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and Conditions, and application of the ARPA statute, applied under the interim final rule, and <br />they continue to apply under the final rule. <br />A primary purpose of the SLFRF in the ARPA is to support efforts to stop the spread of <br />COVID-19.368 As discussed above, recipients of SLFRF funds are required to comply with the <br />Award Terms and Conditions established for the use of such funds. The interim final rule and <br />final rule implement this objective by, in part, providing that recipients may use SLFRF funds <br />for COVID-19 mitigation and prevention.369 See section Public Health in Public Health and <br />Negative Economic Impacts. <br />The CDC has provided recommendations and guidelines to help mitigate and prevent <br />COVID-19 and has identified vaccines and masks as two of the best tools to prevent the spread <br />of COVID-19. The interim final rule and final rule help support recipients in stopping the spread <br />of COVID-19 through these recommendations and guidelines. Consistent with the purpose of the <br />ARPA and as implemented through the interim final rule and final rule, a recipient may not use <br />SLFRF funds for a program, service, or capital expenditure that includes a term or condition that <br />undermines efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. A program or service that imposes <br />conditions on participation or acceptance of the service that would undermine efforts to stop the <br />spread of COVID-19 or discourage compliance with recommendations and guidelines in CDC <br />guidance for stopping the spread of COVID-19 is not a permissible use of SLFRF funds. <br />In other words, recipients may not use funds for a program that undermines practices <br />included in the CDC's guidelines and recommendations for stopping the spread of COVID-19. <br />This includes programs that impose a condition to discourage compliance with practices in line <br />with CDC guidance (e.g., paying off fines to businesses incurred for violation of COVID-19 <br />368 See Sec. 602(a)(1); 603(a)(1); 602(c)(1); 603(c)(1). <br />369 See 35.6(b); IFR discussion of CDC guidelines. <br />346 <br />