Connecticut Coronavirus Response Update: 27 Additional Positive Cases, 19 More in Fairfield County

Highlights 

Since yesterday, an additional 27 Connecticut residents tested positive, bringing the total positive cases reported in the state to 68.

  •        Governor Lamont today signed another executive order taking actions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, this one:

o   Makes modifications to the governor’s previously enacted waiver of the 180-day school year to grant broader flexibility to school districts.

o   Allows police departments to limit or eliminate fingerprinting for background checks.

o   Extends expiration dates for permits, licenses, and other credentials administered by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

o   Suspends the requirement that public assistance benefit overpayments be immediately recouped.

o   Suspend in-person hearing attendance requirements for certain hearings conducted by the Department of Social Services.

  •        Department of Economic and Community Development is launching the COVID-19 Business Emergency Response Unit to aid businesses in economic recovery.
  •        Department of Banking issues guidance to state-chartered banks and credit unions
  •        Connecticut Hospital Association is working with the Department of Public Health to ensure adequate hospital space to meet the needs of patients.
  •        As blood drives have been canceled nationwide to mitigate the spread of the virus, the Red Cross of Connecticut is seeking donors to call ahead and make appointments that will allow for social distancing.
  •        The Office of Early Childhood is actively working to ensure childcare remains available for healthcare staff and first responders.
  •        The Department of Motor Vehicles is suspending in-person visits at all of their branches. Certain deadlines are being extended, and customers are also encouraged to conduct transactions online.
  •        The Department of Revenue Services is suspending in-person visits at all of their offices.
  •        The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is suspending enforcement activities at bottle collection facilities, giving stores discretion to shut them down. They are also suspending in-person visits at their main office.
  •        Attorney General Tong has received 71 complaints about price gouging on basic supplies.
  •        The Department of Social Services has suspended in-person visits at all of its facilities.

As the State of Connecticut continues taking actions in response to the global spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Governor Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2020:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

Since yesterday’s update, an additional 27 Connecticut residents have tested positive, bringing the total number of positive cases reported in Connecticut (including presumptive positive) – from both the State Laboratory and private laboratories – to 68. The new cases since yesterday include 19 more in Fairfield County, 3 more in Hartford County, 1 more in Litchfield County, and 4 more in New Haven County.

A county-by-county breakdown of the total positive cases statewide includes:

  •        Fairfield County: 48
  •        Hartford County: 7
  •        Litchfield County: 5
  •        New Haven County: 8

Governor Lamont signs sixth executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19

On Tuesday afternoon, Governor Lamont signed another executive order – the sixth since he enacted the civic preparedness and public health emergency declarations – that builds upon his efforts to encourage mitigation strategies that slow down transmission of the virus.

Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7E enacts the following provisions:

  •        Modifies previously enacted waiver of 180-day school year: As a result of evolving circumstances, this order modifies Executive Order No. 7 to account for the potential impact on schools that may be subject to longer-term cancellation of in-school classes and permits schools, upon reopening in the spring of 2020, to close school on their normally scheduled end-dates, so long as local and regional boards of education provide opportunities for continuity of education to all students to the greatest extend possible consistent with federal and state guidance.
  •        Suspension of required fingerprinting availability: The order suspends a state law that requires employees of a municipal police department or the State Police to collect the fingerprints of a person requesting such fingerprinting for a criminal history records check, and permits police department fingerprinting hours to be limited or eliminated to limit the transmission of COVID-19. Barracks will remain open to the general public for other business.
  •        Extension of time period for permits: The order modifies state statutes covering expiration dates for permits, licenses, and other credentials administered by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and authorizes the agency’s commissioner to extend those dates as he deems necessary in his sole discretion to protect public safety.
  •        Suspension of the requirement that public assistance benefit overpayments be immediately recouped: The order authorizes the Commissioner of Social Services, to the extent permitted by federal law, to temporarily suspend recoupment of non-fraudulent overpayments for public assistance programs for the duration of the pandemic emergency.
  •        Suspension of in-person hearing attendance at Department of Social Services fair hearings: The order modifies state statutes to authorize the Commissioner of Social Services to suspend any requirement that an aggrieved person authorized by law to request a fair hearing of a decision of the commissioner appear in person at such hearing.

In addition, Governor Lamont clarified that the executive order he issued yesterday prohibiting gatherings of 50 people or more does not apply to food banks, mobile food distributors, and farmers’ markets. These activities are considered essential services and not subject to the restrictions in the order.

Department of Economic and Community Development launches COVID-19 business response unit

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is launching the COVID-19 Business Emergency Response Unit, which will be dedicated to helping businesses in Connecticut navigate the resources available to them during this crisis. Small businesses seeking guidance can reach this unit by calling 860-500-2333.

In addition, DECD and Advance CT, a nonprofit organization that works to advance economic competitiveness in Connecticut, today began distributing a comprehensive survey to businesses to get information on what types of resources they need throughout the duration of this pandemic. This will help the state gather important information on the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses interested in participating in this survey can access it here.

Since yesterday, an additional 27 Connecticut residents tested positive, bringing the total positive cases reported in the state to 68.

