North Cook News

State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) reasons that the fight against the coronavirus has to at least be a two-prong defense.

“Health experts tell us that the virus will be here for many months ahead,” Morrison told the North Cook News.  “A vaccine that could provide community immunity could be 18 months away. Because of this, we need to develop a long-term plan that values both safety and livelihood.”

Morrison isn’t alone in his thinking, as Republican colleagues Brad Halbrook (Shelbyville) and Chris Miller (Oakland) recently teamed up to call on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to devise a plan “to bring business online” for regions that have shown not to be as impacted by the virus as others might be.

“We could look at regional differences to determine where a stay-at-home order is best and where we might open sectors to keep our citizens afloat," he said.

Morrison adds residents have done everything they’ve been asked to do to try and limit the dangers of the deadly virus and are deserving of straight talk from their government. Several lawmakers have pointed out much more is known about the spread and nature of the virus than what was known at the time Pritzker imposed his restrictions and are calling on the governor to act accordingly.

Morrison recently convened a small business owner’s informational webinar where he updated them about small business assistance programs being offered by the state.

“This will be an opportunity to get an update on the state and federal programs being offered to small businesses in our area,” Morrison said in promoting the event, which was held in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Commerce.