LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates: June 1 to 6

This week’s news and links on the COVID-19 pandemic for Darien, as they come in:

LATEST UPDATES: Governor’s Saturday COVID-19 Briefing || Governor’s Friday COVID-19 BRIEFING: Rules for drive-thru graduations, modifications of rules for drive-in religious events; suspension of involuntary discharge of residents from nursing homes or residential care homes to homeless shelters; Phase 2 of CT Reopening moved to June 17 to avoid it happening during Father’s Day weekend

See also:

LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates:

June 7 to 14 

May 25 to 31 || May 18 to 24 || May 11 to 17 || May 3 to 10 || April 27 to May 3 || April 20 to 26 || April 13 to 19 || April 5 to 12 || March 30 to April 5

SATURDAY Governor’s COVID-19 Briefing

FRIDAY Governor’s COVID-19 Briefing

Friday, June 5 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 6:30 p.m.:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, 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.

County-by-county breakdown:

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “COVID-19 Data Tracker.”

Governor Lamont signs 51^st executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19

Lamont today signed another executive order — the 51^st since he enacted the emergency declarations — that builds upon his efforts to encourage mitigation strategies that slow down transmission of the virus. Executive Order No. 7XX enacts the following provisions:

• Modification of safety rules for drive-in religious gatherings: Makes modifications to Executive Order No. 7TT to provide that “drive-in” religious, spiritual, and worship gatherings at which all attendees remain in their vehicles may be held with no limitations on capacity if either vehicle windows remain closed or vehicles remain at least six feet apart and participants wear masks or cloth face coverings.
• Safety rules for drive-in graduations: Permits drive-in graduation ceremonies at which all attendees remain in their vehicles except for graduates briefly leaving their vehicles to receive diplomas to be held with no limitations on capacity if either vehicle windows remain closed or vehicles remain at least six feet apart and all attendees wear masks or cloth face coverings.
• Suspension of the involuntary discharge of nursing facility residents and residential care home residents who may be discharged to homeless shelters, except during emergency situations or with respect to COVID-19 recovered discharges: Suspends the involuntary discharge of residents from nursing homes or residential care homes to homeless shelters for the duration of the declared emergency. This suspension excludes emergency situations when the individual presents a danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the resident or other residents or staff, including the refusal to comply with established COVID-19 infection control or social distancing measures that could also endanger staff, and does not apply to specific aspects of the Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 medical surge plan as addressed in Executive Order No. 7Y.

Phase 2 of Connecticut’s reopening efforts moved earlier to June 17

Lamont today announced that Phase 2 of Connecticut’s reopening efforts is being moved up a few days to Wednesday, June 17 to avoid having it take effect during the busy Father’s Day weekend. It previously had been scheduled for Saturday, June 20. The governor will release additional safety guidance for businesses that fall under Phase 2 early next week.

P2P Gets Donation of Face Masks from Stamford Company Owned by Darien Residents

Thursday, June 4 — An announcement from PCI Creative Group:

PCI Creative Group in Stamford has donated 2,000 face masks to Person-to-Person (P2P) in support of their response to the COVID-19 crisis. P2P provides food, emergency financial assistance, and casework services to lower Fairfield County residents through their three locations in Darien, Norwalk and Stamford.

“When we found ourselves with a large amount of reusable cloth face masks, we immediately thought of Person-to-Person as an organization that could make good use of this quantity of masks for their clients and staff,” said Anne Chiapetta, co-owner of PCI Creative Group.

PCI Creative Group works with many non-profit organizations and is a cross-media marketing company located in Stamford. As an extension of their promotional items business, they have been providing PPE kits for many corporations and found themselves with a large overage of masks from one of their manufacturers.

Mary Ferrara, and Anne and Frank Chiapetta, co-owners of the business, and long-time Darien residents, are happy they are able to give back to the community.

