Statement from APHL CEO, Scott J. Becker
Silver Spring, MD, January 14, 2021 — “The American Rescue Plan announced today by the incoming Biden administration will include a $50 billion boost in pandemic testing, which will go a long way to massively expand testing and laboratory capacity, including public health laboratories, and help protect our communities from the spread of this deadly virus. We’re grateful that the plan recognizes testing as an important mitigation strategy in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and includes funding to increase our disease surveillance and sequencing capacity to better identify emerging variants and track its spread.
“In addition to its critical focus on improving testing, contact tracing and eliminating chronic supply chain shortages, the plan will also make key investments in expanding the public health workforce, reducing health inequities and protecting vulnerable communities.
“Just like on the vaccine side, this is the ‘shot in the arm’ that the testing infrastructure and public health workforce needs moving forward. We look forward to working with the new president and his team on a coordinated and smart approach to testing and to help assure the plan’s successful implementation.”
# # #
The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) works to strengthen laboratory systems serving the public’s health in the U.S. and globally. APHL’s member laboratories protect the public’s health by monitoring and detecting infectious and foodborne diseases, environmental contaminants, terrorist agents, genetic disorders in newborns and other diverse health threats. Learn more at www.aphl.org.
