PEORIA, Ill. — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker suggests he is not likely to assert many more stringent state standards when it comes to COVID-19, even amidst the ongoing spread of the BA-2 Omicron sub-variant of the virus.
Scientists have said there are increasing case counts all across the country, but that’s being balanced with a continued low level of COVID-related hospitalizations.
“We want to encourage local governments and businesses to take actions they think will keep their patrons and local residents safe.”
He continued, “and we’re going to continue to report on how we’re doing as a state, very importantly, so that people can take the appropriate mitigation measures home with them and decide how they want to operate.”
For many Illinois residents, it could be seen as somewhat of a turnaround from past policy.
Pritzker was harshly criticized, for instance, for keeping school mask mandates in place across the state, even after federal guidance suggested the measure was no longer needed.
At the same time today, Pritzker took the opportunity to again tout the $1.8 billion in tax relief included in this year’s state budget, including a suspension of the grocery tax and a delay in the next gas tax increase.
Republicans, though, continue to harshly criticize the Democrats’ budget plan.
Today, Peoria-area State GOP Senator Win Stoller said the budget offers only “election-year gimmick relief” and doesn’t include enough permanent relief for Illinois families.
Comments