Person-to-Person has been at the forefront of meeting the increased need for basic assistance brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. At onset of the crisis in mid-March, P2P, who served nearly 25,000 individuals in 2019, quickly ramped up operations to prepare to help additional local families impacted by sudden job loss.

Requests for food assistance at P2P are up 70% over the same time last year, and requests for emergency financial assistance have grown by over 300%. 

The donation of masks is welcome as P2P’s staff and volunteers have remained on the frontlines, serving individuals throughout the crisis. “The masks are so appreciated.

They are particularly useful for us to distribute to the families we serve who are in need of masks, and for our staff members and volunteers who are putting in extra hours to make sure our clients’ needs are being met,” said CEO Nancy Coughlin.

THURSDAY Governor’s COVID-19 Briefing

Thursday, June 4 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 6:30 p.m.:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, 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.

County-by-county breakdown:

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “COVID-19 Data Tracker.”

Updated data on the impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes and assisted living facilities

The following documents contain updated data regarding each of the nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Connecticut that have reported positive cases of COVID-19 among their residents. The data is presented as it was reported to the state by each of the nursing homes and assisted living facilities. This data is updated on a weekly basis.

Governor Lamont signs 50^th executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19

Governor Lamont today signed another executive order – the 50^th since he enacted the emergency declarations – that builds upon his efforts to encourage mitigation strategies that slow down transmission of the virus. Executive Order No. 7WW enacts the following provisions:

• Technical clarifications regarding the ballot petitioning process for the August 2020 primary and November 2020 general election: Makes technical clarifications to the ballot petitioning process of Executive Order No. 7LL to make it clear that individual petitions do not need to be mailed to the registrar of voters.
• Further clarification of limits on alcohol service and sales related to catering: Permits caterers to provide outdoor service at any location allowed by their license type so long as the event meets the requirements of all executive orders, limits on social and recreational gatherings, and Department of Economic and Community Development sector rules.

Governor Lamont and Banking Commissioner Perez announce 60-day extension to mortgage relief program

Governor Lamont and Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez today announced that over 45 banks and credit unions have agreed to extend their voluntary participation in the Connecticut Mortgage Relief Program, which provides relief to consumers facing financial hardship due to COVID-19. The program, launched on March 31, 2020 and set to expire on May 31, 2020 will now run through July 30, 2020.

“While the state continues its progress towards safely re-opening, Connecticut residents continue to be impacted by the economic fallout of the pandemic” Lamont said. “By extending the Connecticut mortgage relief program through July 30, 2020, credit unions and banks have demonstrated their commitment to help their members and customers through this crisis. I am grateful for their participation in this program.”

The program, launched on March 31, 2020, extends the following original provisions through July 30, 2020:

• 90-day grace period for all mortgage payments: Participating financial institutions will continue to offer mortgage-payment forbearances of up to 90 days, which will allow homeowners to reduce or delay monthly mortgage payments. In addition, the institutions will continue to:
  • Provide a streamlined process for requesting forbearance for COVID-19-related reasons, supported with available documentation;
  • Confirm approval and terms of forbearance program; and
  • Provide the opportunity to extend forbearance agreements if faced with continued hardship resulting from COVID-19.
• Relief from fees and charges: Through July 30, 2020, participating financial institutions will waive or refund mortgage-related late fees and other fees including early CD withdrawals.
• No new foreclosures for 60 days (through July 30, 2020): Financial institutions will not start any foreclosure sales or evictions.
• No credit score changes for accessing relief: Financial institutions will not report derogatory information (e.g., late payments) to credit reporting agencies but may report a forbearance, which typically does not alone negatively affect a credit score.

This agreement means that participating banks and credit unions will continue to not initiate any new foreclosures, foreclosure sales and evictions for another 60 days. It also extends the relief on certain fees until that date. The mortgage relief program, applies only to mortgages owned by banks and credit unions, also known as “portfolio mortgages.”

