For weeks, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Claiborne County remained in the single digits. It then crept higher, before spiking in the past week to now 33 confirmed cases.

Thursday, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith announced the Claiborne County Family Health Center in Port Gibson is among 20 facilities in Mississippi to receive federal money to expand testing for the COVID-19 virus.

Smith, who is a member of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, said the 20 community health centers will share in an additional $6.72 million. The Port Gibson facility will receive $148,579.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funding can be used to support testing-related activities, including purchasing personal protective equipment, training for staff, procurement and administration of tests, laboratory services, notifying identified contacts exposed to infected health center patients and expanding walk-up or drive-up testing capabilities.

The funding was appropriated in the Paycheck Protection and Health Care Enhancement Act.