St. Louis County Executive Sam Page asked St. Louis County Council members to approve $7 million for the Department of Public Health for COVID-19 response — funds that will be focused on providing testing supplies and healthcare to the county’s most vulnerable population.
“The fact is not enough people are getting tested,” Page said. “There is a nationwide shortage of tests. These additional tests will go to where the need is greatest. We know that this crisis is hitting hardest African Americans. And if you look at the ZIP code maps, you see where the largest number of cases are popping up.”
The areas hardest-hit are the parts of North St. Louis County that have the highest African-American populations, according to county data.
Page expects that the $7 million will be reimbursed by the $175 million that the county will receive as part of the federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act. The federal monies can only be used on pandemic response.
Page has also asked the council to approve the establishment of a special fund to receive the federal dollars and the creation of a web portal, so the public can watch where the funds are being distributed.
Council Chair Lisa Clancy had hoped to pass the two bills at the Tuesday, April 21 council meeting, but Republican council members voted against the measures and Clancy needed unanimous support. Republicans offered a substitute bill that would require $1.8 million to go towards Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for first responders and essential workers. Democrats agreed with the ask but not including it in the $7 million funds meant for the public health department, saying that there is a separate fund that addresses PPE needs for police.
Councilman Ernie Trakas argued that the bill to establish a special fund for federal dollars would allow Page to use those funds “without council consideration or approval.” Clancy and other Democrats disagreed, saying the council will still have oversight but the county needs the ability to act quickly and not wait each week to authorize funds.
“I think they fundamentally don’t understand the gravity of this public health emergency, nor the desperate need to get testing to the community, especially to our black residents,” Clancy said.
Democrat council members have the votes to pass the bills at the April 28 meeting. But Page said the week delay will hinder the health department’s ability to order testing supplies.
“It is an extraordinarily competitive process,” Page said, regarding obtaining testing supplies.
The funds will also go to buying Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for vulnerable populations in senior living and nursing homes, Page said.
Page stated in an April 13 letter to the council that the funds will allow the health department to provide treatment and disease management support to underserved county residents, many of whom lack access to primary critical care.
