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Illinois residents will soon be required to cover their faces when in public spaces like grocery stores, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday.
The mandate is part of an amended statewide stay-at-home order, which begins May 1 and continues through the end of the month.
That widely covered order was, of course, extended with the next EO, and then the next, etc.
Gov. JB Pritzker has created new enforcement rules for mask wearing.
Pritzker said the statewide emergency order allows warnings and then fines of up to $2,500 against businesses and other organizations that do not ensure that people wear masks on the premises.
That much-noted rule was approved by JCAR, so it’s still on the books today.
* From yesterday’s news media Q&A with the governor…
Q: Are you considering a statewide mask mandate?… Is that a consideration?
*facepalm* *heavysigh* *screamatmycomputer*
For months as I’ve watched these media briefings I’ve been quietly repeating to myself a lesson I was taught growing up: “There’s no such thing as a stupid question.” But I think I’ve finally reached my limit on that.
Combine this with the ridiculously out of control COVID-19 problem in the town where I live, and I feel like I need to take some time off over Thanksgiving and socially distance on some beach somewhere before I wind up at the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes…
Whew. OK. I think I’m better now. Sorry you had to witness this. And I really do like that reporter. He usually does good work and probably just had an off day. We all make mistakes. And Springfield’s mayor does seem to finally be getting the message. We’ll see.
I’m still gonna do the socially distant beach-bum thing, though. And I have just the spot.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 10:42 am
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good-bye, and…welcome back. we’re all there with you, rich.
Comment by illinoyed Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 10:45 am
Now “are you considering -enforcing- your statewide mandates rather than bleating “people need to understand…”?” would be a good question.
Wishing you and everyone else well-in-advance a peaceful Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday: the war on Christmas is fake, but the war on Thanksgiving is very real!)
Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 10:50 am
I’ll visit you at the happy home if you end up there. Socially distant of course, and wearing a mask! You’ve earned some good beach time!
Comment by bonjor Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 10:51 am
I wonder what a real Mayor (or President) would do right now…?
Pleasant politicians are just that.
Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 10:55 am
please take us with you
Comment by LoyalVirus Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 10:57 am
You may or may not be surprised how therapeutic it was just to listen to that song
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 10:57 am
A bit over 78 years ago, FDR said this in one of his fireside chats. Every bit of that is applicable to what US citizens, including politicians and lawyers, need to be doing to fight COIVD-19 and not each other-
“There is one front and one battle where everyone in the United States—every man, woman, and child—is in action, and will be privileged to remain in action throughout this war. That front is right here at home, in our daily lives, and in our daily tasks.”
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt, April 28th, 1942
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:10 am
===Now “are you considering -enforcing- your statewide mandates rather than bleating “people need to understand…”?” ===
The only way to do that would be to increase the ISP trooper strength to tens or hundreds of thousands. The system depends on local officials to do their jobs. They aren’t. If you have a local beef, then call your sheriff and state’s attorney.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:12 am
You can’t tease that and not share at least part of your island playlist. May I suggest Mad Dogs and Englishmen as the starting album?
Comment by Anon for Now Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:12 am
Losing one’s mind isn’t nearly as serious as we may believe?…We may lose our mind for another one improved by the loss that becomes a gain?
Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:13 am
And the most commented post today is about High School athletics. See where priorities are?
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:17 am
== And I have just the spot.==
That’s great that you’re able to take a little getaway. Once you return, you’ll no doubt do a great job of holding to account the powerful politicians who have let the virus rage unchecked with no meaningful response from the legislature.
Comment by Bubble Popper Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:19 am
Not sure where that beach will be, but I’d avoid Florida
Comment by Former State Employee Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:21 am
===but I’d avoid Florida ===
People are outside in Florida now, so things are much better than they were in the summer. It’s simply our turn again.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:22 am
Rich - almost entirely agree, I would just respond 1) it doesn’t seem like JB is putting any spotlight or other pressure on local officials to enforce and 2) Milton Friedman had a theory about how a small amount of enforcement can go a long way for deterrence. I wonder if the ISP made some high profile shutdowns, maybe that would empower stores to do more enforcement, making the state the “bad guy” and explaining they just don’t want to be put out of business. Given the awful statistics and trends, why not at least try it?
Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:22 am
I don’t understand the “strongly encourage” stay-at-home order.
Is he just telegraphing a stay-at-home order?
Throw out the Restore Plan. It’s not working, Illinois is worst in the National right now.
Shut it down as Biden’s team suggests atleast through Dec. 6th.
Require an MOU from local officials on enforcement before their community reopens.
Moving forward, lower the positivity rate trigger from 8 percent to 6 percent, increase the mitigation period to 4 weeks with a sustained positivity under 5% for atleast two weeks. You have to allow enough time for the markets and consumer behavior to adapt to a new business model.
Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:26 am
===it doesn’t seem like JB is putting any spotlight or other pressure on local officials to enforce===
Well then you haven’t been paying attention because he’s highlighted this issue every single day for quite a bit.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:26 am
Rich,
“Trees and flowers and chirping birds” brings back some childhood memories. I had the song on an album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fn36l_z3WY
Comment by Steve Polite Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:28 am
If it is any help, Jimmy Buffett has a new album that is worth a listen for those of us that remain travel restricted.
This Covid 19 spike is really disappointing and is very serious.
The State has a Liquor Commission that can fine, suspend or revoke licenses. They have a large staff and could have started formal hearings months ago. Time for them to earn their rather generous salaries as Board Members or be replaced. No need to wait on local officials when taxpayers are already paying to support a State Commission. I suspect the number of licenses that have been fined, suspended or revoked for willfully refusing to comply with the Governors order has been stuck on zero since at least March.
Gov. needs to talk less and enforce more. It is obvious he loves the job and has a lot of energy. Talking is not working for some folks and Gov. JB needs to get a bit tougher here.
Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:28 am
And what will be your mode of transpo to said spot?
Comment by Beach Bum thing Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:31 am
Of all the things I ever lost I miss my mind the most.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:40 am
===your mode of transpo===
Flying. It’s not a long flight and I’ll be wearing a KN95 mask and not eating or drinking. Flying isn’t showing up prominently on contact tracing.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:43 am
===The system depends on local officials to do their jobs. They aren’t.===
Not just the local officials, but the people who put those people in power and keep them in power. For all the talk of “personal responsibility” we hear from certain corners, the biggest thing permitting this pandemic to continue to worsen is the lack of personal responsibility from those same segments of the population and politicians.
Comment by Homebody Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:45 am
Rich, our numbers may be better than summer time here in Florida. But that is misleading. Our governor reduced testing down here so numbers would decrease. In Manatee county our 3 testing places were reduced to 1. Our numbers have again been going up regardless. Stay on the beach and you should be fine. Stay out of the sit down restaurants and bars as they are now wide open and seem to be free of constraints. Stay safe!
Comment by Sgt_Schultz Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:47 am
===so numbers would decrease===
I’ve been looking at hospitalizations, which are rising there, but not nearly as fast as here.
And, have no worries, I am not going inside to eat or drink. Don’t do it here, won’t do it there. Outside only.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:49 am
I’m wondering if for a while the Governor needs to stop taking Q&A during his pressers. If the childish questions continue. Maybe they can resume if all reporters there promise to ask more intelligent questions.
Comment by Chatham Resident Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:53 am
Guess unless you agree with JB and other posters here you don’t have posts published.
Comment by PANTHER Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:54 am
===you don’t have posts published===
Another Facebook drive-by victim heard from.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:57 am
Safe journey, Rich. We’re all with you in spirit, 6 feet apart, and wearing masks.
Comment by thisjustinagain Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 11:58 am
Napoleon XIV approves of Your Action
Comment by Drake Mallard Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 12:04 pm
Enjoy your time away. By Thanksgiving all ballots will be certified and winners of elections officially declared. No veto session for you to cover, either.
Comment by John Lopez Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 12:05 pm
Thanks for all you do Rich - and I’m right there with you with hitting the wall today - as evidenced by the big splat of peanut butter on my office wall that landed there AFTER I hurled the jar in frustration while lunching at my desk.
