Monterey County to offer financial incentive for COVID-19 patients with no income to isolate

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) A new program approved by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will provide financial help in an effort to encourage people to isolate when they are sick.

The program will involve providing a stipend of up to $1,000 to people who test positive for COVID-19 and do not have an income to help and encourage them to isolate.

According to a report from the Board of Supervisors, the Director of Health or Assistant Director of Health will sign an agreement with United Way of Monterey County to provide $62,714 to cover the one-time stipends through Dec. 30.

In August, the county approved the CARES Spending Plan, and at that time the Health Department worked to expand the Great Plates Program to people needing to self-isolate, but they found that a stipend could be a better way to support people who are not eligible for income replacement benefits when they are sick.

The program is still in the pilot phase and is funded by CARES Act grant allocations.