State Representatives have unanimously approved funding $45 million for our state's corona virus response.

In an emergency session of the SC House of Representatives held Thursday, representatives voted to use state surplus funds for SC Department of Health and Environmental Controls.

The money will purchase needed supplies, equipment and technology for health care professionals to use during the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic.

The funds will be used to:

• $14.6 million for additional staffing to support COVID-19 disease surveillance and contact investigation, laboratory testing, information phone lines, etc.
• $14.8 million for personal protective equipment of DHEC workers to prevent spread of infection
• $5.3 million for staff support and costs like technology, lab supplies, travel, and facility cleanings
• $2.5 million for an educational campaign with support for TV/radio airtime and printed materials
• 1.7 million to cover costs to quarantine and support indigent patients
• $1.4 million for transportation costs to courier lab samples and distribute items from the Strategic National Stockpile
• $5 million in contingency funds to cover unanticipated costs, or changes in approach based on the spread of disease