Rockford Sun

Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara is asking Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to ease shut-down restrictions caused by the COVID-19 virus on small businesses so they can compete with bigger stores, which he said are thriving.

“While the stay-at-home order has been difficult for everyone, many small businesses have been devastated by it,” McNamara told the Rockford Register Star. “The city team put together a proposal outlining what we believe is a more fair and equitable plan for all businesses.”

Both McNamara and Pritzker are Democrats.

In an April 14 letter to Pritzker, McNamara proposed allowing curbside pickup and phone orders for small businesses as long as appropriate precautions are enacted. These would be precautions formulated by the city after consultations with the Winnebago County Health Department and would require employees’ temperatures to be checked at the start and in the middle of every shift, mandate all employees to wear masks and practice social distancing.

In addition all curbside transactions would be contact-free and customers would remain in their cars during the transactions, with employees wearing full protective equipment.

McNamara said the state has allowed big box stores to keep open non-essential departments to the public giving them an advantage over smaller stores.

“By allowing big box stores to keep their non-essential departments open for business, while requiring standalone stores to close, we are encouraging more people to congregate at a select few stores,” McNamara wrote. “Implementing the minor changes set forth above will ensure that public health remains a top priority, while beginning the process of reopening small businesses safely for employees and customers.”

Pritzker's stay-at-home order is in effect until May 30, during which time residents can only go out for grocery trips, medical care, taking care of loved ones or picking up food from restaurants. His reopening plan has come under criticism for dividing Illinois into just four regions. Critics argue different standards that require all of that region to advance to reopening stages are arbitrary, and that his requirement that a vaccine or cure for COVID-19 be developed before the state can fully reopen is unrealistic.

As of May 18, Illinois reported 94,191 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 4,177 deaths. Winnebago County has 1,490 confirmed cases of COVID-19.