I want to take this opportunity to share state and local resources and information available to you in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The state of Connecticut has launched an extensive website portal.ct.gov/coronavirus with daily updates on the situation as it develops and serves as a directory to other helpful online resources. This website has helpful information for families, businesses and community groups.
Additionally, the state has launched a 24/7 hotline, in cooperation with United Way of Connecticut, for questions from the public regarding issues related to the spread of coronavirus. People with questions can call 2-1-1 or text “CTCOVID” to 898211 for the most up-to-date information.
Governor Lamont has declared a civil preparedness and public health emergency for the State of Connecticut in response to recent cases of coronavirus, and he and public health officials will provide daily updates on the situation as it develops.
A full list of the Governor’s Updates can be found here.
Data updates on testing in Connecticut
Total patients who tested positive (including presumptive positive): 38,116
A county-by-county breakdown of the positive cases includes:
Fairfield County: 14,436
Hartford County: 8,957
Litchfield County: 1,280
Middlesex County: 936
New Haven County: 10,338
New London County: 876
Tolland County: 735
Windham County: 322
Address Not Verified: 236
Tables containing data about all of the test results completed to date, including a breakdown of the locations and ages of the patients, can be found by visiting ct.gov/coronavirus.
A full list of the Governor’s Executive Orders can be found here.
The state’s Department of Public Health (DPH), with the support of several state age
The state’s Department of Public Health (DPH), with the support of several state agencies, launched the State of Connecticut Joint Information Center (JIC) as part of a coordinated effort to provide critical institutions playing a major role in the response with information on developments related to coronavirus (COVID-19).
The JIC is intended to provide all stakeholders – including the media, municipalities, school districts, hospitals, medical providers, colleges and universities, the business community, and others – with a resource to for specific information related to the State of Connecticut and its response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The JIC can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 860-754-8342 or emailing COVID19.JIC@ct.gov.
Information from the JIC will also be shared on its Twitter account at @COVID19CT and on Facebook at CT COVID-19 Response.
The JIC has established operations within the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Hartford and is being headed by DPH in coordination with the Office of the Governor, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (including the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and the State Police), the Department of Economic and Community Development, the State Department of Education, the Office of Early Childhood, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Social Services, and others.
Local Resources
Information for Businesses
Disaster relief available to provide assistance for small business owners
Connecticut small businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak can now apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (up to $2 million) through the U.S. Small Business Administration.
You can learn more about the program and its three-step process in English or Spanish at www.sba.gov/disaster, and begin the online application process here. Or call the SBA at 1-800-659-2955.
Additionally, small business owners with questions about the SBA loan program or other types of state-level assistance can call 860-500-2333 to speak with a representative from the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development.
DRS extends filing deadline for certain annual state business tax returns
Consistent with the emergency declarations, the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS) is granting an automatic extension of Connecticut filing deadlines for certain annual state tax returns as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Effective immediately, the filing deadlines for certain annual tax returns due on or after March 15, 2020, and before June 1, 2020, are extended by 30 days. In addition, the payments associated with these returns are also extended to the corresponding due date in June.
The impacted returns and the associated filing dates and payment deadlines are set forth below:
Additional updates will be posted to the DRS website.
State working with small businesses impacted by coronavirus
The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is working with small businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19. Specifically, the agency will defer loan payments for all Small Business Express loans for three months. Additional details include:
Education Information, including school meal program
Meals available for students attending schools closed due to COVID-19
The Connecticut State Department of Education received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow students who are enrolled in schools that are closed due to COVID-19 and who receive meals through the school lunch program to continue receiving those meals and for them to be consumed at home, allowing for social distancing. This action is effective immediately.
Similar to the how the summer lunch program operates, parents and students can show up at their school and receive a lunch for the student and other children in the household under the age of 18 and take the lunch home with them. The meals do not have to be consumed on school premises. Only one student in a household must be present to receive multiple meals for every child 18 years old and under in their household.
Here are additional educational resources:
Scholastic learn at home: https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html
Virtual College Tours: https://www.youvisit.com/collegesearch/
Husky Health Services
Expansion of Telemedicine Coverage for Medicaid/HUSKY Health Services
The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) is implementing changes in Medicaid/HUSKY Health that will support Connecticut’s COVID-19 preparedness and response through increased access to health services.Specifically, for approximately 850,000 enrolled residents, DSS will cover identified telemedicine services, effective today.
DSS is also planning to cover testing for COVID-19; make prescription drug coverage more flexible; and eliminate cost sharing in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (HUSKY B) and for members enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid.
