Illinois getting over $286 million in federal funding to increase COVID-19 testing, conduct contact tracing

Federal officials announced Monday that over $10 billion in new funding is now being delivered to states, territories and localities to bolster coronavirus testing efforts and conduct contact tracing, including over $286 million for Illinois.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is doling out the $10.25 billion drawn from the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Another $750 million will be provided to tribal and urban Indian health programs through the Indian Health Service.

The influx of funding “will provide critical support to develop, purchase, administer, process, and analyze COVID-19 tests, conduct surveillance, trace contacts and related activities,” the HHS said.

In receiving Illinois’ $286,317,362 in new funding, Gov. J.B. Pritzker must submit a testing plan to HHS that includes goals for the remainder of the year.

The plan must include the number of tests needed each month, including diagnostic, serological and other tests; month-by-month estimates of laboratory and testing capacities, including details on workforce, supplies and available tests; and a description of how the resources will be utilized for testing. The money will be used locally to meet those goals and purchase necessary supplies, like testing kits.

Pritzker’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. But HHS Secretary Alex Azar described the increased funding as “a historic investment in America’s ability to track and control the spread of the virus, which is essential to a safe reopening.”

“For the sake of all Americans’ health and well-being, we must help Americans get safely back to work and school, and that requires continued expansion of testing, surveillance, and contact tracing,” Azar said in a statement. “The Trump Administration stands ready to support and guide states in their life-saving work to combat the virus and reopen our country.”

Last Monday, Trump announced the $11 billion investment in testing as he stood in front of a banner in the Rose Garden stating that “America leads the world in testing.” While Trump has repeatedly touted the sheer number of tests the country has conducted, critics have noted that the United States’ per-capita testing rate still lags behind many other countries.

Pritzker has repeatedly hit Trump for failing to help Illinois ramp up testing and provide necessary supplies. A day before Trump’s announcement at the White House, Pritzker told CNN that the state was “going it alone” when it came to testing.