“By voluntarily agreeing to extend their participation in this initiative, Connecticut banks and credit unions have shown us that they once again stand ready to assist their customers and members during difficult times,” Commissioner Perez said. “This initiative is designed to provide relief for residents of the state who are feeling the economic impacts of COVID-19. We are all in this together and our financial institutions have shown they are partners to help get us through.”

“For almost 100 years, credit unions in Connecticut have relied on the collective ability of their members to support one another,” Bruce Adams, president and CEO of the Credit Union League of Connecticut said. “As not-for-profit financial institutions, we leverage the collective strength of our members to provide flexible, creative, and compassionate assistance to the people and communities who need it the most. We applaud Governor Lamont for affirming our unique ability to help in times of need.”

“Connecticut banks are ready to continue to assist their customers,” Tom Mongellow, President of the Connecticut Banker’s Association, said. “They understand that these are uncertain times and are ready to help ensure the financial wellbeing of Connecticut residents. When customers reach out directly to their bank, they will find a helpful and willing partner.”

For a list of participating financial institutions and a Q&A on the program, click here.

Judicial branch continues with expansion of operations

The Connecticut Judicial Branch today announced that effective Monday, June 29, it is targeting the resumption of limited operations at four additional courthouse locations, including the Judicial District courthouses in Danbury, Milford, and Stamford, and the Geographical Area No. 11 courthouse in Danielson.

The expansion will bring the number of open courthouses to 17, including the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, 13 Superior Court locations, and two juvenile court locations. As such, one Superior Court courthouse will be open in each of the 13 Judicial Districts.

The Judicial Branch is also planning to expand its hours and days of operations to the following:

• Starting the week of June 15, all open courthouse locations will be open each day, Monday through Friday. The hours for the public will be Mondays from 9AM to 5PM, and Tuesdays through Fridays from 9AM to 1PM.
• Starting the week of June 29, the Danbury, Milford, Stamford, and Danielson courthouses will be open to the public. Consistent with all other open courthouse locations, public hours will be Mondays from 9AM to 5PM, and Tuesdays through Fridays from 9AM to 1PM.
• Starting the week of July 6, open courthouse locations will be open to the public Mondays through Fridays from 9AM to 5PM.

Most work within the open court locations will continue to focus on those most pressing matters, such as criminal arraignments for defendants held on bond, domestic violence cases, restraining orders, emergency child custody matters, juvenile detention hearings, and all other emergency matters.

For more information on today’s announcement, read the press release issued by the Judicial Branch. Additional guidance on the impact of COVID-19 on the courts continues to be updated on the Judicial Branch’s website at jud.ct.gov.

WEDNESDAY Governor’s COVID-19 Briefing

Wednesday, June 3 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 5:30 p.m.:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, 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.

County-by-county breakdown:

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “COVID-19 Data Tracker.”

State informs school districts that in-person graduation ceremonies can be held starting July 6 following certain guidelines

Governor Lamont today announced that after consulting with Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona and state public health officials, he has determined that school districts will be permitted to hold in-person graduation ceremonies beginning July 6, 2020, following certain guidelines, including a requirement that they be held outdoors, limited to a maximum of 150 people in attendance (including graduates), and proper social distancing protocols must be followed.

The present requirements related to drive-in ceremonies will continue to apply if schools decide not to hold in-person ceremonies. These requirements include compliance with all public health related rules, orders, the instructions in standing Connecticut State Department of Education and Department of Public Health guidance, and that where:

1. Cars are parked immediately next to each other, all car windows must stay closed
2. Cars are parked at least six feet from each other, car windows may be open. All individuals in the car must wear masks.

The governor intends on issuing an executive order codifying this guidance within the next couple of days. The Connecticut State Department of Education will also soon provide school districts with additional guidance related to in-person ceremonies. To ensure they are making determinations consistent with public health and safety outcomes, school districts are asked to contemplate a local approach that best suits their respective communities and coordinate all activities with municipal officials, local law enforcement, first responders, and local health officials.

