Governor Lamont Provides Update on Connecticut’s Coronavirus Response Efforts

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 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 22, 2021:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases and tests in Connecticut. It is important to note that these newly reported updates include data that occurred over the last several days to a week. All data in this report are preliminary, and data for previous dates will be updated as new reports are received and data errors are corrected.

Overall Summary

Total

Change Since Yesterday

COVID-19 Cases (confirmed and probable)

400,226

+453

COVID-19 Tests Reported (molecular and antigen)

11,637,773

+25,260

Daily Test Positivity

--

1.79%

Patients Currently Hospitalized with COVID-19

211

-13

Data on COVID-19 associated deaths is updated once per week every Thursday. The most recently reported total number of deaths is 8,721.

County-by-county breakdown of current COVID-19 hospitalizations:

County

Current COVID-19 Hospitalizations

Fairfield County

34

Hartford County

68

Litchfield County

10

Middlesex County

8

New Haven County

62

New London County

18

Tolland County

0

Windham County

11

Total

211

For a series of interactive graphs and maps that provide additional data, including metrics related to age, gender, and race/ethnicity, as well as data broken down by every town and city in Connecticut, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”

‘Pandemic EBT’ Child Care program bringing extra food benefits to over 34,800 young children in Connecticut on October 24

The Connecticut Department of Social Services, in consultation with the State Department of Education and Office of Early Childhood, today announced that $13 million in special food assistance benefits will be distributed on Sunday, October 24, 2021, to the families of more than 34,800 children under age 6 and who are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

This is the last major distribution in the current round of $119.1 million in food benefits going to nearly 282,900 schoolchildren, and 34,800 SNAP recipients in child care under age 6, through the federal Summer ‘Pandemic EBT’ (or P-EBT).

Specific information about the October 24 distribution of Pandemic EBT Child Care benefits:

  • The Department of Social Services will deposit benefits onto existing SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards on October 24, 2021, to nearly 27,400 households (34,800 eligible children) who were under age 6 and receiving SNAP benefits from the state as of June 30, 2021, unless the child already received Pandemic EBT Children in School benefits by being eligible for the free or reduced-price meals program at their school.
  • The Department of Social Services will also deposit benefits onto existing SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards of SNAP-eligible households who welcomed a newborn in either July or August 2021.
  • The planned one-time additional benefit is $375 per child.
  • The Department of Social Services has already deposited benefits totaling $106 million dollars to 282,900 schoolchildren eligible to receive free and reduced-priced meals at their school as of the end of the 2020-2021 school year on September 26, 2021, and October 10, 2021. In total, the P-EBT program has provided Connecticut children with an additional $452.6 in SNAP benefits since the beginning of the pandemic.
  • Families do not need to apply for P-EBT benefits, as the Department of Social Services uses SNAP eligibility information to determine if children are eligible for P-EBT Child Care benefits.

Benefits can be used at any location that accepts SNAP/EBT cards. This includes famers markets and direct market farms. In fact, enrollees can double the value of P-EBT or other SNAP benefits at farmers markets that are participating in CT Fresh Match. Additional information on that program can be found online at www.endhungerct.org/services/farmers-markets.

P-EBT participants will also have online access to eligible food purchases through delivery or curbside pickup at participating retailers Amazon, Aldi and Price Chopper/Market 32 via Instacart, BJ’s Wholesale Clubs, Food Bazaar, ShopRite, Stop and Shop and Walmart. Additional information on that is available at www.ct.gov/snap.

Food budgets can be stretched further with WIC. Households with kids under age 5, new parents, and pregnant or breastfeeding women may be eligible to receive healthy foods, free nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to helpful resources. To apply or learn more, visit portal.ct.gov/DPH/WIC/WIC.

The Department of Social Services received information from the Office of Early Childhood and the State Department of Education to implement the P-EBT Child Care plan, which was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. The P-EBT Child Care SNAP funding was authorized by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, with additional amendments made in the Continuing Appropriations Act and Other Extensions Act of 2021, as well as the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

Providing information to Connecticut residents

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus. Residents can also subscribe to text message alerts from the state by texting the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.

Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Anyone who is out-of-state or requires a toll-free number can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 by dialing 1-800-203-1234. This is intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms are strongly urged to contact their medical provider.

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Submitted by New Fairfield, CT

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