LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates: May 25 to 31

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

LATEST UPDATES: Governor’s COVID-19 briefing for Sunday || Governor’s Saturday COVID-19 update || GOVERNOR’S FRIDAY COVID-19 BRIEFING: barber shops and hair salons can open Monday || Limit on gatherings upped to 10 indoors, 25 outdoors || Religious gatherings now 25% capacity or 100 people indoors (whichever is smaller) or 250 outdoors, starting Monday || Utility shutoff moratorium for businesses extended to July 1

See also:

LATEST DARIEN COVID-19 NEWS: Continual Updates:

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

SUNDAY COVID-19 Governor’s Briefing

Sunday, May 31 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 4 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.

*The number of tests in today’s update does not include the entirety of the data as there was an upload issue in the transmission of the electronic files to the state. The remainder of the test data that should have been included in today’s update is anticipated to be reflected in Monday’s report.

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.

SATURDAY COVID-19 Governor’s Briefing

Saturday, May 30 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 4 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.

FRIDAY COVID-19 Governor’s Briefing

Friday, May 29 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 7 p.m. on Friday:

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 47^th executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19

Lamont today signed another executive order – the 47^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. 7TT enacts the following provisions:

• Reopening of barbershops and hair salons on June 1: Permits barbershops and hair salons to resume operations on June 1, 2020, provided that they follow sector rules that have been issued by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development.
• Amended prohibitions on large gatherings: Relaxes the previously enacted limits on large gatherings. Effective June 1, 2020:
  • Limits on all social and recreational gatherings are raised to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, subject to safety restrictions and existing orders and business sector rules.
  • Limits on all religious, spiritual, and worship gatherings are raised to 25 percent of capacity of the indoor space or a maximum of 100 people, whichever is smaller, and to 150 people for outdoor gatherings, provided in each case that appropriate safety and social distancing measures are employed.

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.

Utility shut-off moratorium for businesses extended through July 1; Residential shut-off moratorium continues for duration of emergency

The Connecticut Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) today announced that the utility shut-off moratorium for non-residential customers in the state will continue through July 1, 2020. The separate utility shut-off moratorium for residential customers remains in place for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency declared by Governor Lamont. Both moratoriums apply to customers of all electric, natural gas, and water utilities regulated by PURA, and prohibit service terminations except in instances of public safety.

In addition, PURA continues to warn customers of a recent uptick in utility-related scams. Customers should always use caution when receiving any solicitation pertaining to their utility bill and are encouraged to call their utility company directly with questions or concerns. Connecticut’s regulated electric, natural gas, and water public utility companies are currently not terminating service due to nonpayment for as long as the emergency shut-off moratoriums remain in place.

For more information, read the press release issued today by PURA.

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.

THURSDAY COVID-19 Governor’s Briefing

Thursday, May 28 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2020:

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.

Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group’s community committee holds roundtable on vulnerable populations

The Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group’s community committee this morning held a roundtable discussion regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the state’s most vulnerable populations. Members of the public had an opportunity to provide questions to the panel and have them answered during the event.

Some of the members of the advisory group’s community committee who are anticipated to participate in this roundtable include:

• Marie Allen, Executive Director of the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging and Independent Living
• Ken Alleyne, Vice Chair of the Connecticut Health Foundation
• Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
• Nora Duncan, State Director of Connecticut AARP
• Mike Freda, First Selectman of North Haven
• Marcella Nunez Smith, Director of Equity Research and Innovation at the Yale School of Medicine
• Rochelle Palache, Assistant District Leader for SEIU, Local 32BJ
• Jordan Scheff, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Disability Services
• Daria Smith, Executive Director of the Connecticut State Independent Living Council

The full video of the roundtable can be watched online on Governor Lamont’s YouTube channel.

Your Questions Invited as Reopen CT Panel Meets at 10 AM Thursday on Balancing Health & Economic Outcomes

Wednesday, May 27 — An announcement from the Governor’s Office, emailed at 9:56 p.m., Wednesday:

Gov. Ned Lamont today announced that members of the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group’s community committee will hold a roundtable discussion on Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 10 a.m. regarding how best to balance health and economic outcomes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for those who are among the state’s most vulnerable populations.

