The Vermont state government is getting more than $16 million in federal money to reimburse it for costs related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition, the University of Vermont Medical Center is getting nearly $2 million in reimbursements for the cost of hiring temporary staff to handle increased patient loads during the pandemic.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced the grants Wednesday.
Vermont will get $13.2 million in reimbursements for the most of testing Vermont residents and public employees for Covid, including tests required for safe opening and operations of state facilities between May 2021 and March 2022 — including prisons, schools, state buildings, nonprofit long-term care facilities, and public and nonprofit summer camps.
The money comes from FEMA’s public assistance program, intended to help states and communities recovering from federally declared disasters or emergencies. So far, Vermont has been awarded more than $413 million in FEMA reimbursements for pandemic-related expenses.
Also announced on Wednesday:
• $3 million toward the cost of buying personal protective equipment, warning signs, cleaning services, plexiglass barriers and other items intended to minimize the spread of Covid-19.
• $1.8 million channeled through the state government to reimburse UVM Medical Center for hiring temporary staff between June 2020 and January 2022. That covers 17,710 hours worked by registered nurses, licensed nurse practitioners, certified nursing assistants and respiratory therapists — caring for patients, testing 93,391 people for Covid and administering 13,304 vaccinations.
— Tom Kearney
