MEDIA CONTACTS
| LaShun Atwaters |
| Program Manager |
| 404-371-2988 (o) |
| 404-430-9905 (c) |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2020
As COVID-19 Cases Surge, County Leaders Make Final Push for Coronavirus Relief Package
DECATUR, Ga.— DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson partnered with other national leaders in a robust dialogue to address the need for direct and flexible funding for counties in the next coronavirus relief package.
In the final days of the 116th Congress, lawmakers are inching closer to passing a new round of COVID-19 relief to state and local governments. Counties are making a final push for federal aid to all counties and an extension of the Coronavirus Relief Fund spending deadline.
America’s counties are on the front lines of the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, operating over 1,900 public health departments – the ground troops in the CDC’s fight against this complex outbreak – and nearly 1,000 hospitals. This unprecedented health and economic crisis could impact county budgets by at least $202 billion.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) hosted media availability with county leaders from across the country on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020.
The speakers included:
- Larry Johnson, DeKalb County, Ga., Commissioner, NACo 1st Vice President
- Dottie Owens, Ada County, Idaho Coroner
- Umair A. Shah, executive director, Harris County Public Health, Harris
- County, Texas
- Matthew Chase, executive director, NACo
“Counties and our residents are feeling the devastating impacts from the pandemic – both on the public health and economic recovery fronts. We are urging Congress to pass a fiscal relief bill that includes state and local funding now,” said Commissioner Johnson.
For more information, contact Commissioner Larry Johnson’s office at 404-371-2425 or visit www.commissionerlarryjohnson.com.
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