LA County Receives $300 Million In Federal Funds To Support School Campus COVID Testing
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Los Angeles County education and health officials announced Tuesday they have received $300 million in federal funding to support COVID-19 testing efforts for teachers, students and staff.
The funds will be used to provide COVID testing at public and private schools.
"Ensuring safe in-person instruction is vital to addressing learning loss and promoting social-emotional wellbeing. This testing program is a tool to help make that happen," County Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo said in a statement.
"It's also another example of how LACOE, Public Health and our county's 80 districts have worked together since the start of the pandemic to support our students and families."
The money, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is part of a $12 billion CDC effort to expand testing.
According to county officials, more than 70% of school districts have existing or planned COVID testing programs.
The federal funds will help cover the costs of testing programs and staffing needs. It will also allow some districts to increase the frequency of COVID testing.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)
