By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – A state lawmaker who represents parts of Springfield and Decatur — and plenty of wide open spaces — says it’s the federal government which is helping create the coronavirus crisis.

The CDC needs to expand its guidelines for accessible testing,” said State Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill). “Those guidelines are too narrow, and when they are put into place that literally walls off individuals who live in rural communities to a very large degree. I hope the CDC will expand those guidelines, so there can be more robust testing in rural communities.”

Manar (D-Bunker Hill) says the difficulty of rural Illinoisans in getting coronavirus testing and treatment just speaks to the greater issue of access to health care.

“What has to be part of that conversation is the challenge that so many in downstate Illinois face to access health care on a regular day, let alone a day when a pandemic has hit not just our state or our country, but the entire world.”

And, since coronavirus could affect the election season, Manar suggests the state simply mail everyone a ballot.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].