Update: May 15 8:15 p.m. – State Response to Coronavirus

Friends and Neighbors,

In press releases and during his daily press briefing, Governor Lamont announced donated laptops for certain school districts have arrived ahead of schedule, and the state will also be distributing 50,000 infrared thermometers it has secured for small businesses, nonprofits, and places of worship.

To watch the full video of the governor’s afternoon press conference, please click here:

More information and the governor’s full press release can be read here: https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/05-2020/Governor-Lamont-Coronavirus-Update-May-15

First wave of donated laptops for high schools begin arriving slightly ahead of schedule, distribution will start next week

The co-chairs of the Governor’s COVID-19 Learn From Home Task Force, Superintendents Paul Freeman and Nate Quesnel, today announced that the first wave of Dell laptops that are being donated to Connecticut high schools by the Partnership for Connecticut are arriving slightly ahead of schedule and will begin to be distributed to districts starting next week.

The Partnership is donating 60,000 laptops in total. Due to the large global demand for the products, they are expected to arrive in Connecticut in three waves and will be distributed on a formula-based approach that prioritizes equity, student need, and safe distribution. The first wave will consist of 17,000 laptops in total, which will be delivered to New Britain on May 18, followed by Bloomfield, Bridgeport, Danbury, East Hartford, Hamden, and Hartford throughout the week. Dell is in direct contact with the districts’ IT directors to coordinate delivery and logistics. A total of 19 districts are expected to receive the products, the remainder of which are in the process of being manufactured and will arrive ready for immediate use.

In addition to the laptops, the Nooyi family donated more than 185,000 high-qualify Scholastic packs of books for Connecticut prekindergarten to eighth grade students. Delivery of those books began on May 4 in Bridgeport, Hartford, and Bristol, and have continued arriving in Alliance Districts throughout this week.

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Governor Lamont Announces Distribution of Infrared Thermometers to Eligible Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Places of Worship

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut will be distributing 50,000 infrared thermometers it has secured for small businesses, nonprofits, and places of worship to support safe reopening activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Small businesses, nonprofits, and places of worship that would like to request equipment from the state’s supply of infrared thermometers should fill out a form online to indicate their request. The state has partnered with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and its affiliate CONNSTEP to distribute the thermometers. They will be delivered to the municipalities in which the organizations are located, and then the municipalities will contact the recipient entities to inform them of a time and location they can pick up their requested equipment.

Entities that would like to request a thermometer can fill out the forms located at ct.gov/coronavirus in the “Access to Personal Protective Equipment” section, or through the links provided below:

• Small businesses: Any small business in the state that has between 2 and 100 employees are eligible to receive one thermometer per physical address. Eligible businesses seeking to request thermometers should click here.
• Nonprofits: Nonprofits located within Connecticut are eligible to receive one thermometer per physical address. To request thermometers for nonprofits, click here. Social services and direct care nonprofits may request a thermometer through the process outlined in this memo.
• Places of worship: Places of worship are eligible to receive one thermometer per physical address. To request thermometers for places of worship, click here.

This distribution will continue while supplies last.

More information can be found here: https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/05-2020/Governor-Lamont-Announces-Distribution-of-Infrared-Thermometers

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Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut’s Shoreline State Park Beaches Will Be Open Memorial Day Weekend

Capacity Limitations, Social Distancing Guidelines Should be Followed

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut state parks that feature beaches along the state’s shoreline will be open Friday, May 22, though with capacity limitations. Visitors are advised to follow social distancing guidelines.

Earlier today, Governor Lamont, along with the governors of New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, announced a multi-state agreement to open beaches in their respective states effective May 22. Connecticut’s shoreline state park beaches were never closed, and have remained open with capacity restrictions, which will remain in place.

Residents are encouraged to select locations closest to home, and consider visiting early in the morning before crowds gather. At least six feet of social distancing must be maintained, and groups over five are prohibited. Residents should recreate with members of their immediate household and not meet up with others. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will reduce parking capacity and close beaches for the day if social distancing cannot be maintained, and will make adjustments to operations and consider longer-term closures the situation warrants. Updates on closures are posted on the Connecticut State Parks’ Twitter account, @CTStateParks.

Connecticut municipalities continue to make decisions regarding the local beaches and swimming areas they oversee. DEEP will publish a detailed operations plan early next week that municipalities may adapt to their needs, which will be published online at www.ct.gov/DEEP/Parks. Recommendations to promote safe enjoyment of beaches include:

• No public gatherings or groups of over five
• Face coverings worn when in proximity to others
• Set parking capacity limits at each beach based on observations of levels needed to maintain social distancing
• Daily closures when social distancing cannot be maintained
• Use of social media and other communications to inform the public when capacity is restricted so they can plan to go elsewhere
• Spacing of 15 feet or more between beach blankets

Currently, the Connecticut Department of Public Health and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise that there is no current evidence of COVID-19 transmission through recreational freshwater or saltwater swimming.

More information can be found here: https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/05-2020/Governor-Lamont-Announces-Connecticut-Shoreline-State-Park-Beaches-Will-Be-Open-Memorial-Day-Weekend

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House Republicans Call for Greater Transparency and Collaboration from Governor Lamont

Members of the House Republican caucus on Friday sent a letter to Governor Lamont to call for greater transparency and collaboration in the state’s continuing response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues tied to the administration of state government. The letter can be seen here, or you can download a copy here.

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As of 4:00 p.m. tonight – Friday, May 15^th – the state is reporting a total of 36085 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 3285.

*For public health surveillance, COVID-19-associated deaths include persons who tested positive for COVID-19 around the time of death (confirmed) and persons whose death certificate lists COVID-19 disease as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death (probable).

Latest COVID-19 Testing Data in Connecticut

Updated 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 15, 2020

Total patients who tested positive: 36085

Fairfield County: 14009

Hartford County: 8126

Litchfield County: 1218

Middlesex County: 885

New Haven County: 9881

New London County: 844

Tolland County: 583

Windham County: 301

Pending address validation: 238