Newsom Unveils $2.7B COVID Response Package

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently unveiled a proposed $2.7 billion COVID-19 Emergency Response Package – including a $1.4 billion emergency appropriation request – that sets out to tackle a three-pronged list of priorities. The governor’s budget also calls for new legislation to implement supplemental paid sick leave policies, given the current situation being driven by the Omicron variant, to better protect frontline workers.

“From day one, California has taken swift and direct action to battle COVID-19 with policies that have saved tens of thousands of lives, but there’s more work to be done,” said Newsom. “Our proposed COVID-19 Emergency Response Package will support our testing capacity, accelerate vaccination and booster efforts, support frontline workers and healthcare systems, and battle misinformation, with a focus on the hardest-hit communities.”