SE Illinois News

State Sen. Darren Bailey (D-Xenia) is advocating against the confirmation of Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.

“We’re encouraging everyone to contact their Senator to vote against her nomination. I have stood against Pritzker’s unilateral and tyrannical mandates since the beginning. It’s time to end JB’s mandates and restore freedom and common sense to Illinois,” Bailey, a GOP candidate for governor, said in a statement to SE Illinois News.

Ezike is up for a two-year appointment.

Her confirmation hearing was scheduled for Feb. 23 but was delayed due to a “scheduling conflict” that rendered her unable to attend.

Under Ezike, Illinois has tracked a stringent course of mask mandates.

Ezike has been a controversial figure over the course of the pandemic.

Many critics have noted the state’s top doctor appears to be taking medical advice from Gov. J.B. Pritzker when it comes to continued COVID protocols rather than relying on her own medical background.

According to Poltico, Illinois was one of the most economically affected states due to closures of businesses during a prolonged lockdown which many small businesses were unable to overcome.

The Illinois Department of Public Health was accused of disregarding a letter from Republican State House representatives demanding proof that closing bars and restaurants would limit the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

The restaurant industry, in particular, was impacted by COVID restrictions backed by Ezike.

Ezike has been one of the state’s foremost proponents of masking, even suggesting wearing a mask at home to prevent household transmission of the virus.

Her agency has also been accused of bungling COVID data, improperly leading to the shutdown of the Metro East.

Ezike was also questioned about allegedly erroneous death rate data in which the cause of death was unrelated to COVID but the deceased had the condition.