Jane Garibay

To help you and our neighbors stay up-to-date on the ever-evolving stream of information related to the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic, my office and I are working to provide news as it develops over social media and by email. This is a recap of some of this week’s highlights.

Below you can find information on the following topics:

• Access Health CT Deadline Today
• Multi-state Council Enacted to Help Employees Get Back to Work, Restore Economy
• Stimulus Package Check
• Connecticut Fair Housing Center COVID-19 Rent Relief FAQ
• The Census

For more information about the state's response efforts visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

To receive text message notifications, sign up for CTAlert, the state’s emergency alert system. To subscribe, text "COVIDCT" to 888-777.

Access Health CT Enrollment Deadline TODAY

Today is the deadline to enroll in Access Health CT's special enrollment period if you do

not have insurance. To enroll you must call 1-855-365-2428 today between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Coverage will begin on May 1. What you will need includes:

• Social Security number
• Citizenship / Immigration status
• Tax returns (to estimate payment amount)
• Employer information
• Healthcare coverage information

Please note enrollment for health insurance due to losing coverage because of a job loss or life change does not have a deadline. For more information, visit: Learn.AccessHealthCT.com/Verification-Help.

Multi-State Council Enacted to Help Employees Get Back to Work, Restore Economy

Connecticut joined forces this week with New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Delaware and Pennsylvania to create a multi-state council charged with getting people back to work and restoring the economy, already building on a regional approach to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Massachusetts has also joined the council.

According to a press release distributed by Governor Ned Lamont, "The coordinating group – comprised of one health expert, one economic development expert and the respective chief of staff from each state – will work together to develop a fully integrated regional framework to gradually lift the states’ stay at home orders while minimizing the risk of increased spread of the virus."

The full release including quotes from the governors involved in the multi-state council can be found here.

Stimulus Package Check

The first round of Stimulus Package checks went out to taxpayers who filed their 2018 and/or 2019 tax returns. A second round of paper checks is expected to be mailed to taxpayers around May 4.

If you haven't received a payment but are expecting one, aren't sure if you're eligible, or would like to speed up the process of receiving your payout by entering bank account information, the IRS has created a portal where you can check the status of your stimulus payment here.

Please be aware of scams associated with Stimulus Package checks. Here's a related story that recently appeared in the Hartford Courant.

Connecticut Fair Housing Center COVID-19 Homeowner FAQ

Questions and answers regarding homeowner rights during the COVID-19 outbreak, including ability to make payments in the event you've been negatively impacted by the outbreak or not can be found in the FAQ here which includes a version in Spanish, too.

The Census Matters

The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to supply daily services, products, and support for you and your community. For example, each year, billions of dollars in federal funding goes to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on the data gained through the census.

The results are also used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790. This also marks the first year in which you can fill out the census online. Please click here.

COVID Testing

Connecticut's first rapid COVID-19 testing center is now open at the former Gateway Community College parking lot in New Haven. The test is free for any Connecticut resident with COVID-19 related symptoms and risk factors as defined by CDC guidelines.

According to the New Haven Register, the testing site will use the Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 rapid-response test. Abbott claims it can show positive results for COVID-19 in approximately five minutes and negative results in less than 15 minutes. Patients will REMAIN IN THEIR VEHICLES for the test then drive to the Jordan’s Furniture parking to wait for the results.

If you are interested in receiving a test, you must make an appointment. Tests can be scheduled up to two days in advance. To register, click here.

Click here for more information.