As of today, Monday, April 6, there are 6,906 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Connecticut (up 1,231 from Sunday), 1,221 hospitalized (up 79), and 206 deaths (up 17). Connecticut has performed 26,686 tests so far – about 26% of all tests are coming back positive.
For a town-by-town breakdown and other COVID-19 statistics, please visit: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus
Protections For Long-Term Care Facilities, Residents and Staff
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, state officials are working to protect long-term care facilities. Governor Ned Lamont announced that, effective immediately, Connecticut’s 213 nursing homes will receive a 10 percent across-the-board increase in Medicaid payments to meet rising costs caused by the public health emergency, with payments applied toward employee wages, including staff retention bonuses, overtime and shift incentive payments, as well as costs related to visitor screenings, personal protective equipment and housekeeping supplies. This increase will run from April 1 to June 30, with an initial $11.6 million payment to be received by nursing homes on April 7.
Additionally, long-term care facilities seeking Department of Public Health designations to specialize in COVID-19 care will be eligible for per-day payments more than twice the average Medicaid daily rate. In addition, the same level of payment is available to facilities designated as suitable for re-opening for the purpose of serving residents with COVID-19 and who need nursing home care.
Paycheck Protection Program Recorded Webinar
Earlier this week, Economic Innovation Group, or EIG, recorded a webinar on the Paycheck Protection Program, offering forgivable loans to small businesses hit hard by COVID-19. You can listen to a recording here and access a program overview and frequently asked questions here.
“Opposite Month”
According to a new public service announcement campaign from Governor Ned Lamont, we should treat April as “Opposite Month,” a month where we do the opposite of what we usually do – go to work, spend time with friends and family in large gatherings, leave home whenever we want – to mitigate and slow the spread of COVID-19. You can watch the video here.
Guide To Filing Unemployment Claims
The State Department of Labor has created a guide to filing unemployment claims in light of the COVID-19 outbreak with specific instructions for newly unemployed individuals who suffered job losses due to the outbreak. Following this guide will result in the most efficient claim possible.
Connecticut Children’s Telehealth
Connecticut Children’s has launched a new virtual health page for families at www.connecticutchildrens.org/virtualhealth. Families are encouraged to use this site to schedule telehealth visits for children, read telehealth FAQs and learn how to prepare for a telehealth visit. Connecticut Children’s also has a COVID-19 pediatric hotline where clinicians will answer questions from the public. That number is 833-226-2362.
Volunteers Needed To Help Fight COVID-19
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is causing significant changes to everyday life. In addition to the dangers the virus represents, COVID-19 has additionally caused disruptions in many industries, harming jobs and livelihoods. While the state has already began a campaign seeking volunteers with health care experience, it is today launching a further campaign seeking volunteers who could assist at food banks, delivering food and supplies to the elderly and supporting shelters, among others. COVID-19 has had a wide-ranging impact, and a large variety of skills are needed to make sure every community has the resources they need.
This volunteer program is seeking individuals for a number of different causes, with details including:Volunteers must be 18 or older and are asked not to volunteer if they are at-risk, immunocompromised, over the age of 60, are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or live with or care for someone in any of those categories.While the state is calling on health care workers, those without health care knowledge can assist with food distribution and assisting individuals in their communities.Those with health care knowledge are asked to volunteer – hospitals in particular are seeking critical care nurses and respiratory therapists.Volunteers are asked to help as safely as possible, and anyone with concerns is encouraged to ask about safety protocols.Volunteers will be sent where they’re most needed and feel most comfortable in a centralized manner.
Anyone interested in volunteering should register at ct.gov/coronavirus.
Farmer’s Markets and Stands Still Open!
The state recently introduced new restrictions shopping in grocery stores, limiting the number of people who can enter at any time and requiring the sanitization of most everything you would touch.
Those are all necessary steps, but if you prefer to do some of your grocery shopping outdoors, Connecticut’s farm stands and farmers’ markets are open for business. The Day newspaper of New London recently reported on the valuable role that Connecticut’s farmers’ markets are playing during the coronavirus crisis: https://www.theday.com/local-news/20200403/farmers-face-volatile-times-amid-restaurant-closures-grocery-shortages
The state has designated farms and farmers’ markets as essential businesses that can remain open and operate as normal during the public health emergency, and a number of farm stands and farmers’ markets have already integrated online to handle order-ahead options with home delivery or curbside pickup.
A list of farmers’ markets and farm stands can be found here; go visit one! www.ctgrown.gov