State Department of Education releases rules for operating in-person summer schools programs

The Connecticut State Department of Education has released guidance to every school superintendent in the state detailing rules for operating in-person summer school programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Developed by the PK-12 subgroup of the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group with input of educators, students, parents, health officials, and the public, the rules state that in-person summer school programs can begin on July 6, 2020, provided that locations comply with certain requirements and the health and safety plans are reviewed with the district’s local director of public health and school medical advisor, if applicable.

To read the summer school rules, click here. To read a guidance document on preparing for a safe return to classroom learning, click here.

Connecticut receives $224 Million in federal COVID-19 funding for rail and bus operations

The Connecticut Department of Transportation today announced that it has been awarded $224.3 million in federal COVID-19 funding from the Federal Transit Administration to help cover expenses (operations, maintenance, and personal protective equipment) for rail and bus operations in the state.

Under the recently passed “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (the CARES Act), funding is provided to urban and rural public transit systems for operating expenses that occurred on or after January 20. In general, operating expenses are those costs necessary to operate, maintain, and manage a public transportation system. Examples of these expenses include driver salaries, fuel, and items having a useful life of less than one year, such as personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies.

Of the $224.3 million, $150 million will be earmarked for New Haven Line, New Canaan Line, Danbury Line, and Waterbury Line; $6 million for Shore Line East; $50 million for CTtransit, CTtransit Express, and CTfastrak services statewide; and $10.1 million for rural transit services within the state. Additionally, $8.2 million has been awarded for bus transit districts statewide with an additional $19.2 million in pending awards for the transit districts.

The state will be applying for additional funding totaling about $244 million later this year.

“This is very welcome news, and I thank Connecticut’s Congressional delegation for their support in securing this funding, and our partners at the Federal Transit Administration for their rapid review and award of these funds,” Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti said. “Our trains and buses continue to operate around Connecticut, and this funding will help ensure we can continue this essential service during this critical and challenging time.”

AAA reopens licensing services at eight retail stores in Connecticut

AAA today announced that they have reopened eight of its retail stores in Connecticut and are now providing Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) licensing services, however customers are required to make appointments in advance in order to provide for social distancing. Previously, these services had been available on a first come, first served basis.

Officials at the DMV stress that deadlines for all licenses that expire between March 10, 2020 and June 30, 2020 have automatically been extended by 180 days, so it is not necessary to renew these credentials until that extension has expired. However, anyone who would like to get their licensed renewed now has the option to get this done at AAA retail stores.

The AAA stores that have reopened include Avon, Cromwell, Enfield, Manchester, Old Saybrook, Southington, Waterford, and West Hartford.

To make an appointment with AAA, visit hartford.aaa.com/dmv-ct. For more information, read the press release issued today by AAA.

Governor’s TUESDAY COVID-19 Briefing

Tuesday, June 2 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 6 p.m.:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, 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.

County-by-county breakdown:

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

Governor Lamont signs 49^th executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19

Lamont today signed another executive order — the 49^th since he enacted the emergency declarations — that builds upon his efforts to encourage mitigation strategies that slow down transmission of the virus. Executive Order No. 7VV enacts the following provisions:

• Amended limitation on program sizes in child care: Modifies the number of children that a child care program can serve during the civil preparedness and public health emergency from 30 to 50 without needing to obtain approval from the Office of Early Childhood. Any facility caring for more than 50 children will need to obtain approval.

**Download: Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7VV

FEMA approves funding for crisis counseling in Connecticut

Governor Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut has received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide crisis counseling to those who have been impacted by COVID-19. This program will be administered by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in cooperation with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. A federal grant of $669,404 will be utilized by the state to provide the following services:

• Crisis counseling to persons experiencing homelessness who are in shelters, hotels, and in the community, as well as staff in these facilities;
• Crisis counseling to senior citizens in congregate care settings and the community; and
• Enhancement of crisis counseling call-line services provided through United Way 2-1-1.

The funding will also be used to develop a statewide advertising and media campaign, including social media outreach for the purpose of linking victim families to needed resources, as well as provide psychological first aid support and stress management tips.

Additional emergency SNAP benefits being delivered June 18 to more than 108,000 households in Connecticut

The Connecticut Department of Social Services today announced that it will provide $16.3 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to nearly half of Connecticut’s SNAP participants on Friday, June 12, 2020. This is in addition to the $50.2 million in emergency benefits disbursed in April and May.

Authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, the extra food benefits will go to more than 108,000 households in the state that are not currently receiving the maximum benefits allowed for their household size. This means that all households in enrolled in SNAP will receive the maximum food benefit allowable for their household size, even if they are not usually eligible for the maximum benefit.

Specifically:

• The Department of Social Services expects that more than 108,000 of the 222,000 households enrolled in SNAP in Connecticut will receive the emergency benefits in June.
• With this additional $16.3 million allocation, emergency SNAP benefits are totaling over $66.5 million in additional assistance statewide during April, May, and June, with commensurate spending in the food economy.
• The average emergency benefit amount a household will see on its electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card on June 12 is $150.
• All participating households will also receive their normal SNAP benefits on the first three days of each month as they normally do, according to last name.

Emergency benefits will allow each household’s SNAP benefit to increase to the maximum allotment for a household of that size as follows:

(Each additional person: add $146)

For example, if a household of two would normally receive $255 of SNAP benefits in June, $100 would bring this household up to the maximum benefit for its size. This household would receive a $100 emergency benefit on June 12.

State Government Starts First-of-Its-Kind COVID-19 Tracking Study: 1,400 State Residents to Get Blood Tests

Tuesday, June 2 — An announcement from the Governor’s Office:

Gov. Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut is partnering in a first-of-its-kind, statewide project to quantify the spread of COVID-19 within the state by conducting a seroprevalence study of 1,400 randomized, representative Connecticut residents. [Darienite.com editor’s note: “Seroprevalence” means the level of a pathogen in a population, as measured by blood serum.]

The project will identify, through blood samples, people who have developed antibodies to COVID-19, a sign of prior infection.

Led by Yale University in collaboration with Gallup, Quest Diagnostics, and the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, and with the support of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, the project will provide the state with additional data in order to better inform its response and enhance efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus.

“Connecticut has an urgent need to understand the extent of prior infection with COVID-19 in order to guide our efforts to protect the state’s residents, mitigate the harms of the virus, and implement efficient programs in the areas of greatest need,” Lamont said.

“Accordingly, the state will be supporting this COVID-19 surveillance project to better understand the spread of COVID-19 within different communities across Connecticut, particularly within the most vulnerable populations. This effort aligns with our commitment to employ the best science and obtain the highest quality information to guide our policies. We are fortunate to be working with such expert groups in the service of supporting Connecticut,” Lamont said.

Acting state Health Commissioner Deidre Gifford said it’s important that the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic be data driven.

“This innovative new approach puts some of the best scientific minds in the world at work with data that may be able to tell us how deeply this virus has impacted our communities, and who may be more susceptible to infection,” she said. “These are all critical points of information we will need to direct public health policy and strategy going forward in Connecticut.”

The project leader for the state initiative will be Dr. Harlan M. Krumholz, the Harold H. Hines Jr. Professor of Medicine at Yale and director of the Yale New Haven Hospital Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation.

“This is truly designed as a team effort so we can learn together where we stand and inform what we should do next,” Krumholz said. “We will all owe a debt of gratitude to our fellow citizens who agree to be part of this effort and help us all understand how far the virus has spread.”

Gallup, a leading analytics and advisory company with over 80 years of data collection experience, will assist with the study design and analysis, participant sampling, and interviewing of adults living in Connecticut.

Quest Diagnostics, a leading provider of diagnostic information services, will conduct the blood sample collection in the company’s network of more than 100 patient service centers throughout the state, provide logistics support, and conduct antibody testing.

