Beginning today, the Metro East region will operate under stricter mitigations. These are not decisions I make lightly, but they are necessary ones to slow the rate of infection across the state.

I want our businesses to be open and our hospitality scene to thrive.

I want to get people back to work or finding new opportunities for themselves and their families.

But the greatest hindrance to restoring our nation’s economic vitality is the virus.

Until we get it under control — either by people following the doctor recommended mitigations or with an effective treatment or a vaccine — we are going to be fighting for our economic recovery with one hand tied behind our back.

As @WhiteHouse’s own Dr. Birx said yesterday, Florida, Texas, Arizona & other southern states thought their increasing infection rates were unimportant—and then in no time at all their hospitals were overrun. When that happens, a lot more people die. I won’t let that happen here.

As Dr. Ezike and I have said throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, facts and science will continue to determine what efforts Illinois should make to protect our people.

If the data shows the virus is spreading at a high rate, we won’t hesitate to take action that saves lives.