COVID-19 Update: New Executive Order, New Tax Deadlines, Unemployment Claims Update, and More

Cloth Face Coverings or Higher Now Required in Public

Governor Lamont has signed a new executive order (7BB) requiring cloth face covers or a higher level of protection while in public wherever close contact is unavoidable. This EO goes into effect on Monday, April 20^th, 2020. Face covers must be worn if coming within six feet of others, when using a taxi or rideshare service (Uber/Lyft), and in other public spaces such as a transit stop or waiting area. This order does not apply to children under two years of age or those with medical conditions if wearing a mask would compromise their breathing.

To read the entire announcement, please click here.

Federal, State Tax Deadlines Moved to July 15^th, 2020

As a reminder, the state’s Department of Revenue Services (DRS) has extended filing deadlines to July 15^th, 2020 for income tax returns, estimates, and payments for individual income, trusts and estates, pass-through business entities, corporations and more. This is to align state tax deadlines with changes to federal deadlines, which were adjusted by the IRS last month.

DRS press release regarding tax filing, payment deadline extensions: Click Here

NOTE: Stimulus payments are not taxable. Click here for more information as well as other frequently asked questions about Economic Impact Payments.

Improvements to Unemployment Claims Processing

This week, the governor announced a new software improvement that will allow the Department of Labor (DOL) to process unemployment claims at a faster rate. The new software is expected to reduce the wait time for unemployment benefits from six weeks to one week or less. Within a day of using the new software, DOL was able to process 60,000 claims.

Governor announces new software for DOL: Click Here

CT’s Presidential Primary Now August 11^th, 2020

Today, Governor Lamont ordered Connecticut’s presidential primary to be moved to August 11^th, 2020, which coincides with the previously scheduled CT primary date for other federal, state and local offices. The primary, originally scheduled for April 28^th, had been moved to June 2^nd in response to the pandemic.

To read the full announcement, click here.

Summary of Executive Orders

Since the crisis began in March, Governor Lamont has issued a number of executive orders (EO’s). These EO’s affect different parts of our state including businesses, schools, state operations, public gathers, and much more. To help make sense of all this, the Office of Legislative Research has graciously organized the EO’s into categories based on the institutions they affect.

COVID-19 executive orders affecting…

• Business, Labor, and Housing: Click Here

• Health and Human Services: Click Here

• Education and Child Care: Click Here

• State and Local Government Operations and Elections: Click Here

Reopen Connecticut

While we are not out of the woods yet, government officials are making plans to reopen our local, state, and national economies when the time comes. Details are still to come, but the governor has announced the formation of the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group, which will examine ways to reestablish commerce without posing a significant risk to public health and safety.

The advisory group will be co-chaired by Indra Nooyi, who is the current board co-chair of AdvanceCT and the former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, and Albert Ko MD, who is a professor of Epidemiology and Medicine and a department chair at the Yale School of Public Health.

Latest COVID-19 Data for Connecticut

Below are the latest numbers from the Connecticut Department of Public Health:

• Statewide Confirmed COVID-19 Cases: 16,809

• Current Statewide COVID-19-Related Hospitalizations: 1,946

• Statewide Confirmed COVID-19 Fatalities: 1,036

• Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Griswold: 9

• Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Lisbon: 4

• Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Plainfield: 10

• Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Sterling: 2

• Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Voluntown: 2

Additional Resources

As a reminder, these are the best regularly updated global, federal, and state resources:

Global

• World Health Organization: Click Here

Federal

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Click Here

State

• State of Connecticut Web Portal: Click Here

• FAQ Document from Governor’s Office: Click Here

• CT House Republicans Resource Page: Click Here

As always, never hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns about the state and local response to the COVID-19 crisis, or any state government issues. I am more than happy to speak with you directly, provide more information if possible, and to be a resource for you and your families.

Email: Brian.Lanoue@cga.ct.gov

Best,

State Rep. Brian Lanoue

45^th General Assembly District

Griswold, Lisbon, Plainfield, Sterling, Voluntown