Update Senator Anwar 4/13/2020

Tips To Weather Today’s Wind Storm
As of 5:37 p.m. Monday, Eversource reported 41,787 customers in Connecticut, roughly 3.2 percent of the state, are experiencing power outages. This is the result of a nasty storm system that caused tornados across much of the southern East Coast Sunday rising across Connecticut, with winds of 25-35 miles per hour and gusts of up to 65 miles per hour possible until 7 p.m. this evening.

A power outage at this time during the COVID-19 pandemic could be damaging as many people likely have food stored up to prevent grocery trips. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the most important thing to do in the event of a power outage is to keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A closed refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if unopened; a freezer will stay cold for one day if half full and two days if fully stocked. Any perishable foods left at a temperature above 40 degrees for more than four hours should be thrown out. A freezer will remain safe if its temperature remains at or below 40 degrees. Ice crystals can indicate food is safe to refreeze or cook.

Outages may also cause problems for students who are remote learning. Try to charge devices fully in the event of a power outage. If you experience an extended outage, try driving your car for a few minutes to allow devices to recharge. Don’t leave a car running on solely a battery, however, as that could drain its power and cause bigger problems.

If you use a generator, make sure it is fueled and make sure it is properly ventilated.

If you can help neighbors during an extended outage, remember to maintain social distancing and wear a mask, whether you are delivering supplies or helping clear debris.

Rent Protections Through Executive Order

This past weekend, Governor Lamont signed a new executive order designed to protect renters during the continuing COVID-19 crisis. As of this week, landlords are now prohibited from issuing notices to quit or beginning eviction proceedings before July 1 except for instances of serious nuisance, such as physically harming another individual. Landlords must grant tenants a 60-day grace period for rent due in April 2020. For rent due in May 2020, landlords must grant a 60-day grace period for payment if a tenant informs them they have lost employment, hours or revenue, or experienced increased expenses, as a result of COVID-19. If a tenant has a paid security deposit of more than one month’s rent, a tenant can apply part or all of the excess to April, May or June rent if they have lost employment or revenue.

Closures Extended
Governor Lamont also extended the deadlines for closures of businesses through May 20, a difficult prospect in the face of the continuing pandemic. Under an executive order, limits on restaurants and bars, gyms, recreation facilities, movie theaters, shopping malls and other similar restrictions stay in place through then. Additionally, safety and distancing measures for workplaces and non-essential businesses, prohibition of recreational gatherings of more than five people and other safety standards put into place to fight COVID-19 will continue to be in effect as well.

Food Trucks Permitted To Open At Rest Areas
As of Friday, a new executive order allows food trucks to operate in Connecticut highway rest areas, with the goal of feeding hungry truckers and essential workers. This comes as states gained additional ability to provide necessities at these locations. As truck drivers and essential employees have no choice but to travel, providing critical resources to the state, this is seen as a way to allow business operations to assist them. Food truck operators are asked to fill out this permit and email it to [email protected].

COVID-19 Recovery Centers for Nursing Home Residents
A new medical surge plan for long-term care facilities will establish COVID-19 Recovery Centers in certain nursing homes throughout the state. These will accept patients who can be discharged from acute care hospitals but are still impacted by COVID-19 infection. The first two recovery centers, at Sharon Health Care Center in Sharon and Northbridge Healthcare Center in Bridgeport, will provide specialized services for COVID-19 positive patients who have recovered enough to no longer require hospital care but still test positive and still require time to recover. Additional recovery centers will be established in coming days including in Torrington. This will help support the state’s medical surge plan, which is intended to ensure enough beds are available for the peak in COVID-19 cases, not expected to occur in Connecticut until later this month.

Third COVID-19 Recovery Center Deployed In Hartford
The Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford will become the third COVID-19 Recovery Center in Connecticut this week, following previous locations developed at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven and Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. These locations will be licensed and staffed by local healthcare organizations, this one by Hartford Healthcare, and will house up to 600 patients as they recover from COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment.

Schools To Remain Closed Through May 20

Due to an executive order signed by Governor Lamont, schools will remain closed through May 20 as a continuing result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools can provide a vector for significant disease spread