FEMA Awards Nearly $1.4 M to BMC for COVID-19 Testing Costs

Print Story | Email Story
BOSTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will send almost $1.4 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse the Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) for the cost of of testing the public and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The $1,390,865 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the private 302-bed teaching hospital in Pittsfield affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School for the cost of contracting to administer 22,968 COVID-19 tests between September 2020 and January 2021.
 
The hospital also purchased supplies such as lab coats, masks, gloves, and propane for the testing tent, and contracted to provide security and cleaning services.
 
"FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the Berkshire Medical Center with these costs," said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. "Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and our success as a nation."
 

Tags: BHS,   BMC,   COVID-19,   


More Coronavirus Updates

Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 news:


If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Three Injured in Pittsfield Halloweentime Shootings

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Three city residents sustained gunshot wounds while in the larger downtown area this week.

The Pittsfield Police Department responded to shooting reports on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on First Street and Pleasant Street.  A person was shot during each incident but injuries were considered non-life threatening.  

Two incidents on Pleasant Street are believed to be related.

These do not appear to be random acts of violence, police say, and are not a threat to the general public. There is no further information at this time.

On Oct. 30 just after 7:30 p.m., police responded to the 100 block of First Street for a party who had been shot. The 34-year-old male Pittsfield resident sustained one gunshot wound that was not considered to be life-threatening and was transported to Berkshire Medical Center.

On Oct. 31 just after 11 p.m., police responded to the 20 block of Pleasant Street for a ShotSpotter activation.

"Several callers also made reports of shots fired," police reported.

Upon officers’ arrival, police found an 18-year-old man who had sustained a single gunshot wound. The injury was not considered to be life-threatening and the victim was transported to BMC for treatment.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories