PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) was notified by the Centers for Disease Control (CD) that $31 million in unspent grants awarded to the state post-COVID-19 have been terminated. According to RIDOH, the CDC said that the reason given for the termination of th e four grants was the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. RIDOH also stated that the work done with money from these grants “goes beyond responding to COVID-19.” The grants had been earmarked to support vaccination work, epidemiology and laboratory capacity work, as well as to support health disparities and community health workers.  The statement from RIDOH went on to say that the construction of the new state health laboratory would not be affected by the termination of the grants. RIDOH also said that they would be working with Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office to “explore all options to safeguard the funding that supports the critical work done by the Department of Health.” Categories: News, Rhode Island ...read more read less