Governor Hochul announces resources for those who test positive for Covid, as well as funding for abortion providers

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. (WHEC) – Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday that there is a new COVID-19 public awareness campaign to educate New Yorkers who test positive for COVID-19. She also announced that $10 million was awarded in the first round of the Abortion Provider Support Fund.

The new public awareness campaign on treatment options for people who test positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms. The approximately $1 million awareness campaign will run in English and Spanish across TV, radio, and digital media, encouraging New Yorkers to test early for COVID-19 and treat it as soon as possible if they test positive.

"We continue to build on our ongoing efforts to protect New Yorkers as we navigate the pandemic," Governor Hochul said. "Treatment is a critical tool to reduce COVID-19 symptoms and prevent serious illness, and this new public awareness campaign equips New Yorkers with the facts about treatment options that are available."

The campaign features links to resources about COVID-19 treatment options on the State Health Department’s website. The multiplatform ads encourage New Yorkers who test positive for COVID-19 and are experiencing symptoms to talk to their health care provider about their treatment options.

Hochul also announced that $10 million was awarded in the first round of the Abortion Provider Support Fund to 13 programs, covering 63 sites. The Governor also launched a series of reproductive health care roundtables, beginning with today’s roundtable with downstate awardees, to discuss the needs and experiences of providers and how New York is confronting challenges and protecting access post-Roe. Applications for round two of funding will open next week. For the second phase, $15 million will be awarded to a broader array of programs, including independent clinics.

"Under my watch, New York will always be a safe harbor for those seeking reproductive health care, and I am committed to working with providers across the state to ensure they have the support and resources they need," Governor Hochul said. "We will continue to build on our nation-leading protections for abortion patients and providers to safeguard abortion access in our state."

For phase one, the New York State Department of Health is awarding $10 million to organizations that are currently funded under the Comprehensive Family Planning Program (CFPP) – which delivers comprehensive family planning and reproductive health services to low-income, uninsured, and underinsured individuals of reproductive age – and have provided medical and/or surgical abortions in the past 12 months.