ATLANTA — State officials said they will have to get “creative” to find state funds to keep the Georgia World Congress Center’s Alternate Care Facility open if President Trump’s vetoes the bill that could extend federal funding into the new year.
The state converted part of the GWCC into an overflow center for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients. There are 60 beds inside. The facility has been activated two other times during the spikes in the spring and summer and acts as a kind of relief valve for hospitals, which can move less serious cases there while freeing up critical care bed space for more serious COVID-19 patients.
[SPECIAL SECTION: Coronavirus Pandemic in Georgia]
Gov. Brian Kemp said they were planning to use federal CARES Act funding to pay for the estimated $18 million price tag through January, but that funding expires on Dec. 31. Congress voted to extend that deadline until March in the new COVID Relief Fund bill it passed earlier this week. But Tuesday night, Trump threatened to veto it out of concerns too many other things were tacked onto it. If he does, and the act expires on the 31st, then state officials will have to find other ways to fund it.
RELATED STORIES:
- COVID-19 cases in Georgia break new record as Gov. Kemp sounds warning ahead of Christmas holiday
- Georgia World Congress Center reopens today for COVID-19 patients
- Gov. Kemp to reopen Georgia World Congress Center to coronavirus patients next week
The governor’s office said Wednesday it’s not concerned over the funding and that it will get creative in finding other state funds to cover the bill. House Speaker David Ralston committed to working with the governor and the lieutenant governor to find money to keep the facility open.
The GWCC Alternate Care Facility has 60 beds and should reopen sometime next week.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Cox Media Group
