Gov. Tony Evers has outlined how his administration will use about $1.2 billion of the $1.9 billion in funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help states cope with COVID-19, according to an administration release. A robust $1 billion will be spent on a statewide effort to support COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, acquisition of needed supplies, emergency operations, and resources for local communities throughout Wisconsin.
The funds are being put toward the following efforts:
- $445 million for hospitals and communities to prepare for the surge;
- $260 million for testing efforts;
- $200 million state agencies spent to get emergency operations established;
- $150 million to acquire personal protective equipment with another $40 million to procure ventilators;
- $75 million for contact tracing;
- $45 million for local public health departments, occupational health providers, home health agencies, and health systems to conduct COVID19 testing;
- $10 million for local and tribal public health departments to coordinate local testing efforts; and
- $3 million in grants to 96 local and tribal health departments totaling $30,000 each.
