Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will award the Minnesota Department of Health more than $375 million to support the state’s efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
This funding is part of the $22 billion being provided to states by the federal government through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021.
“For more than ten months, Minnesotans have worked tirelessly to combat the pandemic,” Klobuchar stated in a news release. “This much-needed additional funding will expand testing and help prepare communities for vaccine distribution. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but we must continue to do everything we can to get communities the resources they need.”
"In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, my priorities have been Minnesota's priorities — getting help to families, small businesses, schools, our health care system, and more," Smith stated in the release. "This funding will put real dollars behind testing, contact tracing, and vaccination efforts to help us get a better handle on the pandemic and reopen our hard-hit economy. But there’s much more we must do to lift up and support all communities in Minnesota during this difficult time. I stand ready to work with my colleagues and the new Biden Administration to lead an equitable and effective response to the pandemic."
The funding allocated to Minnesota includes:
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$324,608,098 to help support coronavirus testing, contact tracing, surveillance, containment, and mitigation to monitor and stop the spread of the coronavirus.
$50,958,885 to help support coronavirus vaccination activities.
