Everyone is asking when things will get back to normal in Illinois.
We’re tired of the isolation in our homes and we want to go to restaurants, museums, and other places where we used to gather without fear of contracting a deadly virus. The Stay Home Order and the closure of businesses has us all longing for a sense of normalcy.
But there is good news to share. Social distancing is working to slow the spread of COVID-19. A key figure – the number of days between a doubling of cases – is increasing. The exponential growth of the virus is slowing down. It’s a great sign and is cause for hope.
While I worry about the health of Illinoisans, I also worry about our economy and my constituents’ ability to earn a living so they can pay their bills and put food on the table.
Businesses cannot remain closed forever, and I’m glad to know conversations are taking place about how we will reopen businesses while still protecting the public’s health.
When things do get back to “normal,” I believe it will be a new normal. Until a successful vaccine is available for widespread use, COVID-19 will still be a threat.
More than likely, social distancing will need to continue and businesses will need to take steps to ensure adequate spacing within their establishments. I believe we’ll see more people wearing masks outside as a preventative measure, and perhaps fewer handshakes.
On my most recent trip to the grocery store I enjoyed seeing homemade signs of encouragement and colored, cut-out hearts in people’s windows. These displays of support and hope are a constant reminder of how lucky we are to live in such a giving and caring community.
When I checked in with local blood donation centers recently, I learned that people are answering the call to donate blood. And when I spoke to representatives from food pantries, I was told that donations continue to come in. That’s not to say that we should not continue to support efforts to lessen the virus’ impact on these essential areas – if you haven’t donated blood yet or donated to a local pantry, please do. Their needs are ongoing.
No one knows when or how businesses will fully reopen their doors. Governor Pritzker has said that until widespread testing is available, the threat is still too great.
But until then, let’s all continue doing our part to slow the spread of this monster, while continuing to support struggling local businesses through online purchases and by ordering carryout from our favorite restaurants.
Updated, May 29, 2020 / Video conferencing helps connect with constituents
Video conferencing has become an incredibly popular way for people to meet and discuss business. While I have had “Zoom” available as an office tool for quite a while, I’m finding that during the COVID-19 pandemic we are using it more and more.
Constituents reach out to my office regularly through email and phone, but I wanted to remind everyone that video conferencing is also available. Especially for small to medium sized groups during this time, Zoom meetings are an effective way for groups to exchange ideas and share opinions.
Note: Video conference meetings with Rep. Wehrli can be scheduled by calling his office at (630) 696-4160, or by emailing him at Wehrli@ilhousegop.org.
