The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced this week it will continue to assist state, local, Tribal Governments and Territorial Governments, and some private nonprofits to ensure a safe reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under FEMA’s COVID-19 Pandemic: Safe Opening and Operation Work Eligible for Public Assistance Interim Policy, reimbursement is available for COVID-19 emergency and disaster declarations made through FEMA’s COVID-19 Public Assistance program and applies to safe opening and operation work between Jan. 21 and Sept. 30.

Schools, medical facilities, and government buildings may also be eligible for reimbursement.

Items possibly eligible for FEMA reimbursement include:

Face coverings and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);

Cleaning and disinfection;

COVID-19 diagnostic testing;

Screening and temperature scanning;

Portable temporary physical barriers for social distancing; and,

Purchase and storage of PPE and other supplies.

The interim policy is part of the March 2020 nationwide Coronavirus emergency declaration. In January 2021, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. issued a memorandum to extend federal support and increase reimbursements to states as safe opening and operations are implemented.