COLUMBUS – A state panel has voted to allocate more than $15.5 million of federal funding to help local communities in Ohio combat the coronavirus health crisis.
The state Controlling Board Wednesday voted to appropriate $10.1 million in funding approved by Congress to be distributed through the Ohio Health Department to local health departments for monitoring and investigating potential cases of COVI-19 and for containment and mitigation. state Sen. Jay Hottinger (R-Newark) announced.
“Our local health departments are working overtime to respond to this public health crisis, and today’s action gets funding to the front lines where it’s needed most,” said Rep. Jack Cera (D-Bellaire), a member of the seven-member board, which is made up of Office of Mangement and Budget officials and lawmakers from both parties.
Another $1 million has been allocated to the state health department’s laboratory for coronavirus testing as well as an additional $3.15 million for overtime costs, contracted services, and miscellaneous costs associated with the efforts to contain the outbreak.
Another $1.3 million has been earmarked for public education campaigns.
The $15.6 million represent Ohio’s share of the $8.3 billion approved by Congress two weeks ago when it passed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act to provide state with funds for surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory capacity, infection control, mitigation, communications and other preparedness and response expenses.
The board also approved $3.8 million in state funds to support the state’s response.
“Ohio has been a leader for the nation, proactively preventing, preparing and responding to this health crisis. These funds will ensure Ohio’s Departments of Health and Public Safety are equipped with the resources needed to continue to combat this pandemic,” Hot6tinger said.
The money — funded through the Department of Public Safety’s State Disaster Relief Fund — covers ongoing and anticipated costs and operational costs related to the State Emergency Operations Center.