By State Senator, Norm Needleman.
With 12 days remaining in the countdown to May 20, a day where the state may begin reopening some operations and parts of its economy, Governor Lamont and state officials have given more details on the seven steps they believe are key to ensure the state can successfully reopen. Progress on the following subjects currently stands as such:
- The state is on pace with a 14-day decline in average hospitalizations across the state, with COVID-19 statewide hospital admittance down 30 percent from peak numbers and no regional outbreaks currently seen.
- A goal to increase testing capacity statewide to 42,000 tests per week is in the works, with efforts hoped to reduce the time it takes to receive test results and increase testing among asymptomatic individuals.
- The state is in works to create a statewide contact tracing system that will help inform people exposed to COVID-19 that they may need to quarantine themselves.
- Screening of vulnerable or high-risk groups is ramping up, with specific focuses on increasing testing including nursing homes, direct care workers, corrections staff and offenders, first responders and at-risk urban communities.
- Hospitals are reporting adequate capacity for COVID patients and will begin resuming select procedures postponed due to COVID-19, with some mobile field hospitals to be taken down.
- The personal protective equipment stockpile is growing and seeing strong results, with the supply chain stabilizing and the state reporting 30-day supplies of equipment available save for gowns.
- Workplace safeguards against virus spread, including regulations for reopening businesses, are administered and released, with detailed protocols prepared for different business sectors.
Small Business Administration Funding Remains
The Department of Economic and Community Development said this week that $110 billion in funding remains for the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP. Approximately 30,000 organizations have been approved for $2.5 billion in forgivable loans during this round. The PPP provides forgivable loans to small businesses and non-profits with less than 500 employees. Under the loan, 75 percent of funds must be used for payroll expenses; the rest can be used on rent, mortgage interest or utilities. More information is available here. Connecticut has more than 350 SBA-approved banks and credit unions that can help organizations secure funding.
Small Business Owners, Workers Asked To Provide Input
The Department of Economic and Community Development is asking small business owners and workers to fill out two surveys to gather insight on reopening efforts:
- The Small Business Reopening Survey is for business owners and will help understand the current status and implications of reopening
- The CT Worker Sentiment Survey will help understand how employees feel returning to the workplace
Unemployment Filing for Self-Employed Individuals Live
In the past week, there have been interruptions in the process for unemployed self-employed individuals to file for unemployment. Happily, the next step in that process is finally live. Those who have filed for state unemployment benefits and have been waiting for Pandemic Unemployment Compensation to become available can visit the Department of Labor’s website and click the red button to file for unemployment. These interruptions and delays have undoubtedly been frustrating, but those seeking funding can pursue the next steps in the process.
Connecticut’s Attorney General, Chief State’s Attorney Announce Joint COVID-19 Fraud Task Force
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, Chief State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo and others have formed a joint federal-state task force combatting COVID-19-related fraud in Connecticut.
The task force will investigate and prosecute a wide range of misconduct related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including price gouging, healthcare and government program fraud, consumer and small business scams, hoarding and PPE procurement scams, mortgage and student loan relief scams, lending scams, charities fraud, and phishing, spoofing and cyber fraud. Violators may be subject to civil fines and penalties and/or state or federal criminal prosecution.
Connecticut residents may report COVID-19-related fraud to the Task Force by contacting the Office of the Attorney General via email at attorney.general@ct.gov or by calling 860-808-5318.
In addition, residents may report COVID-19-related fraud to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or by visiting www.justice.gov/disastercomplaintform
COVID-19 Tests Can Be Accessed Without Medical Approval
As part of the effort to rapidly ramp up COVID-19 testing among the public and increase the state’s capacity to reopen, Governor Lamont announced that regulations regarding COVID-19 tests have been lifted. Patients no longer need to receive a referral from a physician, physician assistant or nurse prior to receiving a COVID-19 test, and those tests can now be conducted by pharmacists.
This is a major step forward for the state as leaders seek to significantly increase daily testing capacity, especially in underserved communities and for individuals who may not have primary care physicians. Expanding access to testing will significantly inform and improve the state’s response to COVID-19, especially as new information about the virus is discovered. New testing won’t just help determine positive diagnoses among individuals with symptoms but will allow for increased discovery of asymptomatic carriers in high-risk locations like nursing homes, correctional facilities and health care facilities.
New Steps To Limit Spread of COVID-19
In the Governor’s latest executive order, the following changes have been made to various statutes to accommodate the public and lower risk of transmission of COVID-19:
- The reapplication filing requirement for the Homeowners’ Elderly/Disabled, Circuit Breaker Tax Relief Program and the Homeowners’ Elderly/Disabled Freeze Tax Relief Program has been suspended, allowing for benefits to continue without taxpayers needing to recertify eligibility.
- The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection can use distance learning and remote testing certifications for its programs instead of forcing in-person contact.
- Land use and building permits have had validity periods extended so they do not expire during the state of emergency.
- In-person voting requirements for critical and time-sensitive municipal decisions can be suspended, allowing municipalities to adopt or amend existing contracts of agreements deemed essential, as well as take action on essential sales of real or personal property, without requirements for in-person approval by electors or taxpayers.
Bottle Redemption To Resume By Early June
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will allow retailers in Connecticut to resume bottling redemption activities on a limited basis beginning May 20, with full resumption of operations by June 3. This was temporarily suspended in mid-March to allow retailers to maintain and manage store environments with focus on product supply and safety measures. Upon resumption of the redemption, retailers will likely have daily limits on numbers of containers, limited hours and social distancing and mask-wearing requirements.
Federal Approval of Additional SNAP Assistance for Meals Programs
As in-person classes in public schools have been canceled for the remainder of the academic year, Connecticut has received $95.5 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits to children eligible for free and reduced-price meals. About 270,000 Connecticut children who cannot receive meals at school will receive meals through this program.
The Department of Social Services expects to issue $46.3 million to 70,000 SNAP-eligible households and $52.2 million to 80,000 non SNAP-eligible households for food assistance. These benefits will be deposited in EBT accounts beginning in mid-May at any location accepting SNAP cards. Children are automatically eligible for additional benefits because school is not in session. The DSS will collaborate with the Department of Education to bring further information to families.