Update: June 10 7:00 p.m. – State Response to Coronavirus

Friends and Neighbors,

In a press release and during his daily press briefing, Governor Lamont announced Executive Order 7YY which amends previous Orders to allow the resumption of certain court filing deadlines and modifies DMV functions to increase remote transactions and reduce in-person visits.

As a result of a case that I recently successfully litigated on behalf of CCDL, the Order also repeals Executive Order 7E, section 2, and orders local and state police to begin accepting fingerprints for the purposes of a criminal history records check, including for firearm purchases and transfers.

More information and the governor’s full press release can be read here: https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/06-2020/Governor-Lamont-Coronavirus-Update-June-10

Executive Order No. 7YY enacts the following provisions:

• Resumption of court filing deadlines: Amends Executive Order No. 7G, Section 2 to provide that the suspension of requirements or deadlines related to Supreme or Appellate Court filings in cases pending before those courts to assist the Judicial Branch in its plans to resume more court business.
• Modifications to DMV functions: Makes several adjustments to the functions administered by the Department of Motor Vehicles to allow customers to conduct more business remotely and reduce the need for in-person visits to DMV branches and affiliates..
• Modifications to Executive Order No. 7E: Repeals Executive Order No. 7E, Section 2 effective June 15.

**Download: Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7YY

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PURA encourages eligible residents to access federal Lifeline Program to access affordable broadband and telephone services during COVID-19 crisis

In light of the continued financial difficulties attributable to the ongoing public health crisis, Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is reminding Connecticut residents that the federal Lifeline Program has available resources to support low-income customers experiencing connectivity issues with broadband and telephone services.

Administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company, the Lifeline Program is available to help eligible low-income customers gain access to more affordable broadband internet and phone services by offering monthly discounts on certain products. Benefits are limited to one per qualifying household. Residents are eligible for the Lifeline Program if one of the following criteria are met:

• Customer participates in certain federal benefits programs, such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal Public Housing or the Veterans Pension and Survivor’s Benefit; or
• Customer’s household income is at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

LifelineSupport.org provides detailed information about how to apply for benefits, eligibility requirements, and other specifics of the program, including the recent relief offered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that relaxes qualifications around qualifying for the Lifeline Program and expands access to the Lifeline Program’s National Eligibility Verifier.

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As of 4:00 p.m. – Wednesday, June 10^th – the state is reporting a total of 44347 cases of Coronavirus. Updated virus totals and Town-by-Town statistics can be accessed here: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus

The total statewide number of COVID-19 associated fatalities is 4120.

*In Connecticut during the early months of this pandemic, it became increasingly clear that it would be necessary to track probable COVID-19 cases and deaths, in addition to laboratory-confirmed (RT- PCR) cases and deaths. This was needed to better measure the burden and impact of this disease in our communities and is now part of the national surveillance case definition for COVID-19. Probable cases of COVID-19 involve persons who have not had confirmatory laboratory testing (RT-PCR) performed for COVID-19, but whose symptoms indicate they are likely to have a COVID-19 infection. In Connecticut, most of the probable COVID-19 cases involve persons whose death certificates list COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. Prior to June 1, probable and confirmed cases were reported together.

Latest COVID-19 Testing Data in Connecticut

Updated 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Total patients who tested positive: 42448 confirmed/1899 probable

Fairfield County: 15519/292

Hartford County: 10274/302

Litchfield County: 1368/21

Middlesex County: 1144/36

New Haven County: 11539/145

New London County: 1068/25

Tolland County: 810/14

Windham County: 429/1

Pending address validation: 297/1