McLean County Times

Rep. Dan Brady (R-Normal) wrote an op-ed for the Pantagraph in July, claiming there is no total reopening in sight for Illinois in the foreseeable future, especially in Gov. J.B. Pritzker's plan. 

Illinois is in Phase 4 of its reopening plan, which lifts more restrictions including allowing many businesses to expand capacity, increasing gathering sizes and allowing schools, colleges and universities to plan for in-person education. But what the phase doesn't provide is a complete reopening, nor does Pritzker have one in his plans, Brady said in his Pantagraph op-ed. 

"The lifting of more restrictions is very welcome news for our communities, and in my opinion, overdue. Now we need to turn our attention to fully reopening," Brady wrote. "The problem is that in the governor’s plan that is nowhere in sight. According to the governor, complete reopening of our communities (Phase 5) is not to begin until a vaccine or highly effective treatment widely available or the elimination of any new cases over a sustained period. That could be more than a year away, and will require hardships to continue."

Rep. Dan Brady (R-Normal) | Courtesy Photo

Illinois has been under many different restrictions since March 12, when Pritzker first issued a disaster in Illinois for the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then many rules have been lifted. However, until a vaccine is available, Illinois will continue to have limitations and restrictions in place, even in the fourth and second to last phase of reopening. 

"Our families and businesses have suffered greatly over the past three months. During that time, my office went into emergency response mode. We fielded hundreds of calls from constituents struggling to secure unemployment benefits through the Illinois Department of Employment Security, and we worked daily with local small business owners who were forced to close their doors or limit operations, connecting them with state and federal resources to help keep them afloat," Brady wrote in the Pantagraph. "Now it’s time to get back to business ... Full reopening of our communities needs to be done on a local basis, based on local data with decisions made by local officials — not on a statewide vaccine mandate."