Wrestling with public safety and economic security are the two biggest factors being weighed by leadership across the country as areas of the US try to expedite the process of getting back to work safely.

Downstate Illinoisans are growing frustrated by the stay at home orders despite very low numbers in a lot of areas of the state. Friday afternoon in a town hall forum with State Representative Dan Caulkins, Warner Hospital CEO Paul Skowron told the Decatur Republican they have to give people confidence about opening back up at the hospital. 

From the economic side, President of First National Bank in Clinton, Josh Shofner is becoming increasingly concerned the recovery from this virus is going to take several years to recover from.

According to Rennie Cluver, Executive Director of the Clinton YMCA, he is frustrated with the length of time necessary to move from phase three to phase four when the community is ready for phase four right now. He expressed some frustration for a lack of communication from local leaders to lay out a plan.

The Decatur Republican believes one of the positives of the coronavirus outbreak is going to be the expedition of the entry into the digital world with the innovation needed for all the remote work and business being conducted in the last few months.