Will County Gazette

A number of businesses have ramped up the protection that they require of their employees in the fight against COVID-19, and one legislator is donating facemasks to help supplement their supplies. 

According to WCJS News, state Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) is donating facemasks for stores and restaurants where employees are being required to wear protective covers.

Calling the program “Let’s Face It,” Batinick already has donated 2,000 masks to nursing homes and senior assisted living communities. 

“As this progresses, we’re learning more and more and one of the things we’ve learned is that simply covering your face and mouth goes a long way to stop the spread of the coronavirus,” Batinick said. “While certain stores and restaurants are open for to-go, I’ve noticed that many of the employees and the people in the stores aren’t wearing anything over their nose and mouth.”

Batinick wrote to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, stating that he believes all employees and customers should be required to wear face coverings when at restaurants or stores. While there is yet to be a state mandated order about this topic, Pritzker is pushing for individuals to adopt such practices. 

“Have I put an order in yet? No,” Pritzker said in a news conference. “I don’t disagree with the comments of the doctor: it may be the right answer is that everyone wears a masks, no matter where they are outside, or that everyone wears a mask if they know they’re going to be in an area with other people.”

Batinick is pushing for non-essential businesses with low employee counts and plenty of space to social distance at work to be allowed to resume business. Batinick is also requesting that hunting, fishing and golfing be allowed to resume with the proper regulations in place. 

Batinick explained that if there are restaurants or businesses seeking facemasks, they can reach out to his district office.