Schatz Urges Hawai‘i to “Move at the Speed of the Virus” in Ramping Up Contact Tracing

Kahului Airport on Friday, March 27, 2020.

Hawai‘i will receive $50 million in new federal funding to expand COVID-19 contact tracing and testing.

US Senator Brian Schatz who serves as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the funding encouraging state leaders to “move at the speed of the virus” in establishing a contract tracing program that is fully operational as soon as possible.

The new federal funding, which was part of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act passed by Congress in April, can be used to develop, purchase, administer, process and analyze COVID-19 tests, scale-up laboratory capacity, trace contacts, support employer testing, and support other testing-related activities.

The new funding for COVID-19 testing follows the nearly $4 million announced for Hawai‘i health centers last week, and millions more in financial assistance for health care providers and rural hospitals announced earlier this month.