No Proof-Of-Vaccination Mandate For Frankfort Businesses: Mayor

FRANKFORT, IL — Frankfort Mayor Keith Ogle let his feelings be known on proof-of-vaccination mandates during his Mayor's Comments portion of Monday's Village Board of Trustees meeting.

"I believe everyone has the right to determine, with their own primary care physician, what is best for their health, and also for their children's health," Ogle said. "We do not have a health department here in Frankfort. We do not currently have, nor do I support, a local mandate within the Village of Frankfort. I support the individual businesses' right to choose how they will operate."

Ogle told Patch Tuesday that he felt compelled to make this statement following weeks of calls with Cook County officials and suburban mayors in which there appeared to be considerable confusion as to what proof-of-vaccination policies might be put in place in surrounding areas.

"The Cook County and Chicago mandates have created a lot of confusion and uncertainty here in Frankfort, with the businesses and the residents," Ogle said. "I'm having people calling me asking, 'What are we going to do? Are we going to have to do this? Are we going to be put into an untenable position as business owners?' There's a lot of confusion.

"We want our businesses to be able to operate and do it safely, and they are very concerned with safety," Ogle continued. "So, we want this decision to be in the hands of the local business and their customers who support them. ... A lot of this is hoping to clear up confusion and uncertainty."

Ogle's comments come as area hospitals are filling up with a recent surge of COVID-19 patients.

Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox on Tuesday reported that its intensive care unit beds are "nearly at capacity," with 18 of the hospital's 30 ICU beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and nearly half of all of the hospital's beds also occupied by COVID-19 patients.

Patch has previously reported that, as of Monday, bed availability was in the single digits in three Illinois regions, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said during a press conference. In Region 7, which encompasses Will and Kankakee counties, just six ICU beds were available as of Monday, meaning ICUs there are at nearly 96 percent capacity.

State health data showed that, statewide, 316 of the 2,977 ICU beds were available on Monday. The state data further showed a total of 1,086, or more than a third of those in the ICU, are COVID-19 patients.

More than 650 of those hospitalized with COVID-19 are on ventilators, state health officials reported Monday.

Ogle explained that he is hopeful that Frankfort residents will be respectful of each other's individual choices when it comes to vaccination and personal responsibility in slowing the spread of the surging COVID-19 cases.

"And I would hope people would be understanding and considerate of other's health conditions that may or may not be apparent on the surface," Ogle said at Monday's meeting. "If you do have symptoms, please wear a mask.

"I do ask that people be understanding and kind and patient with the businesses here," Ogle continued. "And I know the people of Frankfort will step up and they will act in high regard."

Related:

• More Than Half Of Silver Cross ICU Beds Filled By COVID Patients
• 'Frighteningly Limited' ICU Beds In IL As COVID Surges: Pritzker
• 'No-Visitor' Policy In Effect At Silver Cross In New Lenox
• Lincoln-Way D210 Schools Start Year With Remote Learning
• COVID-19 Tests In Short Supply: How To Find One In Illinois