Galesburg Reporter

Galesburg Mayor John Pritchard seeks an earlier reopening for his city after hearing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan for a five-phase process by regions.

“I believe if we’re cautious going forward, we can carefully allow certain businesses to open in a planned basis, and do it without creating this wave that overwhelms us,” Pritchard said.

Pritzker has divided the state into four regions, with Galesburg in the north central region alongside Rockford, the Quad Cities, Macomb and Peoria. Though the initial stay-at-home order helped to "flatten the curve," Pritchard said he believes it is time to move on. Illinois is in the third of the five-phase plan.

As of June 20, Illinois reported 135,740 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 6,580 deaths. Knox County has had 115 confirmed cases of COVID-19, none of which was fatal.

“Hospitals have no COVID patients, and they’re only now being allowed to restart medical procedures that are life and death for some people,” Pritchard said. “Of course, it was all done to prevent the medical community from being swathed by the wave, but the wave didn’t happen.”

Pritchard said Knox County has consistently been below the 20 percent positive test rate. He also said he is worried that a longer reopening process will cause additional economic strain as Paycheck Protection Program loans only last until June.

Precautions such as face masks, social distancing and hand washing will continue as businesses begin to open, Prichard said.

“We have a lot of people out and in fairly close contact, but because they’re taking those precautions, the virus spread has been very limited so far,” Pritchard said. 

Pritchard plans to coordinate with Galesburg business leaders and Ken Springer of the Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development to create a plan of action on how to reopen the county.