FAIRFAX — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is awarding money to cities across Oklahoma to boost their COVID-19 response. Fairfax Medical Facilities will receive $56,896 to help cope with the pandemic.

HHS, through the Health Resources and Services Administration, awarded a total of $1,356,077 to 21 health centers in Oklahoma stemming from the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020. Health center recipients in Oklahoma may use these awards to address screening and testing needs, acquire medical supplies and boost their telehealth capacity in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

On Friday, March 6, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020, which provides $8.3 billion in emergency funding for federal agencies to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, including $100 million for HRSAfunded health centers nationwide. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, and the important role health centers play in their communities, HHS is making funding for health center recipients in Oklahoma available immediately.

“HRSA-funded health centers have been and will be critical players in our national response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “The new grants we’re releasing today are a rapid injection of resources secured by President Trump from Congress in the supplemental funding bill, building on the strong investments HHS has made in health centers over the years. President Trump has emphasized a whole-of-government, whole-of-America response to the pandemic, and these grants will help health centers, which know the needs and resources of their communities best, to play their part.”

The funding supports health centers across the country in their emergency planning and response efforts. The awards will give health centers the flexibility to meet the evolving COVID-19 needs in their respective communities including but not limited to, expanding COVID-19 screening and testing capacity, purchasing supplies such a personal protective equipment (PPE) and providing safety education.

Congressman Frank Lucas said his district will receive $228,272 of funding.

“Community health centers provide critical care to those who call rural Okla homa home, and during the coronavirus outbreak they have a vital role to play. In times of crises, our community health centers face an overbearing challenge to provide adequate care due to the increase of patients they receive, and additional federal resources are the saving grace for many of them.”

“The distribution of $228,272 in funds to centers across Western Oklahoma will provide much-needed support for testing, buying supplies, and expanding use of telehealth. I thank the Trump Administration and Secretary Alex Azar for acting swiftly to address the concerns of our communities. As Oklahoma continues to combat the spread of the coronavirus, I will continue to work to ensure the needs of our rural communities are met and are a part of every conversation as Congress and the Administration continue to provide federal relief to impacted communities,” he said.