Utah agencies continue to see federal funding for the state’s COVID-19 response. The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has approved more than $5.7 million in additional public assistance. The assistance continues to be funded under authority of a major disaster declaration issued April 4, 2020. FEMA has provided more than $129.8 million in public assistance funding for the Utah COVID-19 response to date.
The latest round of FEMA funding includes $1.4 million to the Utah Division of Emergency Management for management costs incurred to track and manage its eligible subawards as a result of COVID-19. Also coming Utah’s way is $1.25 million to the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics to utilize permanent employees, short-term and temporary staff to provide emergency medical care to COVID-19-positive patients.
The Utah Department of Health will receive $3.08 million for to disseminate of COVID-19-related information for educating and informing the general public through public education, graphic design, mass media and communication efforts. The main campaign targets high-risk individuals and multicultural communities to promote equitable education on CDC guidelines for wearing a mask, frequent hand washing, social distancing, staying at home when sick, testing locations and vaccine education and locations.