Pritzker said during a press conference announcing the reopening plan. “We’ve been through this phase once, and no one wants to go backward,” Gov. The Governor explained Illinois already experienced Phase I from early March to the end of April as restrictions were placed on the economy and travel to slow the spread of the virus and offer time to expand hospital capacity. The Phase Plan has already moved forward. Pritzker’s plan leaves small businesses out of work and people unemployed because their recovery rate is determined by how the situation is impacting an area hours away.” “By doing so, he has taken areas that have only been marginally affected by the actual number of COVID-19 cases and tied them with areas that have been substantially more impacted by this health situation. Righter explained there are too few regions for such a diverse state as Illinois, which leaves many counties closed even though the disease has not spread significantly to their communities. There are five regions in the Chicago area, including the city of Chicago, the section of the state that has been hit hardest by COVID-19 both in cases and deaths. Effingham County is part of Region 6, which also includes Cumberland, Jasper, Clay, Richland, Clark, Crawford, Clark, Lawrence, Fayette, Moultrie, Macon, DeWitt, Piatt, Champaign, Vermilion, Ford and Iroquois counties. The state has been divided into four sectional Restore Illinois Health regions and 11 sub regions. The phases for Restore Illinois are 1) Rapid Spread, 2) Flattening, 3) Recovery, 4) Revitalization and 5) Illinois Restored. The long-term suspension of civil rights should never be left up to one person,” Niemann said. I believe the Governor is limited to an order not to exceed 30 days to allow for legislative debate or due process to occur when suspension of constitutional rights is being considered. “The Governor had ample time to engage the legislature or seek due process through the courts during his original disaster declaration, however he chose not to.

“While I can recognize the value of finally having a plan to begin moving our state forward, the Governor’s proposal will put Illinois behind other Midwestern states in terms of economic recovery, particularly parts of Illinois that have not been nearly as severely impacted as the Chicagoland area,” as quoted from a release published in the Villagers Voice, an online publication in White County.Įffingham County Board Chairman Jim Niemann said he was very disappointed with the Governor’s plan as well. Noting his concern for the public health of residents in his district and across the state, Righter was critical of the slow pacing on the reopening plan and asked for Pritzker to work with the Illinois General Assembly to offer a more “reasonable and bipartisan solution” for reopening the state. Dale Righter was among many Republican lawmakers offering comments on the Governor’s reopening plan. Everyday Illinoisans need a plan,” he said. “It’s important to remember that we put this plan together not only because the state needs a plan, but because mayors need a plan. Pritzker acknowledged some of those requests before his May 5 comments on the Restore Illinois Plan. Others have said the “one size fits all” approach has been unfair to counties with low infection rates. Local government and business leaders have asked the Governor to consider ways of allowing some activities to start again that would not risk lives. And I won’t open the door to overwhelming our hospital system and potentially tens of thousands of additional deaths by exposing everyone to the virus today just because a loud but tiny minority would like to indulge in that fantasy.”Ĭritics of the state’s response to coronavirus claim the shutdown has devastated businesses with many facing bankruptcy and left thousands jobless. “Here’s the problem: that switch simply does not exist with a virus that can’t currently be eliminated by medical science. “I spent decades in business, so I understand the urge to try and flip the switch and reopen our entire economy,” Pritzker said during a press conference on Tuesday, May 5. He also offered criticism to those demanding a quick end to the economic shutdown or filing legal challenges to his executive orders on COVID-19. Pritzker explained the need for phased-in reopening of the state, called Restore Illinois, instead of a quick end to stay-at-home requirements and other recent steps taken to stop the spread of Coronavirus Disease in Illinois. Pritzker this week announced a plan to reopen the Illinois economy in five phases based on regions of the state but critics say it is too slow a solution. Effingham, IL -( Effingham Radio)- Illinois Gov.

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