The Jackson Laboratory, a global nonprofit biomedical research institution that is already providing large-scale COVID-19 testing for the state, will help validate the testing.

The antibody test information will identify people who have previously been infected over the entire course of the pandemic. Importantly, it is not yet known if having antibodies provides immunity. The test does not convey information about who is actively infected.

• “The project will provide critically needed information to understand where the state should focus COVID-19 prevention as it rolls out large scale testing, as well as regions where we need to closely monitor the risk of resurgence in the future,” said Dr. Albert Icksang Ko, professor of Epidemiology and Medicine and department chair at the Yale School of Public Health.

Specifically, the study will examine the following questions:

• How much of the Connecticut population has been infected with the virus causing COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2)?
• How many Connecticut residents experienced mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 illness?
• Are there different characteristics, or risk factors, that are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as age, location, or underlying health conditions?

The project is being funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, which was approved by Congress in March. It is expected to launch in early June with results to be shared with the public toward the end of the month.

Small Business Federation Survey: Most CT Small Businesses Are Half-Way Through Loan Forgiveness ‘Window’

Tuesday, June 2 — An announcement from the Connecticut office of the National Federation of Independent Businesses:

The NFIB Research Center released a survey today updating the utilization and financial assistance of both small business lending programs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program. The survey also explores the familiarity of the Main Street Lending Program and the prevalence of COVID-19 related to employee leave.

“So many small businesses have been shut down in Connecticut since mid-March and it has been a very difficult time for them economically, especially restaurants that can’t open their dining rooms until late June,” said Andrew Markowski, NFIB’s state director.

“Because time is running out for so many small businesses with the loan forgiveness terms, we need swift action at the federal and state levels. Congress needs to extend that forgiveness period and Governor Lamont and his advisors need to move as quickly and safely as possible to allow the remaining small businesses to reopen.”

“The majority of small businesses are still negatively impacted by the economic crisis,” said Holly Wade, NFIB Director of Research & Policy Analysis. “Adding flexibility to the PPP loan forgiveness is one thing our elected officials can do to ease the burden on small businesses nationwide.”

Key findings of the survey include:

The majority of small businesses have applied for and received a PPP loan.

• Over three-quarters (77%) have applied for a PPP loan and 93% of those have received the loan.
• Most small businesses interested in the loan have already applied.

Most small businesses are currently in the middle of their 8-week forgiveness window, with some nearing the end of it.

• The 8-week period ends for 7% between now and June 8^th, another 23% report their period ends between June 8-14^th, and just over one-third (36%) will move through to the end of their 8-weeks the second half of June.
• The remaining 24% of borrowers are still in the early weeks of using their loan, with their 8-weeks ending in July.

The vast majority of small business owners (67%) who have a PPP loan have found the loan very helpful in financially supporting their business.

• Another 14% report that the PPP loan is moderately helpful and 11%, somewhat helpful.
• Only 2% said that the PPP loan is not at all helpful and 7% said that it is too early to tell.

Borrowers are interested in the forgiveness provision and anticipate using most of their loan within their 8-week period.

• Almost one-quarter of borrowers who have received a loan have already used at least 75% of the proceeds, with 4% reporting they have used the loan entirely.
• Over one-third (34%) have used between 50-75% of the loan and another 25% have used between 25-49% of the loan to date.

To receive loan forgiveness, small businesses are required to complete an application and submit for approval. About half of owners are using a CPA or similar professional to help fill out the application.

• About 60% of borrowers have reviewed the application and 40% have not.
• Just over half of borrowers are filling out the application themselves or are having someone on staff fill it out.
• Fifty-four percent of borrowers are using an Excel workbook to keep track of expenses, 47% are not.

About 35% of respondents applied for an EIDL loan, the majority of them have been approved.

• Thirty-eight percent have not heard back yet and 5% were denied.
• About 36% have received the loan, up from 21% who had received the loan as of May 18^th.
• Sixty-nine percent of those who requested the EIDL emergency advance have received those funds.

