Virginia initiative to address covid-19 health disparities among populations at high-risk and underserved - covid-19 has significantly affected the commonwealth of virginia

To date, there have been 661,925 cases, 28542 hospitalizations and, unfortunately 10,807 deaths (https://WWW.VDH.virginia.GOV/coronavirus/coronavirus/covid-19-in-virginia-demographics/). Our data shows that black, brown and rural virginians have been disproportionally impacted by covid-19. Pursuant to the goals and strategies outlined in CDC-RFA-OT21-2103, to address covid-19 related inequities, the commonwealth of virginia proposes the following activities:strategy 1: expand existing and/or develop new mitigation and prevention resources and services to reduce covid-19 related disparities among populations at higher risk and that are underserved*activity 1.1 equity communications (resources and services)strategy 2: increase/improve data collection and reporting for populations experiencing a disproportionate burden of covid-19 infection, severe illness, and death to guide the response to the covid-19 pandemic*activity 2.1: equity dashboards enhancement*activity 2.2: regional social epidemiologist supportstrategy 3: build, leverage, and expand infrastructure support for covid-19 prevention and control among populations that are at higher risk and underserved*activity 3.1: hiring clas program staff within each local health department*activity 3.2: foundational equity training for newly on-boarded and existing VDH FTE and contractorsstrategy 4: mobilize partners and collaborators to advance health equity and address social determinants of health as they relate to covid-19*activity 4.1: rural locality mini grant program*activity 4.2: clas mini grant program*activity 4.3: hbcu partnership mini grant program*activity 4.4: partners in prayer and prevention (P3) mini grant program*activity 4.5-empowered communities opioid project*activity 4.6: equity communications (partner mobilization)the virginia department of health is eligible to apply for a grant with a ceiling of $27,344,292. The mandated rural carve out is $4,592,179. However, the virginia department of health office of health equity shall invest approximately $12,133,049 in virginia?S rural localities.