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AMSTERDAM, NY—Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced today that Schenectady County is being awarded $599,777 to support heath care workers with COVID-19 prevention and control efforts in the region. The award is being administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through funding advanced by Tonko in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan.

“Our health care workers have battled on the frontlines these last 19 months to keep us safe,” Congressman Tonko said. “As our Capital Region continues to see spikes in COVID cases and hospitalizations, it is even more critical that these heroes are delivered the resources they need. I was proud to take bold action in the House to confront this crisis and provide a lifeline to families, workers and businesses all while making the investments critical to rebuilding our economy. I’ll continue working to ensure that our communities are supported through this pandemic.”

“Our public health team and our community partners have worked tirelessly since the very beginning of the pandemic to combat COVID-19 in high risk communities,” said Anthony Jasenski, Chairman of the Schenectady County Legislature. “This funding will enable us to continue and enhance our efforts to combat the virus in these critical areas. We are grateful for the CDC for providing us these additional resources to serve our community and we thank Congressman Tonko for his support and advocacy throughout the pandemic.”

This federal funding is being distributed to help communities address:

• Disparities in access to COVID-19 related services, such as testing, contact tracing, and immunization.
• Factors that increase risk of severe COVID-19 illness, such as chronic diseases, smoking, and pregnancy.
• Community needs that have been exacerbated by COVID-19, such as health and mental health care access and food insecurity.

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