Will County Gazette

Veteran state Rep. Margo McDermed (R-Mokena) fails to see the logic in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s latest shutdown order for Will and Kankakee counties.

“It’s not based in science in the least,” McDermed told the Will County Gazette. “He keeps saying everything he does is based in science, but I’d like to know what science that is. Hospital stays or deaths are not up in either of those areas. And if this is about positivity rates, data shows we’re not talking about vulnerable populations. It seems hardly enough to be destroying these economies.”

Citing rising COVID-19 cases, in late August Pritzker moved to reenact restrictions banning indoor service at bars and restaurants in Will and Kankakee counties. In addition, those establishments are now also required to close by 11 p.m. and cap capacity at 25%.

With the counties suddenly posting positivity rates of better than 8% on three consecutive days, the governor wasted little time in acting, making the region the second of the state’s 11 to be sent in reverse in the state’s reopening process.

“He’s just a czar now,” McDermed added. “Here’s a guy who’s never had to worry about his next meal or how his business is going to survive destroying the entire economy of all these people. None of it makes sense.”

In order to return to Phase 4 of the governor’s five-part Restore Illinois plan, the positivity rate in those areas needs to fall to 6.5% by the end of a two-week period. Pritzker also recently moved to institute a statewide restaurant and bar policy mandating that all patrons wear a mask while interacting with wait staff and other employees.

As of Sep. 5, the Department of Public Health announced the state has reported 248,177 overall cases of the virus including 8,166 deaths. Kankakee County has had 2,371 cases with 71 deaths, and Will County has had 12,189 cases with 361 deaths.