Coronavirus CT: 20 Positive Tests Now, National Guard Involved

CONNECTICUT — The number of confirmed positive tests for the new coronavirus has risen to 20 cases in Connecticut as of 5 p.m. Saturday, Gov. Ned Lamont said. This means there were nine new confirmed positive tests over the past 24 hours. This includes the first cases that have been detected in Hartford and New Haven Counties.

A county-by-county breakdown of the positive cases includes: Fairfield County, 15, Hartford County, 1, Litchfield County, 3, and New Haven County, 1.

“The number of cases announced today reinforces for us what we knew was already going to happen: this virus is spreading and it is here in Connecticut,” Lamont said. “I urge all of my fellow residents to take preventative measures like limiting large gatherings and keeping a safe social distance. Our state has taken critical measures to maximize public health and those steps will continue.”

Lamont didn't release new information on which Connecticut towns have seen new cases since Friday afternoon but Rocky Hill, Norwalk, and Yale New Haven officials have all reported new positive tests. (Don't miss updates in Connecticut concerning the Coronavirus as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.)

Lamont Signs New Executive Order Saturday

Lamont signed another executive order – his third since signing the civic preparedness and public health emergency declarations earlier this week – that "builds upon his efforts to encourage mitigation strategies that slow down transmission of the virus, including by promoting social distancing, and helping the healthcare industry obtain needed medical equipment and other supplies," the governor's office said in a prepared statement.

Lamont's new order results in:

Suspension of in-person open meeting requirements: The order modifies statutes regarding state and local government meetings that are required to permit members of the public to attend in-person and authorizes those meetings to be held remotely by conference call or videoconference, provided that the public is provided remote access to view or listen to the meetings and access materials for the meetings.

Waiver of manufacturer registration requirement for hand sanitizer: To increase the availability of hand sanitizer, the order suspends certain statutes regarding manufacturer registration requirements and authorizes the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to allow pharmacists to compound and sell finished hand sanitizer products over the counter to customers.

Refunds for certain liquor license application fees permissible: The order authorizes the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to cancel and refund the application fee for liquor permits to anyone who paid for such a permit but no longer needs it because the event for which the permit was required has been canceled due to the public health emergency.

DSS Temporary Family Assistance: The order authorizes the Commissioner of Social Services to waive requirements that applicants for Temporary Family Assistance attend an in-person interview and planning session before receiving benefits.

Provisions to ensure adequate childcare resources: To increase access to childcare for families in need throughout the pandemic, the order authorizes the Commissioner of Early Childhood to allow the operation of youth camps, and waive certain requirements for childcare facilities. As many school readiness programs are suspending operations due to the pandemic, the order also allows the Commissioner of Early Childhood to allow school readiness programs to operate for fewer than 50 weeks.

Provisions to ensure adequate healthcare resources and facilities: The order allows the Office of Healthcare Strategy to waive certain requirements regarding certificates of need and other healthcare related requirements so ensure that the increased demand for healthcare resources and facilities can be met during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I want to assure the people of Connecticut that the acts we are taking are being done with their safety in mind. I think everyone can agree that using the executive authorities that we were granted for times such as this is the right thing to do," Lamont said.

Working From Home For State Employees, More Social-Distancing Measures Enacted

Easing restrictions on telework to permit more state employees to work from home and providing additional paid time off.

Lamont has authorized the Department of Administrative Services and the Office of Policy and Management to implement several measures that will increase the state executive branch agencies’ ability to implement social distancing and assist employees who are directly affected by COVID-19 while still maintaining state operations and providing needed services and programs to the public.

Due to the nature of state operations, telework is not an option all for state employees, such as state police, prison guards, child protection social workers, field-based Department of Transportation workers, staff at state hospitals, and many more. For those job classifications that are eligible to telework, several requirements relating to eligibility for telework have been temporarily suspended, giving agency leaders broader discretion to allow executive branch state employees to work from home. Agency leaders are also authorized to consider flexible scheduling among other social distancing strategies.

State employees who cannot telework and cannot come to work due to COVID-19 illness, the need to self-monitor at home, or the need to stay home because of school and other closures will be given up to 14 calendar days of paid time off before being required to use their sick leave or vacation. These measures are intended to protect the health of state employees and mitigate the disruption and economic harm caused by COVID-19.

Changes On The Railroad

Service changes on Shore Line East and Hartford Line

The Connecticut Department of Transportation today announced rail service changes on Shore Line East and the Hartford Line as part of the state’s coordinated effort to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. For a list of the service changes, click here. The changes will go into effect on Monday, March 16, and will continue until further notice.

National Guard Is Now Involved

The Connecticut National Guard has been mobilized and is aiding in requests for assistance from the Department of Public Health. Some of the assistance provided so far includes:

· Delivery of ventilators to St. Francis Hospital, Danbury Hospital, and Hartford Hospital;
· Inventory of medical equipment sets for the Mobile Field Hospital; and
· Reconfiguring parts of the Mobile Field Hospital into small tents for possible rapid deployment to hospitals.

Internet Providers Step Up, Wi-Fi Hot Spots For All

With an increasing number of school closures and families staying home to protect against COVID-19, several internet providers in Connecticut are stepping up to ensure that families have the access they need to conduct business and complete schoolwork.

As part of the Federal Communication Commission’s Keep Americans Connected Pledge launched on March 12, eight internet service providers in Connecticut have committed to not terminating business or residential service, or charging late fees for anyone who can’t pay their bill due to hardship caused by COVID-19. They also have committed to provide Wi-Fi hot spots to any American that needs them. These pledge commitments will be in place for at least a 60-day period.

Connecticut providers that have signed the pledge include Comcast, Frontier, Altice (Optimum), Charter (Spectrum), Cox, Atlantic, Verizon, and AT&T.

In addition to signing the pledge, several companies are providing additional resources. Some of these include:

· Comcast announced a plan to ensure low-income families have internet access that will be effective as of March 16. The benefits include 60 days of free service for new Comcast customers, and higher internet speeds for all qualifying customers. Families can check their eligibility and learn more about available programs at www.internetessentials.com.
· Altice and Charter are offering 60 days of free broadband to households with K-12 and college students who have been impacted by COVID-19 and not already subscribers to their services with no installation fees.
· AT&T is waiving home internet data caps during the entire COVID-19 outbreak.

Businesses and families in Connecticut that need assistance are encouraged to contact their service provider to see what programs they may have available to be supportive during this time.

See also: CT Coronavirus: More Positive Tests Confirmed Saturday, Top Hospital Official Tests Positive

Plane Isolated At Bradley Airport As Ill Passenger Aboard

Coronavirus CT: Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods Announce Cancellations

Providing information to Connecticut residents

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including guidance and other resources, all residents in the state 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 information line is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance and TDD/TTY access for those with a hearing impairment. The hotline only intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone experiencing symptoms is strongly urged to contact their medical provider to seek treatment.