March 18, 2020

COVID-19 Resources for Individuals and Families

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. According to the CDC, efforts at this time are focused concurrently on containing spread of this virus and mitigating the impact of this virus.

CDC has also stated the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time. Regardless, everyone can do their part to help in the response to this emerging public health threat.

Here are some helpful tips to limit the spread of coronavirus and protect yourself:

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

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.

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 until at least Wednesday, May 20. 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.
Effective 8:00pm Monday, March 16, Connecticut will join New York and New Jersey in limiting crowd capacity for social and commercial 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.

COVID-19 Testing Information:

I understand that there may be many questions about the state’s testing capacity. 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 prevalent 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.

Local, State, and Federal Resources:

Government agencies and healthcare organizations are continually releasing resources for those with questions or concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak. Here is a non-comprehensive list of some of those resources:

Torrington Area Health District
State of Connecticut’s Official Coronavirus Portal
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Yale-New Haven Health Information Call Center (available Monday-Friday from 7am-7pm)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 exercise extreme caution, but to check-in with your friends, neighbors, and family members. With caution and compassion, we will get through this.

As always, if you have any concerns or would like more information about how our government is handling the outbreak, please do not hesitate to email me at Joe.Polletta@housegop.ct.gov.