SE Illinois News

State Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona) believes the newest mandate that requires businesses in Chicago to require customers show proof of vaccination prior to entering is the result of public health becoming "politicized."

Jacobs' reaction comes after Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot instituted the requirement for businesses – including restaurants, fitness facilities, and entertainment venues – require patrons to prove they've been vaccinated as of Jan. 3.  The mandate also requires anyone 16 and older to show an ID.

"Things like social distancing, washing your hands, avoiding touching your eyes and nose and mouth are all things that we know are effective at stopping the transmission of diseases," Jacobs told SE Illinois News. "When It is clear that both the vaccinated and unvaccinated are spreading the omicron variant, it makes no sense to punish an entire group of people."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that those who've been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus can both catch and spread the virus, according to Deseret News.

"What has been so frustrating to me is that we are given the policy, but not given any evidence of why the policy is needed or how the policy will make a difference," Jacobs said. "We need the courts to step in and provide some clarification on how our leaders are using their emergency powers."

New York City has a similar vaccine passport system which NY1 reported was established  five months ago, but even with vaccine requirements the city has not been spared when it comes to a recent spike in positive cases.

"It is about power and control," Jacobs said. "There is no compelling reason to craft policies to segregate against unvaccinated people. Vaccinated people are getting and spreading omicron too. But again, this is not about protecting people. It is about controlling people." 

He said people have had enough of mandates during the pandemic and they're showing where they stand by "voting with their feet."

The decision to leave Illinois was one 114,000 people made during 2021 which was a record population decrease according to Wirepoints.

Jacobs also believed how the state has handled the global health crisis has impacted its ability to fully recover economically.