DeKalb Times

State Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) is reminding constituents of ongoing closures of the Secretary of State's offices amid a surge of COVID cases across the country. 

Following complications brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of Illinois has pushed back the deadline for identification renewal for the final time, which has seen its own setbacks due to the latest surge. Official facilities were initially set to reopen for service on Jan. 18, but those on a Tuesday-Saturday schedule will now reopen on Jan. 25, according to ABC 7 Chicago. 

"Driver Services facilities will be closed an additional week in Illinois due to high numbers of new COVID-19 cases statewide," Keicher said in a Facebook post on Jan. 14 which included further information regarding the closures.

Originally, the Secretary of State offices were closed on Jan. 3 because of the COVID surge, with Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White encouraging residents to use online services while the offices were closed to in-person appointments, according to AP News. By visiting ilsos.gov for online services, residents are still able to renew a license plate sticker, renew a driver’s license or ID card, or fill out business services documents such as incorporations and annual reports.

“After careful consideration and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to close all Driver Services facilities beginning Jan. 3, 2022, through Jan. 17, 2022, due to the spike in COVID-19 cases,” said the Secretary of State, according to AP News. “The health and safety of employees and the public remains paramount, and face-to-face transactions potentially increase the further spread of the virus. Our goal is to safely reopen all offices and Driver Services facilities on January 18 for face-to-face transactions.”

Three commercial driver’s license facilities were to open on Tuesday, Jan. 18, for in-person CDL services only, including Rockford, Springfield, and Marion, according to WGN 9.