File photo
File photo
Two mayors in Illinois will not comply with newly imposed COVID-19 restrictions and shut downs of businesses, including restaurants and bars, to deal with a spike in virus cases.
Galesburg Mayor John Pritchard said the businesses have practiced safe measures and are not responsible for the outbreaks. Therefore, he will not enforce new COVID-19 restrictions imposed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and health officials in Illinois. Pritchard told the Journal Star the major source of new cases have come from long-term senior care facilities and private gatherings, not bars and restaurants.
“Very little have been from persons doing indoor dining, or from attending indoor bars,” Pritchard said.
Pritchard added that indoor dining restaurants would not be issued with citations in Galesburg.
“We’re not going to come out and say you have to shut down,” Pritchard said, offering Pritzker the opportunity to come and issue citations.
East Peoria Mayor John Kahl also said his city would not impose restrictions.
“East Peoria will not be enforcing the restrictions that will be imposed by the governor on our business community in the coming days,” Kahl stated on social media.
Kahl added that no East Peoria business had been found by health officials to be posing a hazard to the public.
Cases of the coronavirus rose in Knox County and Galesburg over the past month, reaching 137 cases over the last week of October, the highest rate recorded, the report said.
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