The Main Street Lending Program is very unfamiliar among small business owners.

• Only 12% report that they are somewhat familiar with the program.
• The vast majority (88%) were not at all familiar with it.
• Just 1% of respondents anticipate applying for a loan and 21% are not sure yet.

Very few employers have had an employee take leave due to COVID-19.

• Only about 13% reported having employees take leave.
• Of those who have had an employee take leave, 30% of those employers have claimed the tax credit for reimbursement of those costs and 70% have not.

The full survey is available here.

MONDAY Governor’s COVID-19 Briefing

Monday, June 1 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 7 p.m.:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, 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.

**NOTE: Beginning today, this daily update now includes COVID-19 cases and deaths broken down as either “confirmed” or “probable.” Previous reports used a combined number. Probable cases of COVID-19 involve persons who have not had confirmed laboratory testing (RT-PCR) performed, but whose symptoms indicate they are very likely to have a COVID-19 infection. In Connecticut, most of the probable COVID-19 cases involve persons whose death certificates list COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. **

County-by-county breakdown:

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

Governor Lamont signs 48^th executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19

Governor Lamont today signed another executive order – the 48^th since he enacted the emergency declarations – that builds upon his efforts to encourage mitigation strategies that slow down transmission of the virus. Executive Order No. 7UU enacts the following provisions:

• Mandatory COVID-19 testing for staff of private and municipal nursing homes, residential communities and assisted living agencies: Requires all staff of these facilities to be tested for COVID-19 weekly for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency.
• Determination of suitable work: Allows the Connecticut Department of Labor to consider, when determining a worker’s eligibility for unemployment benefits, whether COVID-19 means returning to work would pose an unreasonable risk to the health of a member of that worker’s household.

Deadlines approaching for residents who lost health insurance due to job loss to qualify for coverage through Access Health CT

Connecticut residents who may have lost their jobs from a furlough or layoff within the last two months must act quickly if they would like to enroll in health care coverage through Access Health CT, the state’s health insurance marketplace.

In general, people who lost health insurance due to a job loss have 60 days to apply for coverage through Access Health CT, as that job loss is considered a “Qualifying Life Event.” This means that the deadline to enroll for anyone who lost their jobs in April is approaching fast.

• SEE ALSO: Lose Your Job? Furloughed? For Many, Time’s Running Out to Get COBRA Health Insurance (June 2)

To help residents maintain qualify and affordable health care coverage, Access Health CT recommends comparing options on AccessHealthCT.com to COBRA coverage, as the marketplace may offer a better, less expensive choice, and is the only place where people can qualify for financial help to lower their costs.

Access Health CT is working closely with the Connecticut Department of Labor and other entities to reach out to businesses that are in the process of reducing their workforce.

For more information, read the press release issued today by Access Health CT.

Online purchasing of food with SNAP benefits begins June 2 and 3

The Department of Social Services today announced that recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be able to purchase food online from participating retailers in Connecticut beginning Tuesday, June 2 and Wednesday, June 3. SNAP enrollees will be able to use their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card to purchase eligible food items online for delivery or curbside pickup.

Retailers approved for the initial launch of online SNAP purchasing are Amazon (including Amazon Pantry and Amazon Fresh), 12 Walmart stores (click here for a list), and 22 ShopRite stores (click here for a list).

Online SNAP purchasing will begin on June 2 at Walmart in Cromwell and Manchester beginning at 3:00 a.m., ShopRite in Canton and Waterbury beginning at 5:30 a.m., and Amazon beginning at 2:00 p.m. All other participating stores will launch online SNAP purchasing on June 3.

Online contact points for the stores are www.amazon.com/snapebt; www.walmart.com/grocery; and www.shoprite.com/Store-Locator.

Only SNAP benefits on EBT cards can be used for online purchases. At this time, cash assistance benefits on EBT cards cannot be used for any part of online shopping, including shopping, delivery, or service fees.

