Funding for Alameda County Covid-19 testing is stretched thin

Proposed rental housing ordinance for unincorporated Alameda County is poised for a move to the full Board of Supervisors. But will Supervisor Miley block t?

Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley.

COUNTY NEWS

—TESTING COUNTY’S RESOLVE—Alameda County’s funding for Covid-19 testing services is dwindling, a county official said on Tuesday. Federal funding is beginning to dry up, forcing the county to stretch what little money it has left.

—“We’re trying to adjust our testing strategy to accommodate what we have and meet demand where we need it the most.” said Colleen Chawla, director of the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency.

—In the meantime, the county is reducing contracts in order to lengthen funding for testing services, she said. In addition, the state is no longer supporting lab services.

—An effort to encourage local health care providers to better integrate Covid-19 testing for their patients is ongoing, Chawla said. The county has found many people with private health care insurance are tapping into the county’s testing services.

—Chawla’s comments came after several public speakers raised the issue of limited Covid-19 testing funds at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. Beause the Covid-19 testing issue was not agendized for today’s meeting, Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle asked for the item to be brought back to the board at its next meeting. Valle hinted that funding sources to augment the county’s testing services may be available then.

—RENT PROTECTIONS—A suite of proposed rental housing ordinances for unincorporated Alameda County has shuttled across a number of Alameda County Board of Supervisors committees since March. A draft rent stabilization and rental housing registry ordinance comes before the Unincorporated Services Committee on Wednesday evening…

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