Tax Update, Hydroxychloroquine Donated To Hospitals In CT

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont signed his 24th executive order which he said is another step in trying to control the spread of the coronavirus.

The order deals with taxes, alcohol, permits and even how packages are delivered. Lamont also announced that the state received a large amount of hydroxychloroquine, which will be used to aid very ill patients.

Here are the full highlights of the new order:

• Suspension and modification of tax deadlines and collection efforts pursuant to Executive Order No. 7S, Section 6: Modifies Executive Order No. 7S, Section 6 regarding to make tax deferral and interest-rate reduction programs for eligible taxpayers, businesses, nonprofits, and residents who have been economically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic also apply to taxes and utility charges from quasi-municipal corporations. It also clarifies the time periods for which this applies.
• No increased experience rating based on COVID-19 unemployment claims: Modifies state laws surrounding the requirement for employers to be charged an “experience rating” so their unemployment premiums are not unduly increased because of the high number of claims caused by COVID-19.
• Coil cleaning requirements modified: Modifies state regulations so that bars, restaurants, breweries, and wineries that normally sell beer or wine for on-premises consumption and remain closed for on premises consumption pursuant to Executive Order No. 7D are not required to clean beer or wine pipe lines on a weekly basis, unless growlers, crowlers, or cans for off-premise consumption are sold pursuant to Executive Orders No. 7G or 7T. Any premise that is not cleaning lines on a weekly basis will not be permitted to begin serving draught beer or wine after Executive Order No. 7D is lifted until a coil and line cleaning occurs.
• Delivery signature requirement suspended: Modifies state statutes so that consumers do not need to provide a signature for delivery or curb-side pickup of alcoholic beverages, provided that the seller verifies that the consumer receiving the alcoholic beverages is twenty-one or older and is not intoxicated.
• Return of permit not necessary for temporary closures pursuant to Executive Order No. 7D: Waives the requirement that businesses with certain permits that have closed for sixty days or less notify the Department of Consumer Protection of the closure, so long as the closure is the result of Executive Order No. 7D. It also waives the requirement that businesses return their permits to the state if the business is closed for more than 60 days if the closure is the result of Executive Order No. 7D, as long as it intends to open following the termination of the executive order.
• Ninety-day provisional permits: Modifies state statutes to authorize the commissioner of Consumer Protection to review and approve the issuance of provisional permits and their renewal, which would have otherwise been reviewed and approved by the Liquor Control Commission.
• Renewal date for on-premise liquor permits to be extended: Modifies state statutes to provide that all on-premise liquor permits in active status when Executive Order No. 7D went into effect on March 16, 2020 shall be extended by four months, including any business whose permit expired between March 16 and April 9.
• Permit need not be recorded with town clerk: Suspends state statutes and regulations in all towns where the town clerk’s office is closed or so reduced in hours that it makes it unreasonable to have permits recorded. Permits shall be recorded as soon as the relevant town clerk’s office is reopened and staffed for routine business.

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Connecticut receives donation of hydroxychloroquine that will be distributed at hospitals statewide

The State of Connecticut has received a generous donation of hydroxychloroquine from Amneal Pharmaceuticals that will be distributed to acute care hospitals as they combat the COVID-19 pandemic, and work to ensure that critically ill patients have access to the medication. The Food and Drug Administration recently authorized emergency use of the medication to treat COVID-19 in certain hospitalized patients. Hydroxychloroquine is traditionally used to treat autoimmune disease such as lupus.

Approximately 400,000 tablets (4,000 bottles) of the 200mg hydroxychloroquine tablets have shipped and are starting to be received by hospitals. They went direct to medical facilities in order to ensure that patients have direct access to the medication and aims to limit hoarding and inappropriate use or prescribing. The donation was secured through the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection’s Drug Control Division with the collaboration of the Connecticut Hospital Association.

See related: CT Coronavirus Updates: School, Restaurant, Bar Closures Extended

CT Coronavirus Updates: Nearly 10,000 Positive Cases, 380 Deaths

The medication was sent to hospitals in the statewide based on the total number of beds the for which each hospital is licensed. Additional allotments were sent to hospitals supporting or expected to support recovery centers. Hospitals, following the procedures set by the Drug Control Division, may move this medication to other hospitals should there be a need.

“Making sure that medical facilities have the resources they need to treat patients who are in dire need of our support is an absolute priority,” Lamont said. “I want to thank Amneal Pharmaceuticals for their generous donation, along with DCP, and the Connecticut Hospital Association for working to ensure this medication goes to the right place. What we’re going through is unprecedented, and it will continue to take public private partnerships like this to get through it.”

Financial assistance available for minority and women-owned small businesses negatively impacted by the pandemic

Minority and women-owned businesses with 20 or fewer employees can now apply for a zero-interest line of credit up to $20,000 to help them navigate the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 Business Response Program will be administered and underwritten by Hartford Economic Development Corporation (HEDCO). Companies can learn more about the program and apply for assistance by visiting HEDCO’s website.