This is the meeting that previously had been scheduled for May 19 but needed to be rescheduled for technical reasons.

• Members of the public who have questions for the panel can email their inquiries to reopen@ct.gov.
• The discussion will be broadcast live by the Connecticut Network (CT-N) and available to watch on its cable television channel and through a live stream on CT-N.com.

Some of the members of the advisory group’s community committee who are anticipated to participate in this roundtable include:

• Marie Allen, Executive Director of the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging and Independent Living
• Ken Alleyne, Vice Chair of the Connecticut Health Foundation
• Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
• Nora Duncan, State Director of Connecticut AARP
• Mike Freda, First Selectman of North Haven
• Marcella Nunez Smith, Director of Equity Research and Innovation at the Yale School of Medicine
• Rochelle Palache, Assistant District Leader for SEIU, Local 32BJ
• Jordan Scheff, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Disability Services
• Daria Smith, Executive Director of the Connecticut State Independent Living Council

Previously, members of the advisory group’s business committee and education committee each held similar roundtable discussions.

The Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group is a panel of local health, business, workforce, and education experts who are consulting with the Lamont administration and legislative leadership on the reopening of Connecticut’s economy and education system as the nation emerges from the unprecedented public health emergency caused by COVID-19.

The group has been providing Lamont with recommendations, which the governor is using to inform his decisions on the reopening of the state.

WEDNESDAY COVID-19 Governor’s Briefing

Wednesday, May 27 — 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.

*The staff at the Department of Public Health have removed 356 cases and 808 tests in the past 24 hours, which were identified as duplicates in the system, affecting both test and overall case numbers. Since yesterday, there have been 341 new positive cases, and 5,215 new tests were reported.

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 46^th executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19

Governor Lamont today signed another executive order – the 46^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. 7SS enacts the following provisions:

• Permits the creation of a temporary nurse aide position to assist health care providers managing the COVID-19 pandemic and other health-related services during the pandemic.

Judicial branch announces resumption of partial operations at courthouses in Middletown, Rockville, and Litchfield

Chief Court Administrator Patrick L. Carroll III today announced that the Connecticut Judicial Branch will resume partial operations in three courthouses starting Monday, June 8, including the Middlesex Judicial District Courthouse in Middletown, Rockville’s Geographical Area No. 19 Courthouse, and the Litchfield Judicial District Courthouse in Torrington.

Ten courts have remained open through the pandemic: the Supreme and Appellate Courts, the Judicial District courthouses in Bridgeport, New Britain, New Haven, New London and the Geographical Area Courthouses in Hartford (No. 14) and Waterbury (No. 4); and the juvenile courts in Hartford and Bridgeport. Beyond these locations and the three courthouses resuming partial operations effective June 8, all other courts will remain closed until further notice.

For more information, read the press release issued today by the Connecticut Judicial Branch.

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.

Darien Police Getting More Calls, Discontinuing Participation in Birthday Drive-By Parades

Wednesday, May 27 — Darien Police Department posted this announcement Tuesday afternoon on its Facebook timeline:

Good Afternoon Darien! As we cautiously move towards re-opening our community, we have begun to see an increase in our regular calls for service. As a result we will be discontinuing our participation in the birthday/celebration parades.

We sincerely hope that we brought some joy to those who otherwise weren’t able to celebrate in more traditional ways. We enjoyed seeing all of your smiling faces and you certainly brightened our days and evenings. Thank you, be healthy, be safe, and keep smiling Darien!

TUESDAY COVID-19 Governor’s Briefing

Tuesday, May 26 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2020:

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.

Testing data by town added to daily updates

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) continues its efforts to provide access to timely information on the COVID-19 pandemic by releasing detailed testing data each day. The State of Connecticut was among the first states to publish data on cases and deaths by town, cases and deaths by race, ethnicity and gender, on persons whose death certificate lists COVID-19 disease as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death (probable), and cases and deaths in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

DPH continues to expand access to data as the pandemic evolves. Daily updates on COVID-19 cases are now available statewide for all 169 towns by date reported, and on total tests and cases by date collected and date reported. Data on testing, cases, hospitalization, and deaths are accessible via daily updates on the state’s COVID-19 portal – ct.gov/coronavirus – and the dedicated COVID-19 section of the state’s open data portal – data.ct.gov/coronavirus. The open data portal includes historical data, as well as the ability for users to download data, create charts, tables, and other visualizations.

