COOK COUNTY, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A group of Republican state lawmakers claims businesses in suburban Cook County are being hurt unnecessarily by the county's requirement that customers show proof of COVID vaccinations before being allowed to dine in at restaurants or visit places such as bars and gyms.
State Rep. Chris Bos of Lake Zurich, whose district covers parts of Cook and Lake counties, said all the mandate has done is drive customers away from Cook County businesses and encourage customers of Cook County businesses to go elsewhere.
"People will stop going to businesses in Cook County and simply cross the street and go to the Lake County business," he said.
"This proof of COVID vaccination mandate is another unilateral decsion that is placing an excessive and inconsistent burden on our families and our small businesses."
Bos also said there have been spiking numbers of COVID cases in other states, where similar mandates had already been imposed.
State Tom Morrison of Palatine questions the timing of the mandate in suburban Cook County.
"If It really was a crisis, why did they wait 12 days? Why did they wait until after the busy Christmas and New Year's celebrations had taken place?"
Republican politicians are calling on Democratic leaders in Springfield to work with Republicans on a bipartisan effort to limit the spread of COVID without what he calls "unnecessary" COVID restrictions on businesses that are already struggling because of the pandemic.
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