By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – As coronavirus continues its statewide spread, Illinois Wednesday added 51 deaths and 6,110 new coronavirus cases to its count. And more of the state is edging toward – or already into – stricter mitigation protocol.

And as the drumbeat of criticism continues for Gov. JB Pritzker, he said Wednesday it’s time to lead.

“When state and national public health experts and their own local public health departments tell (local leaders) that more people will get sick and die if they don’t take action, their job is to lead,” said Pritzker. “No matter how loudly a minority of people may criticize them, no matter how big a personal challenge that may be. Indeed, most often, that is what separates good leaders from bad ones.”

This, as some businesses are bragging about ignoring the governor’s rules, and the IHSA is talking about staging a high school basketball season anyway.

“IHSA may have their views, but school districts know what the rules are,” Pritzker said in reaction, “and I think it’s unfortunate that they would be probably taking on legal liability if they went ahead and moved beyond what the state has set as the mitigation standard.”

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]