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Gov. Kay Ivey marks $18 million for COVID-19 tests, surveillance in nursing homes
Montgomery Advertiser - 7/7/2020
Gov. Kay Ivey's office said Tuesday they would award $18.27 million for COVID-19 testing and surveillance at the state's nursing homes, with a number of high-risk individuals.
The money will be used to develop a testing protocol that will ensure testing of residents of and workers in Alabama's nursing homes between 30 and 45 days of implementation. Facilities that already tested residents would be excluded, as would residents and worked who received a positive COVID-19 test but have already recovered.
“During the pandemic, it is critical we take care of our seniors and most vulnerable residents,” Ivey said in a statement on Tuedsay. “Some of our largest outbreaks of COVID-19 were within nursing homes and we must do everything possible to contain the spread within their walls."
AARP of Alabama had pushed for use of CARES Act money for a broad number of services, including testing, surveillance, and additional staffing at state's nursing homes. A message seeking comment was sent to AARP of Alabama on Tuesday.
According to a memorandum of understanding with the Alabama Nursing Home Education Association, which will administer the funds, about $2.7 million will go to test 1,000 nursing home residents and 32,000 workers in the homes. The remainder will go toward surveillance; the document anticipates twice-monthly testing for at least half of the nursing home workforce through December.
More: AARP wants CARES Act money used for long-term care facility testing, staffing
Alabama's COVID-19 caseload skyrocketed in June, with the 7-day average of new cases quadrupling from 292 on June 5 to 1,212 on July 5. Senior citizens are considered an at-risk group for the illness.
Ivey previously announced about $30 million for testing at the state's public colleges and universities.
AARP has also pushed for more transparency in reports of cases at nursing homes, in particular daily updates on the conditions within.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Brian Lyman at 334-240-0185 or blyman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Gov. Kay Ivey marks $18 million for COVID-19 tests, surveillance in nursing homes
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