March 16, 2020

COVID-19 Resources for Individuals and Families

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As new information continues to come out regarding the coronavirus and elected leaders at all levels of government work to get their residents the most up-to-date information, this web page has been set up to provide important federal, state, and local links for the residents of the 122nd district. If you have any questions that you do not find answers to, please reach out to my office and we will do our best to get you the information or direct you to the proper department.

State of Connecticut Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Page: Click here

Government Action:

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Governor Ned Lamont, in concurrence with legislative leadership, has declared civil preparedness and public health emergencies that enable the government to take specific, swift actions deemed necessary to protect the health and safety of the public. In addition, on Wednesday, the legislature approved $5 million in grants to state agencies for equipment, supplies, and facilities needed to combat this growing outbreak.

The governor’s administration has released a compilation of frequently asked questions related to the state’s response to COVID-19. You can access the document directly by clicking here (best option for mobile devices), or you can click on the icon below.

Each day the Governor and top health officials will be giving an update on the current Coronavirus testing numbers, executive orders, and other updated information. This update takes place each afternoon and will be posted on the official State of Connecticut Coronavirus Page.

Governor Lamont’s office has taken multiple actions aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus:

Effective Monday, March 23, at 8:00pm, Governor Ned Lamont has ordered all “non-essential” businesses to close in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. This does NOT include grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, restaurants with to-go menus, and other essential businesses. The full guidance, with a complete list of sectors that are able to stay open, can be accessed by clicking here.

All school districts in the state will remain closed through the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. The governor is closely monitoring the outbreak and will make a determination in the coming weeks about extending the closure further. Read the latest executive order here.

The Department of Revenue Services has also extended the state personal income tax filing deadline to July 15.

Students who receive meals under school lunch and breakfast programs can continue receiving meals during this period and have the ability to consume them at home. Click here for more information.
Effective 8:00pm Monday, March 16, bars and restaurants that serve food will temporarily be required to move to take-out and delivery services only. Bars that do not serve food will be required to temporarily close. This action was taken in tandem with the New York and New Jersey state governments. Click here for more information.
- Certain restaurants and other eating establishments are allowed to sell alcohol to be consumed off-premise.
Effective 8:00pm Monday, March 16, Connecticut will join New York and New Jersey in limiting crowd capacity for social and recreational gatherings to 50 people.
Effective 8:00pm Monday, March 16, all movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers, and other public workout facilities will temporarily close.
Effective 8:00pm Wednesday, March 18, all indoor portions of shopping malls, bowling alleys, and amusement parks will temporarily close.
Effective 8:00pm Friday, March 20, all barbershops, hair salons, tattoo/piercing parlors, and related facilities will temporarily close.
Connecticut’s presidential primary has been postponed from April 28 until June 2, 2020

Federal resources:

Centers For Disease Control: Click Here
CDC’s latest news releases: Click Here
Mental Health Resources: Click Here
U.S. Department of Labor: Click Here
U.S. Small Business Administration: Click Here
CDC Information for Healthcare Providers: Click Here
CDC Information for Healthcare Facilities: Click Here

State of Connecticut resources:

State of Connecticut Official Site: Click Here
State of Connecticut Info Hotline: Dial 2-1-1
List of Emergency Orders Issued: Click Here
State of Connecticut School resources: Click Here
State of Connecticut Business resources: Click Here
Childcare Provider resources: Click Here
State of Connecticut Department of Labor: Click Here
Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance FAQ: Click Here
State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development: Click Here

The governor has also 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.

Additionally, the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center has released a resource guide and coronavirus FAQs page for parents trying to navigate this ever-evolving outbreak.

Finally, please click here for great kid-friendly resources, complete with interactive games and quizzes, that may help your little ones understand the virus.

Local resources:

Griffin Health Coronavirus Information: Click Here

SHELTON:

Naugatuck Valley Health District (Shelton): Click Here
Town Website: Click Here
Shelton Public Schools: Click Here

STRATFORD:

Town of Stratford Health Department: Click Here
Town Website: Click Here
Stratford Public Schools: Click Here

TRUMBULL:

Town of Trumbull Health Department: Click Here
Town Website: Click Here
Trumbull Public Schools: Click Here

Local Food Pantry

The Sterling House Community Center in Stratford operates a food pantry that will be providing pre-packaged bag service for families in need. The Pantry is open Mondays 1:00-6:00pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00-3:00pm. If you or someone you know can benefit from this service, please click here for more information.

Want to help support the Sterling House Food Pantry? Click here for their Amazon Wishlist, which allows you to donate without leaving your home – Amazon delivers for you!

For a full food pantry locator, please click here.

COVID-19 Testing Information:

I have received many questions about the state’s testing capacity. In addition to the State Laboratory, 15 medical facilities across the state currently maintain the capacity to perform COVID-19 tests. That capacity continues to increase as more support from the federal government becomes available. At this time, the Department of Public Health (DPH) is recommending that anybody who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 (coughing, shortness of breath, and/or fever) or who has traveled to an area where the disease is highly prevalant to contact their healthcare provider to determine whether a test is required. Please also note that a doctor’s order is required for testing to take place.

Information About Scams

Crises like the COVID-19 outbreak often have many people worried about financial security, and unfortunately, there are scammers taking advantage of this.

To that end, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers (NAIFA) is working with FEMA’s National Business Emergency Operations Center (NBEOC) to offer credible resources to consumers about ongoing COVID-19-related scams; tips on who to contact regarding health claims/questions; and information on how to find licensed, knowledgeable, ethical professionals to assist with financial security planning.

I encourage you to explore NAIFA’s free consumer website, which is complete with a Frequently Asked Questions section and a list of resources for businesses and families. Click here to access the site.

Please remain vigilant during these troubling times by understanding the warning signals of a scam and by only providing personal information to sources you trust.

Gov. Lamont Places Order for 100 Additional Ventilators

The administration on Sunday announced that it was placing an order for 100 ventilators with Guildford-based Bio-Med Devices. These ventilators will be used in hospitals across the state and will be vital as medical facilities prepare for an influx of COVID-19-related hospitalizations.

Legislative Business:

As part of the effort to slow the spread of the outbreak, 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.

Moratorium on Utility Shut-Offs

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has ordered the gas, electric, and water public service companies regulated by the Authority to implement a Shut-off Moratorium and refrain from terminating utility service to residential customers, except for reasons of public safety, for the duration of the Public Health and Civil Preparedness Emergency declared by Governor Lamont on March 10, 2020, or until such other time determined by the Authority.

The situation surrounding COVID-19 is constantly changing, and I will continue providing updates as quickly as possible after they become available. In the meantime, I encourage you to not only to exercise extreme caution, but to check-in with your friends, neighbors, and family members. With caution and compassion, we will get through this.