Schumer, Gillibrand announce funding for pandemic

CAPITALREGION, N.Y. » U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand recently announced $16,790,380 in federal funding to help health centers in upstate New York respond to and contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Specifically, this funding will help health centers purchase, administer, and expand the use of COVID-19 testing. The funding was allocated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Expanding Capacity for Coronavirus Testing (ECT) program.

“Testing is essential to our COVID-19 response and to the successful reopening of the upstate economy without triggering a second wave of infections,” Schumer remarked.

“This funding provides the essential expansion of testing needed to beat back the virus and for life to go back to normal. I am proud to have secured this vital funding for New York and will continue to fight tooth and nail for a fully-funded testing strategy that keeps New Yorkers safe,” Schumer noted.

“To contain the spread of this disease and safely reopen schools and businesses, we must make COVID-19 testing widely available for all Americans,” Gillibrand explained.

“Our state has faced more cases of COVID-19 than any other state

and this critical funding will make testing and treatment more accessible in upstate NewYork. As we fight to flatten the curve, I will continue to advocate for the resources needed during this pandemic,” Gillibrand added.

Funding recipients in the Capital Region include:

• Schenectady Family Health Services, Inc. $384,439

• Whitney M. Young, Jr., Health Center, Inc. $407,089