Governor Lamont releases Reopen Connecticut report

Governor Lamont today released his Reopen Connecticut report, which contains recommendations from the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group – the panel of local health, business, workforce, and education experts who provided his administration and legislative leadership with recommendations on the reopening of Connecticut’s economy and education system as the nation emerges from the unprecedented public health emergency caused by COVID-19.

Throughout the pandemic, Governor Lamont has been using the advisory group’s recommendations, combined with inputs from state agency leadership, legislators, and other stakeholders, to inform his decisions on the reopening of the state.

“The global COVID-19 pandemic is complex and rapidly evolving, and that is why I asked a group of people on the ground here in Connecticut – including public health experts, business owners and representatives, education officials, and others – to review how the virus is impacting Connecticut and provide me with recommendations for a safe and appropriate response,” Governor Lamont said. “We learn new things about this virus every day, and as a result, the plans outlined in this report are almost certain to change based on new facts, insights, and breakthroughs both here in our state and around the world, as well as in coordination with our regional partners. But one thing is for sure – the strength, generosity, and resolve I see every day across our state will remain constant. By working together, we can continue to protect the health and safety of our family, friends, and neighbors as we reopen Connecticut. I thank the members of the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group for volunteering their time and helping shape these recommendations over the last several weeks, and I thank legislative leaders for working with us throughout this process, providing valuable input to my administration.”

With the release of the governor’s report, the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group has adjourned its activities and will no longer meet, however the governor said he will remain in contact with its members over the coming months as the situation continues to develop.

FEMA approves Connecticut’s request to extend services for non-congregate housing

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved the Lamont administration’s request to provide an extension for its non-congregate housing programs until July 2, 2020. This vital program, which was approved by FEMA in March, provides non-congregate housing to vulnerable individuals that have COVID-19 or have been in contact with COVID-19 positive individuals. It provides the state and its municipalities with a 75 percent reimbursement of all eligible costs associated with this housing. The program includes non-congregate housing for:

• Those at high risk of exposure in public service;
• Individuals in at-risk facilities such as group homes, nursing homes, long-term care sites, and alternative care facilities;
• First responders and health care workers who have been exposed and cannot return home;
• Homeless individuals in congregate shelters; and
• Individuals in domestic violence shelters.

Connecticut’s implementation of this program has been highlighted as a best practice by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition.

Department of Revenue Services continues to provide taxpayer assistance during pandemic

The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS) is reminding residents that the agency continues to provide taxpayer assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include:

• Priority One Assistance Program: The Priority One Assistance Program offers assistance to businesses and individuals who have an existing collection matter with DRS. The new program, which was created to facilitate assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, connects taxpayers with a DRS professional, who will assist in developing a workable solution. Taxpayers seeking assistance can call 860-541-7650 on Mondays to Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or can send an email to DRSPriorityOne_CollectionsAssist@po.state.ct.us.
• File electronically: Filing and payment deadlines for Connecticut individual income tax returns have been extended until July 15, 2020. The easiest way to file – and the fastest way to receive a refund – is through online filing, including via the DRS Taxpayer Service Center, which is easy, secure, and free to use. Since Connecticut’s individual income tax return begins with federal adjusted gross income, it is often beneficial to complete one’s federal income tax return first. Taxpayers who file a paper tax return will experience longer processing times for refunds. DRS strongly encourages taxpayers and tax professionals to file electronically.
• Helpful information on the DRS website: The DRS website – portal.ct.gov/DRS – includes answers to many questions, and a Frequently Asked Questions page that is updated regularly. Taxpayers who need to contact DRS may email DRS@po.state.ct.us. To reach DRS by phone during normal business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) call 860-297-5962 (from anywhere); 800-382-9463 (within Connecticut, outside Greater Hartford area only); or 860-297-4911 (TDD/TT users only).

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.

MONDAY COVID-19 Governor’s Briefing

Monday, May 25 — Gov. Ned Lamont provided the following COVID-19 updates as of 2 p.m. on Monday, May 25, 2020:

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.

About the Photo Used for Links to This Web Page

This photo was uploaded to Wikimedia Commons on April 26.