Arizonan health workers are getting amplified support as they continue to help curb the spread of COVID-19, with Gov. Doug Ducey’s directive to allocate $25 million for the medical sector.

This funding will come from the Coronavirus Relief Fund as part of the federal CARES Act, which can be utilized to pay for higher staff costs and reward hospital employees with bonuses.

Furthermore, the governor has issued an Executive Order extending the Enhanced Surveillance Advisory to collect information on vaccinations.

In a release from azgovernor.gov, additional safety measures for the upcoming holidays were also outlined and announced by Arizona Director of Health Services Dr. Cara Christ, she will also work with Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Tucson International Airport to launch testing sites, and will issue emergency measure to make sure schools statewide will be creating and implementing mask policies on school grounds and school buses.

“Arizona, and our nation, remain in a public health emergency. This has been a long haul — but we need to redouble our efforts,” Governor Ducey said. “For eight months, Arizonans have acted responsibly and safely to protect others and fight COVID-19 — and today’s efforts build on that. The $25 million for frontline workers in our hospitals will help ensure we have plenty of staffing as numbers rise, and it will support the medical professionals working long hours to care for Arizonans. Our additional safety measures will help keep Arizonans safe as we enter the winter months and snowbirds migrate to our state. Thank you to the families, individuals, businesses, organizations, community leaders, school leaders and more who continue to adapt to follow health guidance and protect fellow Arizonans.”