State Rep. Jason Wentworth, of Farwell, this week voted in favor of a new emergency budget plan providing an additional $125 million to help Michigan families and communities across the state respond to coronavirus.

The measure, garnering unanimous support in the House, brings the total state funding approved to $150 million, including the $25 million approved by the Legislature last week. The plan will provide $50 million for immediate needs such as virus monitoring and testing, $50 million for critical health care providers to expand capacity for coronavirus response, and $50 million to keep in reserve for future use.

The measure also will make it easier to use federal assistance related to COVID-19.

“To address evolving challenges with coronavirus, the Legislature has taken swift, proactive action to approve $125 million in additional emergency funding to help with mitigation efforts and combat this pandemic,” Wentworth said. “Despite this difficult time, it has been so encouraging to see community members and local organizations willingly step up to the challenge and assist their neighbors. In the spirit of working together and helping those in need around us, I have no doubt our state will get through this and come back stronger than before.”

For questions about COVID-19, residents can call 1-888-535-6136. The hotline is open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wentworth also encourages residents to visit www.michigan.gov/Coronavirus and www.CDC.gov/Coronavirus for additional, reliable information about the virus.