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Responses to the pending end of most of the statewide mask mandate

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Illinois

* Sam Toia, President and CEO, Illinois Restaurant Association…

“We are encouraged by the Governor’s decision to end the mask mandate in Illinois as Covid-19 cases have dropped to their lowest levels in more than two months. Restaurants continue to do their part to keep their diners and team members safe, and are eager to take this next step toward normalcy and recovery. This is a sure sign of hope for many restaurants throughout our state still struggling to rebuild their businesses.”

* Gary Rabine…

Illinois kids and parents go into day five of JB Pritzker’s mask mandate mess. Today, he will compound the chaos by beginning to lift the mandate for the general public but keep it in place for schools. Other states, including those with Democratic Governors, have figured this out. But when politics, not people, are your main concern as Governor, this is what happens. COVID chaos and a crime epidemic are Pritzker’s legacy. It’s time to take our state back.

* Center Square…

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, criticized the governor’s go-it-alone dictates that supermajority Democrats have left untouched. He said he has not been briefed by the governor on the plan.

“This is the typical approach of the governor over the past two years,” Durkin said during an unrelated news conference Wednesday. “I don’t know what he plans to say today, but I hope he does what other Democratic governors throughout the nation are doing saying that the masks are done. Let’s get back to business as usual. Let’s let business operators finally get back to work. Let’s let parents and children go back to schools without having to deal with this mask situation.” […]

The campaign of Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, who’s seeking the Republican nomination for governor for the right to challenge Pritzker in the November election, sent a statement before the governor’s announcement.

“A few short days ago, this Governor refused to end mandates saying we needed to ‘follow the science’ but today says everyone can remove their masks except the lowest risk population,” Irvin said in a statement. “Illinois is being led by a Governor who puts politics and special interests ahead of parents and their children. Enough is enough.”

* SGOP…

Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie released the following statement in regard to the Governor’s new partial mask mandate, in which he failed to provide the specific data used to make his decision that schools must remain masked while lifting the mandate for everyone in most other places.

“One has to wonder if this is just about winning a lawsuit and maintaining his ability to exercise power over the people of this state.

“The Governor’s continued piecemeal approach isn’t working and leads to confusion and frustration. It’s time to get back to living in a sense of normalcy and that begins with empowering individuals to be responsible for themselves. Learning to live with COVID-19 means getting to the point where we trust individuals and families to make the best decisions for their own health and safety.”

* Sullivan…

Gubernatorial candidate Jesse Sullivan issued the following statement:

“Under J.B. Pritzker’s new round of orders, Illinois kids don’t have to wear masks in restaurants, stores, museums or church - but they do in schools.

Mandates in schools won’t be lifted for weeks and he is already talking about reinstating them in the future.

This isn’t real science. It’s political science.

That’s unacceptable. It’s time to return parental control to our kids’ education.”

This post will likely be updated.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:07 pm

Comments

-don’t have to wear masks in restaurants, stores, museums or church - but they do in schools.-

In which of those situations would they be in close contact with non-family members for hours on end? Hmmm… as the song goes one of these things, is not like the others.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:10 pm
=“A few short days ago, this Governor refused to end mandates saying we needed to ‘follow the science’ but today says everyone can remove their masks except the lowest risk population,”=

Isn’t the lowest risk population the vaccinated? I’m failing to grasp the “chaos” that the GOP keeps alluding to. But then again I don’t equate mask wearing to chaos. I see chaos as managing through a deadly disease with no plan other than “freedom.”

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:15 pm
===This isn’t real science. It’s political science.===

Perhaps the notion that politics isn’t real is how Sullivan has justified the numerous lies and misleading statements he has made to encourage people to vote for his persona.

Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:16 pm
And in which of those situations do high risk kids have to go to get an education. Some people keep making the argument “if you don’t like it stay home”. That’s an option for a restaurant, not for a kid trying to get an education.

And when he’s asked if there’s any possibility that masks may be needed in the future, he’s being honest. Someone should ask all these clowns if they would commit to never allowing a mask mandate in the state regardless of how bad a medical situation may arise in the future. If they don’t give the same answer Pritzker did they’re either lying or they’re telling us that they care more about getting elected than keeping anyone safe. And yeah, I know they’ve already told us that over and over.

Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:18 pm
==Under J.B. Pritzker’s new round of orders, Illinois kids don’t have to wear masks in restaurants, stores, museums or church - but they do in schools. ==

I like how he says this like it’s self-evidently crazy, but really it sounds perfectly logical.

More broadly: It’s so hard to beat an incumbent. They’re out there taking action, sometimes on the things you consider *your* issues, and all you can do is whine that he didn’t do it fast enough, or whatever.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:26 pm
If this was all politics wouldn’t masks have gone away as soon as Joe Biden was in office? I mean that’s what we were told would happen. Or was it even better for Pritzker to keep the mask mandate in place through Delta and then Omicron because he really wants to be a king? I’m seriously confused by all of it.

And who are the special interests that Irvin is talking about that the governor is putting ahead of parents and kids? Mask manufacturers? Because I’m failing to grasp who actually benefits from a mask mandate other than those that it keeps from getting sick (or worse).

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:31 pm
Is there a good reason children age 5 and over are not being vaccinated in the schools?

We did it many years ago for polio.

Comment by Unconventional wisdom Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 4:45 pm
They are getting what they want and they are complaining about it.
Political much?

Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 5:07 pm
Reactions? Yeah…social media comment sections….
“Election time, what ever it takes to get a vote!”
“This is all a political move from all these crazy Democratic governors. Red Wave in November!!!!”
“Hang on he’s eating a couple Big Macs”
“What a freaking joke! You don’t rule us, Hitler!”
“You are killing these kids leaving the masks on this is stupid..”

Forgottonia shudders…..

Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 5:13 pm
===But when politics, not people, are your main concern as Governor,===

Keeping the mask mandate in schools is not good politics but it is the right thing to do, which frankly takes more guts.

Comment by Jibba Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 5:14 pm
Do yourself a favor….do NOT go to comments sections on most media outlets reporting on Facebook.
Unless you have some pepto bismol handy.

Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 5:17 pm
I know there are supply-chain issues, but I hope we have enough cheese to pair with all these whines from the cheap seats.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 5:33 pm
=== Isn’t the lowest risk population the vaccinated? ===

As of 02/09/2022 from cdc.gov in 2 years since start of pandemic

0-4 years 296 deaths from Covid
5-18 years 644 deaths from Covid

Total deaths from Covid in US 906,603. Children’s risk from Covid is low compared to general population and other causes of deaths for

Comment by ElginAlum Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 6:00 pm
–Learning to live with COVID-19 means getting to the point where we trust individuals and families to make the best decisions for their own health and safety.–

Yeah, but that hasn’t happened. That why IL hospitals filled up w/ unvaccinated patients during omicron wave.

Comment by King Louis XVI Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 6:07 pm
So that’s two weeks in a row where Republicans whine that Pritzker is doing popular things. That’s not ideally how you kick off a campaign.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 6:28 pm
=Children’s risk from Covid is low compared to general population and other causes of deaths for=

I’m not sure the parents of the 940 kids you cited take great comfort in that. But as a parent having my child wear a mask doesn’t seem to be a huge sacrifice if it keeps them or one of their classmates from being a statistic.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Feb 9, 22 @ 9:20 pm