SE Illinois News

Illinois state Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) recently announced that the Illinois Department of Public Health's (IDPH) Mobile COVID Testing Unit was invited to Clay and Ellington counties this week.

“The Clay and Effingham County health departments requested the mobile testing in hopes of reducing the positive-percent count,” Rep. Bailey told SE Illinois News. “Results should be known [Thursday]. The IDPH typically does not duplicate mobile visits, but allowed it for this request.”

On Monday, the Clay County Health Department posted this notice on its Facebook page:

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker | File photo

“We are still working this evening on five new cases of COVID-19. All are from different households – none of them have had known exposure – all are recovering at home in isolation.”

The infected people include three women, one in her 50s, one in her 60s and one in her 80s; and two men, one in his 20s and one in his 30s.

Bailey said this should not be surprising.

“COVID positives are obviously on the rise across the state,” he said. “It is my contention that this would be normal, as people are out and about more. I think it is more dangerous prolonging this with shutdowns. Deaths and hospitalizations are extremely low and declining. Hospitals in the 109th [District] are now in financial duress because of the pandemic and the forced shutdown from the governor. District and county residents are living life normally. If they are concerned about their health, they stay home and/or wear a mask.”

But Bailey said that doesn’t mean people should not exercise cautions and be aware of the risks.

“There does seem to be a problem across the state with positive individuals staying in place. This is a concern,” he said. “I have talked with several county health department administrators who are concerned about this. If you are positive and/or have symptoms, you should stay isolated for 10 days from the point you first showed symptoms or tested positive.”

Bailey made news this spring for a couple of COVID-related incidents.

In April, he sued Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, saying the governor did not have the authority to extend his stay-at-home order. Clay County Circuit Court Judge Michael McHaney issued a temporary restraining order, according to ABC7 Chicago, but it only pertained to Bailey.

In August, Bailey asked Judge McHaney to hold Pritzker in indirect civil contempt and have him jailed “until he purges himself by rescinding the above-mentioned executive orders.” McHaney ordered Pritzker to appear before him on Aug. 14, CBS2 Chicago reported, but the governor shrugged it off by saying that other courts in the state had upheld his authority to extend the emergency order.

However, on Aug. 11, the Illinois Supreme Court ordered the Clay County hearing cancelled and moved the case to Sangamon County to combine it with other related lawsuits. The state high court is mulling taking over the case.

Thomas DeVore, a Bond County lawyer, is representing Bailey and also is handing five other civil cases claiming that Pritzker is overstepping his authority with these orders.

Bailey also hit the headlines in May when he refused to wear a mask on the floor of the Illinois House of Representatives as was required by legislative leaders. On May 20, the House voted 81-27 to remove him from the session if he would not comply.

He returned to the House the next day wearing a mask.

Bailey is in his first term in the General Assembly, representing the 109th District. He defeated incumbent David Reis in the 2018 Republican primary and breezed to victory in the fall.

Bailey is now moving to the state Senate. On March 17 – his birthday – Bailey won the GOP primary for the 55th District seat being vacated by state Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon), who is not seeking reelection. Bailey is unopposed in the general election.

Bailey, 54, and his wife Cindy live in rural Louisville. They have four children: Zach, Cole, Abigail and Mason, and eight grandchildren.