Virgin Islands awarded $485,000 for expanded COVID-19 testing at two health centers

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded nearly $485,000 to the U.S. Virgin Islands to help two health centers expand COVID-19 testing, according to a Government House statement published May 11, 2020.

Frederiksted Health Care Inc. on St. Croix received $275,719, and East End Medical Center on St. Thomas received $209,149.

Government House said the funding would support testing and related activities, including the purchase of personal protective equipment, staff training, outreach, procurement and administration of tests, laboratory services, contact notification for exposed patients, and expanded walk-up or drive-up testing.

The funding was provided through the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, which was signed into law on April 24, 2020. Through the Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS said it awarded $583 million to 1,385 federally funded health centers in the United States and its territories.

The statement said the Virgin Islands Department of Health had tested 1,242 people for COVID-19 as of May 11, 2020. Of those, 69 tested positive, 1,115 tested negative, and 58 tests were pending.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/virgin-islands-receives-485000-to-help-two-health-centers-expand-testing-capabilities/