Financial carnage will be legacy of government's management
Closing of businesses in Illinois is controversial.
I operate a manufacturing business with 500 employees. We are designated as an "essential" business and have never been required to close.
Our experience with the virus is illustrative of how a business can remain safely open. We have had only one case where an employee contracted the virus at our workplace. Our procedures have kept our employees safe and kept their families solvent.
We have a strict policy for systematic employees to call in rather than come in. Those that can work from home (about 25) are equipped to.
Doors are propped open to reduce contact opportunities and extra cleaning is in place. Hand washing, masks and social distancing work.
If employees feel ill while at work, we send them to get tested. If positive, we send the entire production line home for 14-day quarantine.
There are many other "essential" businesses with a similar safety record. It is irresponsible for our government to discriminate against some businesses, churches or other public spaces, requiring them to close.
Governments could have gone to those open businesses to experience which easily-implemented safety measures have kept them safely open.
Fear of the virus has allowed our government to hide from making decisions. Does the science tell us that schools should close? Is there data that shows that restaurants are mass spreaders? Does one really think that a 5,000-square-foot church can only accommodate 50 parishioners?
The vaccines will put this virus behind us, but the judgment of our elected leaders will remain and the carnage of businesses and family finances will be their legacy.
• Tom Roeser, of Barrington Hills, is president of OTTO Engineering in Carpentersville.