SAUGUS — State Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) has supported a $55-million supplemental budget that provides funding for expanded COVID-19 testing and the distribution of masks for public-school districts.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives has unanimously passed the bill, and the state Senate will take it up this week.
Wong said the spending proposal earmarks $25 million to help establish and expand COVID-19 testing sites across Massachusetts and to purchase tests. Funding will be made available for on-site testing locations such as community health centers, urgent-care centers, and nonprofit organizations, which will be required to allow for walk-up appointments.
An additional $25 million will be used to acquire N95 and KN95 masks for distribution to students, staff, and faculty at elementary and secondary public schools no later than Feb. 28. The remaining $5 million will be used towards trying to increase vaccination rates for children between the ages of 5 and 11 living in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus.
“I support any action that makes testing more conveniently and readily available,” said Saugus School Committee member Ryan Fisher. “The KN95 masks are better suited to stopping the spread of omicron and providing them to students, staff, and faculty will help us keep classrooms open.”
Fisher is happy to receive support from Wong and state legislators.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its mask guidelines on Jan. 14, calling for people to “wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.” The CDC also mentioned that N95 masks offer the highest level of protection.
