoor and outdoor activities, including fitness centers, closing salons and barber shops, and closing all non-essential retail establishments.
Pritzker had repeatedly said in recent days that a statewide lockdown was not under consideration, but seemed to take a different tone Thursday.
“We’re heading down a very dark, dark path toward where we were last spring,” said Pritzker.
Pritzker says too many local governments are failing to enforce the executive orders, specifically those closing bars and restaurants to indoor service. creasing.”
He warned local mayors, county boars, law enforcement, and public health departments to start implementing citations for businesses violating his orders, or further mitigations will hurt local economies.
“If you want to keep the economy moving forward, you had better enforce the local mitigations,” Pritzker said.
Many downstaters are opposed to further mitigations and a stay-at-home order.
“There is no appetite for another lockdown in downstate Illinois,” said Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville). “The Governor can try to lockdown again, but my guess is that few, if anyone, will listen.”