New Restrictions Require Recommitment To Safety Measures: Mayor

AURORA, IL — Aurora residents must recommit to following public health guidelines to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus in the region, Mayor Richard Irvin said Tuesday after state officials announced new restrictions.

Bars and restaurants in three of Aurora’s four counties will be forced to suspend indoor service starting Friday after Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced new restrictions for Region 7 (Will and Kankakee counties) and Region 8 (Kane and DuPage counties).

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Under the new restrictions, gatherings will be limited to 25 percent of an establishment’s capacity or no more than 25 people, whichever is smaller.

Aurora has more cases than any other municipality in its four counties, with 6,400 Aurora residents testing positive for the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, according to the city’s statistics.

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“I am pleading with our community to recommit to the fierce urgency of now,” Irvin said. “We have been fighting COVID-19 for months and have felt the impact on us personally and on our economy.”

“We must recommit to doing our part as individuals and families in order to safeguard our entire community and our struggling economy,” Irvin continued.

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Aurora residents can play a significant role in reducing the spread of the coronavirus this fall by wearing masks, washing their hands and keep their distance from other groups, Irvin said.

The mayor urged residents not to give into “COVID fatigue,” emphasizing the coronavirus is still “a matter of life and death” for many people and small businesses.

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“Our collective actions — and inactions — clearly have a direct impact on our community,” Irvin said.

“If you don’t want to do it for yourself, do it for your loved ones, friends and neighbors,” Irvin continued.

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Irvin is expected to speak at 1:15 p.m. Thursday to provide more details about the city’s response to new regional coronavirus restrictions.

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