CDC awards $34.5 million to Ohio to address COVID-related health disparities

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced earlier this month that it has awarded the Ohio Department of Health and Columbus Public Health a total of nearly $34.5 million to address COVID-19-related health disparities (Source: “Ohio receives nearly $34.5 million from CDC to address COVID-19 related health disparities,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 10).

ODH will receive $31,011,053, which includes $7,169,724 earmarked for rural communities. Columbus Public Health receives $3,396,978.

The grants are part of a $2.25 billion federal spending to promote health equity by expanding services and capacity at the state and local level, the CDC said. This is the agency’s largest investment to date to improve health equity in the United States.

The funds also will be used to increase COVID-19 testing and contact tracing among high-risk and underserved populations, including racial and ethnic minority groups and people living in rural communities, in Ohio and across the country.