 

·       Governor Lamont today signed another executive order taking actions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, this one:

o   Makes modifications to the governor’s previously enacted waiver of the 180-day school year to grant broader flexibility to school districts.

o   Allows police departments to limit or eliminate fingerprinting for background checks.

o   Extends expiration dates for permits, licenses, and other credentials administered by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

o   Suspends the requirement that public assistance benefit overpayments be immediately recouped.

o   Suspend in-person hearing attendance requirements for certain hearings conducted by the Department of Social Services.

 

·       Department of Economic and Community Development is launching the COVID-19 Business Emergency Response Unit to aid businesses in economic recovery.

 

·       Department of Banking issues guidance to state-chartered banks and credit unions

 

·       Connecticut Hospital Association is working with the Department of Public Health to ensure adequate hospital space to meet the needs of patients.

 

·       As blood drives have been canceled nationwide to mitigate the spread of the virus, the Red Cross of Connecticut is seeking donors to call ahead and make appointments that will allow for social distancing.

 

·       The Office of Early Childhood is actively working to ensure childcare remains available for healthcare staff and first responders.

 

·       The Department of Motor Vehicles is suspending in-person visits at all of their branches. Certain deadlines are being extended, and customers are also encouraged to conduct transactions online.

 

·       The Department of Revenue Services is suspending in-person visits at all of their offices.

 

·       The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is suspending enforcement activities at bottle collection facilities, giving stores discretion to shut them down. They are also suspending in-person visits at their main office.

 

·       Attorney General Tong has received 71 complaints about price gouging on basic supplies.

 

·       The Department of Social Services has suspended in-person visits at all of their facilities.

 

 

(HARTFORD, CT) – As the State of Connecticut continues taking actions in response to the global spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Governor Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2020:

 

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

 

Since yesterday’s update, an additional 27 Connecticut residents have tested positive, bringing the total number of positive cases reported in Connecticut (including presumptive positive) – from both the State Laboratory and private laboratories – to 68. The new cases since yesterday include 19 more in Fairfield County, 3 more in Hartford County, 1 more in Litchfield County, and 4 more in New Haven County.

 

A county-by-county breakdown of the total positive cases statewide includes:

 

·       Fairfield County: 48

·       Hartford County: 7

·       Litchfield County: 5

·       New Haven County: 8

 

Governor Lamont signs sixth executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19

 

On Tuesday afternoon, Governor Lamont signed another executive order – the sixth since he enacted the civic preparedness and public health emergency declarations – that builds upon his efforts to encourage mitigation strategies that slow down transmission of the virus.

 

Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7E enacts the following provisions:

 

·       Modifies previously enacted waiver of 180-day school year: As a result of evolving circumstances, this order modifies Executive Order No. 7 to account for the potential impact on schools that may be subject to longer-term cancellation of in-school classes and permits schools, upon reopening in the spring of 2020, to close school on their normally scheduled end-dates, so long as local and regional boards of education provide opportunities for continuity of education to all students to the greatest extend possible consistent with federal and state guidance.

 

·       Suspension of required fingerprinting availability: The order suspends a state law that requires employees of a municipal police department or the State Police to collect the fingerprints of a person requesting such fingerprinting for a criminal history records check, and permits police department fingerprinting hours to be limited or eliminated to limit the transmission of COVID-19. Barracks will remain open to the general public for other business.

 

·       Extension of time period for permits: The order modifies state statutes covering expiration dates for permits, licenses, and other credentials administered by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and authorizes the agency’s commissioner to extend those dates as he deems necessary in his sole discretion to protect public safety.

 

·       Suspension of the requirement that public assistance benefit overpayments be immediately recouped: The order authorizes the Commissioner of Social Services, to the extent permitted by federal law, to temporarily suspend recoupment of non-fraudulent overpayments for public assistance programs for the duration of the pandemic emergency.

 

·       Suspension of in-person hearing attendance at Department of Social Services fair hearings: The order modifies state statutes to authorize the Commissioner of Social Services to suspend any requirement that an aggrieved person authorized by law to request a fair hearing of a decision of the commissioner appear in person at such hearing.

 

In addition, Governor Lamont clarified that the executive order he issued yesterday prohibiting gatherings of 50 people or more does not apply to food banks, mobile food distributors, and farmers’ markets. These activities are considered essential services and not subject to the restrictions in the order.

 

 

Department of Economic and Community Development launches COVID-19 business response unit

 

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is launching the COVID-19 Business Emergency Response Unit, which will be dedicated to helping businesses in Connecticut navigate the resources available to them during this crisis. Small businesses seeking guidance can reach this unit by calling 860-500-2333.

 

In addition, DECD and Advance CT, a nonprofit organization that works to advance economic competitiveness in Connecticut, today began distributing a comprehensive survey to businesses to get information on what types of resources they need throughout the duration of this pandemic. This will help the state gather important information on the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses interested in participating in this survey can access it here.

N
Submitted by New Canaan, CT

Become a Local Voice in Your Community!

HamletHub invites you to contribute stories, events, and more to keep your neighbors informed and connected.

Read Next