Federal rules do not allow any SNAP benefits to be used for shopping, delivery, or service fees, but some food retailers may choose to waive fees (as Amazon does for orders over $35).

Online shopping customers using SNAP benefits will be able to use other debit or credit cards to pay for any fees or non-SNAP-eligible items they wish to purchase.

For more information about SNAP benefits in Connecticut, visit www.ct.gov/snap.

Connecticut Department of Housing announces federal approval of CARES Act dollars

The Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) today announced that it has gained approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regarding the federal dollars the state agency is receiving from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that will be utilized for housing issues.

DOH was awarded $8.1 million in CDBG-CV funding and $8.1 million in ESG-CV funding. This is the first tranche of federal dollars that DOH was awarded under the CARES Act.

Eligible activities under CDBG-CV include — but are not limited to — making interim improvements on private properties to enable an individual patient to remain quarantined on a temporary basis; providing test diagnosis or services at a fixed or mobile location and providing equipment necessary to carry out the public service; and delivering meals on wheels to quarantined individuals or individuals that need to maintain social distancing due to medical vulnerabilities.

ESG-CV eligible activities include – but are not limited to – the expansion of rapid rehousing, expansion of shelter operations, establishing an eviction prevention program, and utilizing monies for telehealth.

DOH has oversight of most of the homeless shelters in the state. This federal funding will assist DOH’s ongoing efforts of moving homeless individuals from hotels into permanent housing.

“I’m pleased to continue our collaboration with HUD as we respond to the ongoing pandemic and develop a long-term strategy to deal with its effects,” Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno said. “My highest praise goes to our frontline partners that serve the public admirably and remain flexible when adapting to shifting priorities. This first tranche of funds will be an added boost to our operations.”

“HUD is pleased to work with the Connecticut Department of Housing,” David Tille, HUD’s Regional Administrator for New England, said. “As our largest grantee, they are in the best position to work with our partners on the frontlines to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus with these CARES Act funds. We are confident that they will successfully use these funds to meet the urgent and complex challenges faced by our communities.”

Attorney General Tong, Connecticut State Police release public service announcement encouraging residents to fact check COVID-19 information

Attorney General William Tong and the Connecticut State Police today released a public service announcement encouraging residents to fact check the information they receive about the COVID-19 pandemic and beware of scam artists who are attempting to spread false information.

The public service announcement can be watched on Attorney General Tong’s YouTube channel.

Complaints of scams can be filed on the website of the Office of the Attorney General.

For more information, read the press release issued today by Attorney General Tong and the Connecticut State Police.

Governor Lamont encourages residents to sign up for the state’s CTAlert notification system

Governor Lamont is encouraging Connecticut residents to sign up for CTAlert, the state’s emergency alert system, which provides text message notifications to users. To subscribe, text the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.

Providing information to Connecticut residents

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including an FAQ and other guidance and resources, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can also call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Relay services can be accessed by calling 7-1-1. Anyone who is out-of-state or using Relay can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 toll free by dialing 1-800-203-1234. The hotline 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.

 

Middlesex Parents Association Organizes June 10 Drive-By Celebration for Promoted 8th Graders Outside Middle School

Monday, June 1 — The Middlesex Parents Association announced that it is organizing a drive-by event on Wednesday June 10 for eighth grade students who are going on to high school.

It takes place outdoors on the school campus. Here’s the announcement from the MPA newsletter:

“We are happy to announce that the MPA have been allowed to organize a non-virtual drive-by event for our 8th Grade families to celebrate Promotion. This will be held in addition to the virtual Promotion events organized by the school.

“The drive-by is scheduled for June 10 between 1.50pm and 3.30pm at MMS and will be conducted on a team basis. So please decorate your cars and drive on by to say good bye to your teachers and staff at MMS.

“More details to follow soon. Fear not, everything will organized to comply with current state and local regulations!”