Coronavirus In CT: 11 Cases, Drive-Thru Testing Ready

CONNECTICUT — Coronavirus cases in Connecticut hit 11, including a Greenwich resident who tested positive in Utah, officials announced Friday. The latest batch includes six more confirmed cases. A total of 136 people have been tested in the state for the new coronavirus, or COVID-19.

The new batch of cases are in Bethlehem, Darien, Greenwich, and Westport, said state Epidemiologist Dr. Matthew Cartter during a Friday afternoon press conference.

Drive-through coronavirus testing was established at Greenwich Hospital, Bristol Hospital and Waterbury Hospital. Patients need to have a written physician’s order to get tested.

About 56 percent of Connecticut students will be out of school starting Monday, according to state officials.

State Chief Operating Officer Josh Gebelle announced a number of new initiatives targeting relief for businesses, the unemployed and students who receive free or reduced-price meals. Other initiatives include:

• Obtaining a federal waiver that will allow closed schools to be pickup sites for meals.
• Suspension of electric shut-offs during the state emergency. Water and gas companies under the purview of state regulators are also banned from shut-offs.
• The state Department of Labor has suspended the work-search program, which requires those seeking new unemployment to meet one-on-one at one of the state's job search facilities. The same rules will apply to current and future furloughed workers.
• HUSKY and Medicaid insurance will cover telemedicine services.
• Small Business Express loans from the state will be deferred for three months. Interest won't accrue during that time period. This affects about $5 million in loan repayments over three months.
• State visitor centers and facilities at some state parks are being closed.

Yale-New Haven Hospital was able to replicate a COVID-19 test, according to the New Haven Register. The hospital expects to begin testing today or Monday and will have capacity to screen about 200 people a day.

President Donald Trump declared coronavirus a national emergency. The move will open up $50 billion to help combat the spread of the virus. He urged all states to set up emergency operation centers to coordinate the response, according to The New York Times.

There have been 1,629 confirmed coronavirus cases nationally across 46 states and Washington, D.C., as of Friday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The death toll is 41

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The Connecticut testing breakdown is as follows:

• Fairfield County: 8 positive, 48 negative
• Hartford County: 0 positive, 25 negative
• Litchfield County: 3 positive, 9 negative
• Middlesex County: 0 positive, 2 negative
• New Haven County: 0 positive, 29 negative
• New London County: 0 positive, 5 negative
• Tolland County: 0 positive: 2 negative
• Windham County: 0 positive, 5 negative

Two hospital workers at Danbury, Norwalk and Bridgeport hospitals tested positive for coronavirus and a New York woman treated at Greenwich Hospital also tested positive.

Hundreds of schools across Connecticut announced plans to close indefinitely and move toward learning at home, and that list continues to grow. (Coronavirus School Closings In CT: Updated List).

Gov. Ned Lamont issued several emergency executive orders Thursday, including waiving requirements for schools and limiting the size of crowds in the state. (Here Are All Of Gov. Lamont's executive orders).

Connecticut's top state health officials said up to 20 percent of residents may get the coronavirus over the next couple of months and we should expect more cases in the fall. (CT To See More Cases In The Coming Months). Most major events, including St. Patrick's Day parades, are canceled across the state.

Meals available for Connecticut students at schools closed because of coronavirus

The Connecticut State Department of Education received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture allowing students who are enrolled in schools that are closed due to coronavirus to receive meals through the school lunch program to continue receiving those meals and for them to be consumed at home, allowing for social distancing. This action is effective immediately.

Similar to the how the summer lunch program operates, parents and students can show up at their school and receive a lunch for the student and other children in the household under the age of 18 and take the lunch home with them. The meals do not have to be consumed on school premises. Only one student in a household must be present to receive multiple meals for every child 18 years old and under in their household.

Expansion of telemedicine coverage for Medicaid/HUSKY Health

The Connecticut Department of Social Services is implementing changes in Medicaid/HUSKY Health that will support Connecticut’s COVID-19 preparedness and response through increased access to health services. Specifically, for approximately 850,000 enrolled residents, DSS will cover identified telemedicine services, effective today.

DSS is also planning to cover testing for COVID-19; make prescription drug coverage more flexible; and eliminate cost sharing in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (HUSKY B) and for members enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid.

Telemedicine coverage includes:

• Real-time video conferencing, as can be enabled with a smart phone, between HUSKY Health members and their health care providers for specific medical and behavioral health services. This will enable many members and doctors to communicate remotely, with Medicaid covering the virtual visit.
• Broadening video conferencing in general to include all primary care type evaluation and management services for medical and behavioral health.

Connecticut Department of Labor modifies unemployment insurance, offers programs

Connecticut Department of Labor Commissioner Westby is suspending the requirement that workers applying for new unemployment benefits directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic be actively searching for work.

Unemployment benefits are available to workers whose employer needs to temporarily shut down or slow down business. Employees who are furloughed by the emergency but expect to return to work can access up to at least six weeks of benefits. Employers reducing hours but not furloughing employees can partner with CTDOL’s Shared Work program, which allows employers to reduce employees’ work schedules by 10 percent to 60 percent and supplement lost wages with unemployment benefits.

Connecticut unemployment insurance already excluded the waiting period other states have removed. For a document containing a list of Frequently Asked Questions for workers and businesses regarding unemployment insurance during the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

State working with small businesses impacted by coronavirus

The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is working with small businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19. Specifically, the agency will defer loan payments for all Small Business Express loans for three months. Additional details include:

• The Small Business Express program has approximately 800 outstanding loans with an aggregate loan balance of approximately $110 million.
• The average loan has a five-year remaining term.
• Approximately $5 million in loan payments will be deferred.

In addition, the state agency is making efforts accommodate other businesses with DECD loans that are being impacted.

Connecticut Public Utility Regulatory Authority orders moratorium on shut-offs

In response to a petition filed yesterday by Attorney General William Tong, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has ordered the gas, electric, and water public service companies it regulates to implement a shut-off moratorium and refrain from terminating utility service to residential customers, except for reasons of public safety, for a 30-day period subject to renewal to ensure all residents may safely remain home during the epidemic.

Temporary suspension of certain state agency programs and services

Several Connecticut state agencies have made the decision to temporarily suspend certain programs and services in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19 to state employees and the public. The closures announced today include:

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)

DEEP is closing all of its visitor centers and facilities associates with its State Parks that are open to the public and receive significant visitor traffic throughout the day. Examples include the visitor center at Dinosaur State Park and the Meigs Point Nature Center at Hammonasset State Park. The closures are effective immediately.

DEEP is also immediately suspending large gatherings at all of their facilities and parks. These include, for example, weddings that are held at Harkness Memorial State Park. The agency is typically required to provide custodial and other facilities support for these kinds of events. DEEP is sending cancellation notices to the groups that made reservations for these large gatherings through at least the end of April.

Department of Labor (CTDOL)

CTDOL is suspending the federal RESEA work-search program effective immediately. This program involves a more intensive process that mandates recipients of unemployment insurance go to the American Job Centers in person and receive one-on-one help. The agency anticipated serving 9,030 people this year. Suspending this program will reduce traffic in the centers and help limit in-person contact with the public. The agency still anticipates reaching its goal of serving 9,030 people this year.