Gov. Mark Gordon announced Wednesday that he is allocating $17 million in federal funding to expand coronavirus testing, improve contact tracing and add to the state’s supply of personal protective equipment.
“We have been working diligently to modify our public health orders to continue a safe and sensible reawakening of Wyoming’s economy,” Gordon said in a news release. “I am also pleased to be directing funds available through the CARES Act to improve our ability to identify cases of COVID-19 and limit public exposure to the virus.”
The $15 million Gordon has allocated to the Wyoming Department of Health will help the agency increase its diagnostic testing and contact tracing capabilities. Funds will be used to bolster testing capacity at the Public Health Laboratory, obtain additional testing supplies and provide additional support to the team that does contact tracing, which includes people in communities across the state.
Gordon allocated $2 million to the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, which will be working with the Wyoming Business Council to purchase PPE and distribute it to non-health care related entities to support public safety for businesses and other entities across the state under new health orders to take effect Friday. The orders will relax some of the restrictions put in place in mid-March to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
