Poll: Nearly Half In Lake Forest Area Agree With Reopening Pace

LAKE FOREST, IL — A majority of respondents to a poll of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch readers said they were comfortable dining out as the state entered Phase 4 of the governor's "Restore Illinois" coronavirus reopening plan.

Nearly 64 percent of local respondents said they were comfortable with in-person dining. Starting Friday, Illinois restaurants could begin opening interior dining areas at up to 25 percent capacity. But a majority of respondents to the unscientific survey from other North Shore communities said they were not comfortable eating out — whether indoors or outdoors.

Locally, just over 48 percent of people who took the poll said the the pace of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's multi-phase reopening plan was about right. Less than 28 percent said it was going too fast, while more than 18 percent said it was moving too slow — about twice the rate of respondents from neighboring communities.

Two out of three survey respondents said they will not change their behavior as the state enters its new phase of reopening. Nearly 18 percent said they would.

Opinion was split among Lake Forest area residents with children at home as to levels of comfort sending youngsters back to school or child care. More than 39 percent said they were ready, more than 29 percent were not and another more than 31 percent said they were "not yet" comfortable.

Residents also provided feedback and suggestions for changes to the way the state is reopening. The most common suggestion was to make face masks mandatory.

"Most recent medical information shows that masks work, and we have nothing else," one respondent said. "People need to let this sink in! There are still too many unknowns about the Covid-19, so we should be using the information we DO have top our advantage!"

"I'm very concerned about local businesses and the reopening needs to happen," another reader said. "However other states reopening are seeing spikes in COVID cases, understandably. So i feel people should continue to stay close to home with occasional trips to retail and restaurants. Large groups need to be monitored and masks requirements [enforced]."

A few respondents called for restrictions to be lifted further.

"Stop controlling us and let us take care of each other with our freedom," one said.

"Open everything," said another. "Individuals are responsible for their own health and safety, not the State of Illinois."

When it comes to other newly permitted activities, a majority of poll respondents remained unready.

Nearly two-thirds said they were no longer comfortable going to a gym or a fitness center, with fewer than one in four saying they.

Likewise, more than 72 percent of respondents said they would be uncomfortable attending a movie or other forms of indoor entertainment, while nearly 27 percent said they would be comfortable at an outdoor event like a concert or a sporting event.