We asked Chicagoans: What do you think of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s latest coronavirus-related restrictions on stores, museums and casinos? Some answers have been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.
“Got to get it under control somehow. If people would have followed guidelines in the first place instead of complaining about everything and crying about it, maybe it wouldn’t have come to this.” — John Schymanoske
“It’s the right move, but I do not see any enforcement on social distancing, masks, drinking past closing in these tents on Division Street. More needs to be done to make this work.” — Tina Rotter
“I think he’s doing the best he can. I just wish people would take it seriously. How difficult is it to wear a mask and wash your hands?” — Maxine Henry
He continues to impose mitigations that hurt businesses but provides no plan for how these places will survive. He talks about the BIG grants, and how much much is left in the pool, but it seems like very few applications are being processed or approved.
— Phil Castello (@PhilCastello) November 17, 2020
Too little too late. They never should have been loosened. Thankful the district in which I teach started remotely and has stayed remote. Only time out is to grocery and hardware.
— Paul Packer (@PaulAquar168) November 17, 2020
“I believe it shows leadership in the face of extreme pressure. Data doesn’t lie, and this governor and his team are doing their best to balance Illinoisans’ needs with a contagion in our midst.” — Lisa Urquhart
“Until there are consequences for people not willing to follow these mandates, it won’t matter.” — Kristi Robertts Murillo
“This is the exact reason why people continue to travel to Wisconsin or Indiana. They are normal and have stuff open.” — Jeff Malina
I think he's not tough enough! Funny, how some people want, or say they want, 'tough', want law and order, but when a health crisis mandate, that isn't even a mandate comes, all that bleep is out the window!
— Kathwrenkin (@kathryn_kinder) November 17, 2020
Shut everything down and a mask mandate
— Mike Carpenter (@carpemike) November 17, 2020
“Ridiculous, Mayor Lightfoot stated her health department determined that the spike in COVID is due to private gatherings and partying, not businesses.” — Paul Olson
“He needs to shut the schools as well and make this a mandate, not an option.” — Michael Sullivan
“No one wants or likes the restrictions, no one wants this virus. But just go to a hospital, and see how sick people are getting and how overwhelmed many healthcare systems are getting. Maybe for a short time we can endure this and save some lives.” — Pam Atchley Baker
“More restaurants will suffer & permanently close as well as tons of other small businesses.” — Phil Hardison
I mean, were people going to them in the first place this year?
— Anthony M (@Donillini) November 17, 2020
If the response in the spring had been more surgical, I think we’d have an easier time with the governor’s “light at the end of the tunnel” speech. Hard to buy into that.
— Matthew Herek (@mherek) November 17, 2020
“He is overstepping his power. It’s up to people who they want to gather with.” — Teresa Rohdemann Hadden
“If you’re worried about it, stay home.” — Karen Candiotti-Dombrowski
“He’s got to do what needs to be done because nobody is listening in first place, that’s why it’s so bad.” — Shaun Fisher
Good! What good are a museum and casinos if you're dead or on a vent in a hospital?
— RadarOne (@SaraAWilson3) November 17, 2020
“Why are we destroying so many lives and limiting so much liberty for a virus that has such a high survivability rate? I cannot believe this is America anymore.” — Laura Curtis
“He obviously thinks Illinois residents are too dumb to make decisions on their own!” — Ken Butt