At this time, telemedicine coverage includes:
Unemployment/Layoff Information
Connecticut Department of Labor modifies unemployment insurance, offers programs
The Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) has created a helpful informational FAQ for employees and employers impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. This information includes guidance about unemployment insurance, paid sick leave and absences, wages and hours, and family medical leave. Click Here to access the FAQ page.
DOL Commissioner Westby is suspending the requirement that workers applying for new unemployment benefits directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic be actively searching for work.
Unemployment benefits are available to workers whose employer needs to temporarily shut down or slow down business. Employees who are furloughed by the emergency but expect to return to work can access up to at least six weeks of benefits. Employers reducing hours but not furloughing employees can partner with CTDOL’s Shared Work program, which allows employers to reduce employees’ work schedules by 10 percent to 60 percent and supplement lost wages with unemployment benefits.
Connecticut unemployment insurance already excluded the waiting period other states have removed.
For a document containing a list of Frequently Asked Questions for workers and businesses regarding unemployment insurance during the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
AccessHealthCT
Anyone who loses employment qualifies for health insurance through AccessHealthCT
Office of Health Strategy Executive Director Vicki Veltri is reminding all Connecticut residents that any worker in the state who receives health insurance through their employer, becomes unemployed, and loses minimum essential coverage or receives COBRA – whether it is due to the COVID-19 outbreak or otherwise – qualifies all year-long for open enrollment through AccessHealthCT, the state’s health insurance marketplace. Those interested in applying can find more information at learn.accesshealthct.com/special.
Utilities Information
Connecticut Public Utility Regulatory Authority orders moratorium on shut-offs
In response to a petition filed yesterday by Attorney General William Tong, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has ordered the gas, electric, and water public service companies it regulates to implement a shut-off moratorium and refrain from terminating utility service to residential customers, except for reasons of public safety, for a 30-day period subject to renewal to ensure all residents may safely remain home during the epidemic.
State Closures
Temporary suspension of certain state agency programs and services
Several Connecticut state agencies have made the decision to temporarily suspend certain programs and services in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19 to state employees and the public. The closures include:
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
DEEP is closing all of its visitor centers and facilities associates with its State Parks that are open to the public and receive significant visitor traffic throughout the day. Examples include the visitor center at Dinosaur State Park and the Meigs Point Nature Center at Hammonasset State Park. The closures are effective immediately.
DEEP is also immediately suspending large gatherings at all of their facilities and parks. These include, for example, weddings that are held at Harkness Memorial State Park. The agency is typically required to provide custodial and other facilities support for these kinds of events. DEEP is sending cancellation notices to the groups that made reservations for these large gatherings through at least the end of April.
CTDOL is suspending the federal RESEA work-search program effective immediately. This program involves a more intensive process that mandates recipients of unemployment insurance go to the American Job Centers in person and receive one-on-one help. The agency anticipated serving 9,030 people this year. Suspending this program will reduce traffic in the centers and help limit in-person contact with the public. The agency still anticipates reaching its goal of serving 9,030 people this year.
Other Things to do
Social distancing doesn’t have to be boring, and there are myriad activities available from taking a walk or a hike, riding a bicycle, reading a good book or taking a virtual tour of a magnificent gallery or museum. The links below offer great starting points, but I know you’ll also find other fun things to do.
CT Trails: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Listing-of-State-Parks
Hike at a land preserve: http://www.ctconservation.org/findalandtrust
Find a hiking trail : https://www.ctwoodlands.org/
Online tours:
Museum of Natural History: http://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
Guggenheim Museum: https://www.guggenheim.org/blogs/checklist/extending-the-museum-experience-with-virtual-reality
https://artsandculture.google.com/project/streetviews
Science Fun for Everyone: http://www.sciencefun.org/kidszone/experiments/
Live presentations from the New England Aquarium: https://www.neaq.org/visit/at-home-events-and-activities/
Providing Continuing Information to Connecticut Residents
For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including guidance and other resources, all residents in the state are encouraged to visit https://portal.ct.gov/coronavirus
Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can also call 2-1-1 for assistance. The information line is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance and TDD/TTY access for those with a hearing impairment. The hotline only intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone experiencing symptoms is strongly urged to contact their medical provider to seek treatment.
Legislative Business
As part of the effort to slow the spread of the outbreak, the legislative leaders have announced the closure of the Legislative Office Building and State Capitol until Monday, March 30th. During this time the building will undergo a thorough cleaning and employees will continue working remotely. The General Assembly is currently convened in the “short session” which runs from February 5th through May 6th. Leaders of the House and Senate Republican and Democrat caucuses will continue to meet and discuss the extension of committee deadlines and how to proceed with legislative business.
Please share these resources with anyone you think may benefit from this information.