Gov. Ned Lamont says that an additional $65 million is heading to 215 state nursing homes to help fight against COVID-19.

The funding comes as nursing homes around the country continue to be hotspots for the virus. The money will be added to the state’s Medicaid payments.

The funding will go to things like employee pay, new costs to screen visitors, PPE and cleaning supplies.

Lamont’s announcement comes after Connecticut's nursing home workers and owners say that the virus has taken a heavy toll on the facilities.

Officials at Kimberly Hall North in Windsor say that 33 residents have died from COVID-19.

Cambar Edwards is a certified nursing assistant at Kimberly Hall North. She says that employees are home ill or scared to go to work. She says staff and families are grieving.

Nursing home owners say the spread of the virus in their facilities is not indicative of the quality of care. State figures show nursing home residents account for a third of the more than 1,000 state residents who have died from the virus.