HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Mayor of Highland Park has had enough of people ignoring Governor Pritzker’s stay-at-home order, and she’s calling people out.
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering said she is getting calls, texts, and even pictures sent to her about people who are outside acting as if the COVID-19 outbreak and the Governor's stay-at-home order don't exist.
"Let's be clear. Social gatherings are in violation of Governor JB Pritzker's Order to Stay at Home," she wrote on Facebook.
She took to Facebook to voice her frustrations.
The post reads in part, "Hanging out with friends is not essential business. Four guys on St. John's - you were seen and photographed. Group of friends on Thackeray - you were reported. Group on Comstock - you were reported. Person who is known to have a positive diagnosis who went to the grocery store - why are you infecting everyone else? Go home.
"And if you see one of these groups, ask them why the rest of us don't matter. Why our time is less important than theirs. Why we have to keep doing this because they don't care. Then call the police. 847-432-7730. That may be the only way to get through. Let them know, they've been warned," the post continues.
Mayor Rotering spoke to CBS 2 explaining why she decided to make the post.
“Frankly, it was a sense of frustration. So many of us have spent the last few weeks really trying to do our best to minimize the risk to others – staying at home, following the rules – and I just continue to get texts, calls, emails, even photos sent to me of people who are flouting the rules. And at the end of the day, it’s a matter of life and death,” Rotering said.
Rotering told CBS 2 she was especially disappointed that someone who had tested positive for coronavirus was still out and about.
“If you have symptoms, or you think you have symptoms, then follow the rules and self-quarantine, and keep members of your family home with you if you are with other people, and do what you’re supposed to do,” she said. “To say, ‘I matter more than you and I need to go to the grocery store even though I have full-blown COVID-19,’ is really unbelievable to me.”
Mayor Rotering said any Highland Park resident upset by seeing people flagrantly violating the stay-at-home order should call police at 847-432-7730.
She said it is not a proud moment that Highland Park leads Lake County in COVID-19 cases.