As of today, Friday, May 8, 32,411 Connecticut residents have tested positive for COVID-19, another new, 627 positive cases since yesterday. 2,874 Connecticut residents have now died from COVID-19, with 77 more deaths since yesterday. 1,327 Connecticut residents are still hospitalized with COVID-19, though that number is 49 fewer than yesterday, which is a good sign. In total, 120,541 Connecticut residents have been tested for COVID-19, with 4,367 tests just performed yesterday.
For a town-by-town breakdown and other COVID-19 statistics, please visit: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus Unemployment Filing for Self-Employed Individuals Live
In the past week, there have been interruptions in the process for unemployed self-employed individuals to file for unemployment. Happily, the next step in that process is finally live. Those who have filed for state unemployment benefits and have been waiting for Pandemic Unemployment Compensation to become available can visit the Department of Labor’s website and click the red button to file for unemployment. These interruptions and delays have undoubtedly been frustrating, but those seeking funding can pursue the next steps in the process. Business Survey
With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to impact our region, I am interested in learning more from affected businesses about how they plan to meet upcoming challenges and their outlook for the near future. If you can, please fill out this short Google survey with your thoughts. I will take your opinions and concerns with me in my future work, including my upcoming Facebook Live with Gwendolyn Thames, Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, on May 12. You can access the survey here. Senators Visit Nursing Homes Across Connecticut To Highlight Inequities, Support Health Care Workers
Today, Senate Democrats formed caravans to travel to more than a dozen nursing homes across Connecticut, working both to support and laud the many health care workers making sacrifices to care for patients and to highlight inequities seen across the state. Legislators noted that state and national statistics show that black and brown people are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, and that health care workers in locations like nursing homes have reported not receiving personal protective equipment. Facing those challenges, low wages, a lack of safe recovery accommodations and a lack of paid time off, these health care workers are selflessly continuing to work on the front lines of the pandemic to keep residents and patients safe. The caravans, starting in Stamford, Danbury and Windham, all ended at the same location: Windsor’s Kimberly Hall North, one of the hardest-hit nursing homes in the state with as many as 43 COVID-related deaths reported by the Hartford Courant.
COVID Tests Can Be Accessed Without Medical Approval
As part of the effort to rapidly ramp up COVID-19 testing among the public and increase the state’s capacity to reopen, Governor Lamont announced that regulations regarding COVID-19 tests have been lifted. Patients no longer need to receive a referral from a physician, physician assistant or nurse prior to receiving a COVID-19 test, and those tests can now be conducted by pharmacists. This is a major step forward for the state as leaders seek to significantly increase daily testing capacity, especially in underserved communities and for individuals who may not have primary care physicians. Expanding access to testing will significantly inform and improve the state’s response to COVID-19, especially as new information about the virus is discovered. New testing won’t just help determine positive diagnoses among individuals with symptoms but will allow for increased discovery of asymptomatic carriers in high-risk locations like nursing homes, correctional facilities and health care facilities.
New Steps To Limit Spread of COVID
In the Governor’s latest executive order, the following changes have been made to various statutes to accommodate the public and lower risk of transmission of COVID-19:
The reapplication filing requirement for the Homeowners’ Elderly/Disabled, Circuit Breaker Tax Relief Program and the Homeowners’ Elderly/Disabled Freeze Tax Relief Porogram has been suspended, allowing for benefits to continue without taxpayers needing to recertify eligibility.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection can use distance learning and remote testing certifications for its programs instead of forcing in-person contact.
Tolling of land use and building permits have had validity periods extended so they do not expire during the state of emergency.
In-person voting requirements for critical and time-sensitive municipal decisions can be suspended, allowing municipalities to adopt or amend existing contracts of agreements deemed essential, as well as take action on essential sales of real or personal property, without requirements for in-person approval by electors or taxpayers.
Federal approval of additional SNAP assistance for meals programs
As in-person classes in public schools have been canceled for the remainder of the academic year, Connecticut has received $95.5 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits to children eligible for free and reduced-price meals. About 270,000 Connecticut children who cannot receive meals at school will receive meals through this program. The Department of Social Services expects to issue $46.3 million to 70,000 SNAP-eligible households and $52.2 million to 80,000 non SNAP-eligible households for food assistance. These benefits will be deposited in EBT accounts beginning in mid-May at any location accepting SNAP cards. Children are automatically eligible for additional benefits because school is not in session. The DSS will collaborate with the Department of Education to bring further information to families.
Connecticut’s Attorney General, Chief State’s Attorney Announce Joint COVID-19 Fraud Task Force
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, Chief State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo and others have formed a joint federal-state task force combatting COVID-19-related fraud in Connecticut.
The task force will investigate and prosecute a wide range of misconduct related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including price gouging, healthcare and government program fraud, consumer and small business scams, hoarding and PPE procurement scams, mortgage and student loan relief scams, lending scams, charities fraud, and phishing, spoofing and cyber fraud. Violators may be subject to civil fines and penalties and/or state or federal criminal prosecution.
Connecticut residents may report COVID-19-related fraud to the Task Force by contacting the Office of the Attorney General via email at [email protected] or by calling 860-808-5318.
In addition, residents may report COVID-19-related fraud to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or by visiting www.justice.gov/disastercomplaintform
Bottle Redemption To Resume By Early June
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will allow retailers in Connecticut to resume bottling redemption activities on a limited basis beginning May 20, with full resumption of operations by June 3. This was temporarily suspended in mid-March to allow retailers to maintain and manage store environments with focus on product supply and safety measures. Upon resumption of the redemption, retailers will likely have daily limits on numbers of containers, limited hours and social distancing and mask-wearing requirements. Small Business Owners, Workers Asked To Provide Input
The Department of Economic and Community Development is asking small business owners and workers to fill out two surveys to gather insight on reopening efforts:
The Small Business Reopening Survey is for business owners and will help understand the current status and implications of reopening
Small Business Administration Funding Remains
The Department of Economic and Community Development said this week that $110 billion in funding remains for the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP. Approximately 30,000 organizations have been approved for $2.5 billion in forgivable loans during this round. The PPP provides forgivable loans to small businesses and non-profits with less than 500 employees. Under the loan, 75 percent of funds must be used for payroll expenses; the rest can be used on rent, mortgage interest or utilities. More information is available here. Connecticut has more than 350 SBA-approved banks and credit unions that can help organizations secure funding.
Foodshare Distribution At Rentschler Field Continued Through End of May
The daily food distribution to the public occurring on weekdays at Rentschler Field will continue through at least May 29, extending its schedule by at least three weeks. From Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon, individuals experiencing food insecurity are asked to travel to 615 Silver Lane in East Hartford. Distribution will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. Foodshare volunteers are providing food to as many as 1,200 households per day, reporting as many as 70 percent of clients are believed to be experiencing food insecurity for the first time. Community members unable to reach East Hartford are asked to text FOODSHARE to 85511, visit foodshare.org/mobile, call 211 or go to www.211ct.org for information on options including food delivery, local food pantries and other assistance.
Those interested in volunteering or donating to Foodshare should visit www.foodshare.org.
Additionally, the Antonacci Family Foundation this week donated $125,000 to Foodshare, which could provide as many as 500,000 meals to Connecticut families. The Antonacci family owns and operates several companies in Western Massachusetts and Connecticut.
