$2.1 billion

US health authorities plans to spend to curb hospital infections

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention plans to spend to improve infection prevention and control across American health care, by far the largest single such outlay in the country’s history.

CDC plans to distribute $2.1 billion over the next several years to health departments and medical providers, including hospitals and nursing homes. The money was authorised as part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan President Joe Biden signed in March.

Money will begin flowing as soon as October to help bolster staff at nursing homes stretched by Covid-19 cases and labour shortages, the CDC said.