March 29, 2020

Update: March 29 7:45 p.m. – State Response to Coronavirus

This article was archived from the previous WordPress site. Formatting and media should be close, but may not match the original post perfectly.

Friends and Neighbors,

Governor Lamont today announced his request for a presidential major disaster declaration in response to the pandemic has been approved and the state will receive federal reimbursement for up to 75% of state costs associated with the response to the virus. The governor also announced the state placed an order for 100 ventilators from Bio-Med Devices in Guilford.

His office also updated statistics regarding diagnosed cases of coronavirus.

Major disaster declaration approved for Connecticut

Governor Lamont’s request for a presidential major disaster declaration for the State of Connecticut in response to the COVID-19 pandemic was approved today, unlocking additional federal assistance programs for the state.

Today’s approval is for public assistance, meaning that impacted state agencies and municipalities in all eight counties will be reimbursed for 75 percent of the costs associated with their response and emergency protective measures. The governor’s other request for disaster assistance, including individual assistance that could provide Connecticut residents with a number of critical benefits, such as expanded unemployment assistance, food benefits, and child care assistance, remains under review by the White House.

For more information, read the press release Governor Lamont issued today. https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/03-2020/Governor-Lamont-Announces-Approval-of-Federal-Disaster-Declaration

*****

Governor Lamont places order for 100 ventilators with Guilford manufacturing company

Bio-Med Devices

This morning Governor Lamont visited the headquarters of Bio-Med Devices in Guilford, where he toured the manufacturing facility and executed a purchase order for 100 ventilators that will be used in hospitals throughout Connecticut. Employees at the company have been working seven days a week to keep up with demand.

“We’re working every day to ensure that our state’s hospitals have access to the resources they need to keep our residents safe and healthy, and I am proud that we are partnering with a company like Bio-Med Devices that will provide our hospitals with a critical resource that we need at this time,” Governor Lamont said.

*****

Department of Public Health commissioner orders homeless population moved into less congested housing, directs development of temporary housing for certain first responders and health care workers

Pursuant to Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7P, which was issued yesterday evening, Department of Public Health Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell late Saturday night issued an order directing state, local, and private sector partners to transition the homeless population into alternative, less congested housing for the purpose of providing adequate social distancing between all individuals. The goal is to decompress the current population by providing less populated settings.

The order also requires the development of non-congregate temporary housing for first responders and health care workers who are at reasonable risk of having been exposed to COVID-19 and cannot return to their usual residence because of the risk of infecting other household members.

FEMA has notified the State of Connecticut that it will reimburse the state and municipalities for 75 percent of the costs related to the non-congregate housing for the homeless population, as well as first responders and health care workers.

For more information, read Commissioner Coleman-Mitchell’s order here: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Coronavirus/20200328-DPH-Order-on-arranging-for-the-movement-as-needed-of-people-experiencing-homelessness.pdf?la=en

The governor’s full press release can be read here: https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/03-2020/Governor-Lamont-Coronavirus-Update-March-29

*****

As of 5:00 p.m. tonight – Sunday, March 29th – the state has diagnosed a total of 1993 cases of Coronavirus. Updated virus totals can be accessed here: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus

Governor Lamont also said the state death toll related to Coronavirus has risen to 34.

Latest COVID-19 Testing Data in Connecticut

Updated 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, 2020

Total patients who tested positive: 1993

Fairfield County: 1245

Hartford County: 276

Litchfield County: 87

Middlesex County: 38

New Haven County: 280

New London County: 20

Tolland County: 40

Windham County: 7