Testing

planning for the city, in a memo to commissioners said the city was notified recently it was eligible for more community development block grants funds from the federal CARES Act

Murphy early last month recommended using the new federal funding — nearly $500,000 — to help low- and moderate-income residents with housing vouchers for homeless people, food, rent and utility assistance.

However, the commission delayed voting on Murphy’s recommendation.

City Commissioner Brandon Kolo asked whether the city could use the federal funding to include COVID-19 rapid testing.

Mayor Michael Fournier asked city staff to look into the question.

“Serious consideration should be given to whether allocating ( block grant) funds to a (rapid testing) program is necessary when COVID-19 testing is currently available at numerous sites,” Murphy said in the memo.

Additionally, last month the Food and Drug Administration allowed emergency use of the first rapid coronavirus test that can be done at home.

The FDA emergency authorization for single-use tests was granted to Lucira Health, a test developer in California, according to the Associated Press.

“Lastly, the FDA has issued emergency use authorization for vaccines that will be distributed starting in late December,” said Murphy, who oversees Royal Oak’s block grant program.

Beaumont Hospital representatives had a virtual meeting with city and business officials nearly three weeks ago. Beaumont reportedly has the ability to run rapid testing, but it is unclear what the cost would be before city officials decide whether to allocate funds and an operational proposal for COVID-19 rapid testing.

“I think everyone can agree that we want to help our downtown and small businesses in general,” Brake said.

What started as a conversation with the Royal Oak Restaurant Association has turned to an effort on how to best use the block grant funding the city has, he added.

It remains to be seen whether the city can include rapid testing into its block grant program, or even if Royal Oak can find an agency interested in administering it at reasonable cost.

Meantime, other efforts to help businesses are underway and health experts expect the seasonal surge in COVID-19 cases to increase.

On Thursday, County Executive David Coulter was in Royal Oak with other county officials to announce a $10 million effort to help restaurants survive countywide during the pandemic.

The funds will be used to help create outside service areas, aid in operational safety efforts, and help closed businesses reopen safely.

Seven million dollars for the effort is coming from the federal CARES Act funds, and the county commission is expected Monday to vote to fund another $3 million from county coffers.

Additionally, last month the Food and Drug Administration allowed emergency use of the first rapid coronavirus test that can be done at home.