U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announces $500,000 in initial funding to support Minnesota's fight against COVID-19

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is announcing an upcoming action to provide $500,000 in initial funding to support Minnesota's response to the COVID-19.

"State and local governments are the backbone of our public health system. They have been essential partners in the ongoing work to contain and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the United States," said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. "The Trump Administration is acting swiftly through every avenue we have to ensure state and local governments have the support they need to combat this outbreak." 

According to Director Robert R. Redfield, the CDC is committed to working with the state, local, tribal and territorial public health departments to mitigate community spread of novel coronavirus in the nation. 

"Our partners are on the front line of this response and we support their efforts to increase needed public health capacity to confront the challenges this virus presents," said Redfield. 

Using the funds provided to CDC through the HHS Secretary's Transfer, CDC will:

• Award an initial $25 million cooperative agreement to the states and local jurisdictions who have borne the largest burden of response and preparedness activities to date. This is an initial award for those jurisdictions who require immediate assistance for activities such as monitoring of travelers, data management, lab equipment, supplies, staffing, shipping, infection control, and surge staffing. Once supplemental funding is provided, support will be provided to all states and local jurisdictions for a variety of critical public health activities.
• Award an initial $10 million cooperative agreement to state and local jurisdictions to begin implementation of coronavirus surveillance across the U.S., building on existing influenza activities and other surveillance systems. This initial award is for a limited number of jurisdictions. Once supplemental funding is provided, additional support will be provided to all states and local jurisdictions to enhancing testing and surveillance.

CDC will also use existing networks to reach out to state and local jurisdictions to access this initial funding.

For more information on how to stay safe or the latest on COVID-19 from the CDC, click here.