The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded the State of Alabama $8,148,798.90 to help fight the spread of the coronavirus.
The money awarded to Alabama comes from a pool of $560 million that the agency is disbursing among the American states and territories. That $560 million is a part of the $8.3 billion package the federal government appropriated last week that is aimed at containing the coronavirus and treating its victims.
“State and local health departments are on the frontlines of responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, and we are deeply grateful for their work,” U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar, who oversees the CDC, said in a statement.
“Our country has faced outbreaks of serious disease in the past. In each case, we’ve marshaled our collective resources and ingenuity to overcome the crisis,” said U.S. Rep Mike Rogers (AL-03) on the floor of the U.S. House on Wednesday.
“And just last week, we came together to provide over $8 billion to help public health officials respond to this crisis and expedite the development of a vaccine,” he added.
The CDC award and comments from Rogers come in the wake of the United States surpassing 1,000 total confirmed coronavirus cases.
As of yet, there are no known victims in Alabama. State officials told the public on Tuesday that only around 20 Alabamians have been tested for the disease.
Coronavirus victims have been confirmed in Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.
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Governor Ivey has formed a task force to deal with the coronavirus, and appointed State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris to be its chair.
As head of the Alabama Department of Public Health, Harris will also be one of the chief officials who disseminate among relevant programs the $8.1 million Alabama received on Wednesday.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