Crap you are going to the beach and I’m scrubbing peanut butter of the wall. Clearly you have a better grasp on things right now!
Comment by DownSouth Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 12:10 pm
===No veto session===
That really clinched it for me.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 12:13 pm
I found that when you wear a jacket or hat in Florida with an IL logo that it leads to random conversations. No data, but I suspect that the Sunshine State has a lot of SRS, TRS retirees.
Comment by Top of the State Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 12:16 pm
Good on you, Rich. My best, safe travels, leave this all behind.
:)
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 12:17 pm
===has a lot of SRS, TRS retirees===
Last time I was down there it was full of retired Chicago cops and firefighters. Walked into a sports bar on a Monday night when the Bears were on and it was like being transported to the Southwest/Northwest Sides.
Was in the same place another night (after veto session last year) and a retired firefighter walked over, introduced himself and told me we were at a committee hearing together just days earlier.
lol
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 12:20 pm
===has a lot of SRS, TRS retirees===
Talked with a retired teacher at the pool last year whose husband said he’s been reading my columns for years in his local paper.
It’s like another Illinois in some places down there.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 12:22 pm
I hope the mask rule also covers wearing a mask correctly. I am really, really tired of the people who won’t cover their noses. I’m very close to pepper spraying the one who wear their masks under their chin.
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 12:23 pm
Before you head off for well-deserved post-election extended vacation, did you see Dave Wasserman’s (Cook Political Report) cut of a 17-congressional district Illinois map him and Sean Trende (Real Clear Politics) discussed on Twitter? Anything realistic that could be applied to what Democrats will do next year? Available on Wasserman’s Twitter (@Redistrict) timeline, tweeted last night.
Comment by John Lopez Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 12:26 pm
==Flying. It’s not a long flight and I’ll be wearing a KN95 mask== That brings up something I wish had been stressed all along and that is wearing quality masks. Either an N95(or the Chinese KN95), or a good cloth mask. The surgical masks aren’t very good. They have large gaps along the sides of the nose and is porous. It is to stop drool from the surgeon while they are bent over you in the OR. The CDC just changed to recommend cloth masks. Masks are all we have to fight with….we should be using the best we can. And I noticed the DR.s in China,Italy and New York,and my Dentist last week, all wearing a surgical mask over their N95. Started doing that. Would do it on the plane.
Comment by Anotheretiree Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 12:33 pm
=The surgical masks aren’t very good.=
I bought a pack of those to keep in my car for those (rare) occasions when I forget to grab a cloth one. I’ve only had to use one once, and it was huge on me. But better than nothing.
Comment by JoanP Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 12:37 pm
Rich -
Have an excellent time, you surely deserve it. And please bring some warmth and sun back with you.
Comment by JoanP Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 12:38 pm
==I’m very close to pepper spraying the one who wear their masks under their chin.== Cheryl,I believe that is now referred to as a ‘Chin Diaper”
Comment by Anotheretiree Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 12:51 pm
== The system depends on local officials to do their jobs. ==
Yes. It’s no different than the criminal code. If we left enforcement up to state agencies alone because it’s a “state law,” it would be awfully easy to get away with armed robbery, for instance.
Comment by Roman Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 1:26 pm
Aruba, Jamaica…find your Kokomo Beach and watch the waves. Safe travels and good times. You help keep us sane so come back tanned and ready for the next phase.
Comment by Froganon Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 1:33 pm
Florida eh? Look out for this guy:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1326870249363419141
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 3:10 pm
Arrivederci, Amigo.
Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 3:47 pm
==It’s like another Illinois in some places down there==
So true. Be sure to bring some T-Shirts with logos from any well-known Illinois team. You’ll make some instant friends. Bear T-shirts are especially popular this time of year.
Comment by Bourbon Street Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 4:02 pm
Be safe Rich. Enjoy some time away.
Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 8:49 am
If you can’t stay home, you’re part of the problem. “COVID is bad in my area so I should travel” is less than intelligent rationale.
Comment by Doug Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 9:49 am