COVID-19 Update for May 11th
May 11, 2020- Public invited to submit questions to Reopen Advisory Group
- More volunteers sought in pandemic fight
- State RE-opening guidelines
- DECD posts May 20th guidelines for businesses in Spanish
- The current COVID-19 statistics for Connecticut
Governor Lamont Announces Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group to Hold Education Round-table Today at 11 a.m.
The Public is Encouraged to Submit Questions Related to School Reopening
Members of the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group will hold a round-table discussion regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the state’s education system and its ability to reopen.
Members of the public who have questions for the group regarding the impact of COVID-19 on schools can email their inquiries to reopen@ct.gov. The discussion will be broadcast live by the Connecticut Network (CT-N) and available to watch on its cable television channel and through a live stream on CT-N.com.
Those participating in the round-table will include:
- Moderator: Mark Ojakian, President of Connecticut State Colleges and Universities
- Dr. Joanne Berger-Sweeney, President, Trinity College (CCIC Chair)
- Beth Bye, Early Childhood Commissioner
- Miguel Cardona, Education Commissioner
- Dr. Matt Cartter, Department of Public Health State Epidemiologist
- Jan Hochadel, President of AFT Connecticut
- Thomas Katsouleas, President of UConn
- Rick Levin, Former President of Yale
- Glenn Lungarini, Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference
- Fran Rabinowitz, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents
- Rob Rader, Connecticut Association of Boards of Education
- Don Williams, Executive Director of CEA
The Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group is a panel of local health, business, workforce, and education experts who are consulting with the Lamont administration and legislative leadership on the reopening of Connecticut’s economy and education system as the nation emerges from the unprecedented public health emergency caused by COVID-19. The group is providing Governor Lamont with recommendations, which the governor is using to inform his decisions on the reopening of the state.
State and Nonprofit Partners Expand Volunteer Recruitment Efforts for COVID-19 Response
Governor Ned Lamont today said that the State of Connecticut and its nonprofit partners are continuing to seek volunteers willing to help communities respond to the COVID-10 crisis. The state’s volunteer recruitment effort is being expanded to bolster the ranks of volunteers needed at nonprofits that offer support to children and adults in programs for intellectual disabilities and behavioral health settings, as well as organizations that support senior citizens.
To date, more than 5,000 medical volunteers and 1,600 non-medical volunteers have come forward to assist Connecticut’s hospitals and health systems, and also provide support to nonprofits that provide essential human services. Volunteers have helped distribute food with food banks, provided support for those experiencing homelessness in shelters across the state, and delivered meals to home-bound senior citizens in communities across Connecticut.
How to volunteer:
- Anyone interested in volunteering to help their communities in this effort can sign up by visiting ct.gov/coronavirus and clicking the “Volunteers” link. Those interested will be matched with a community provider in need based on their personal interests and abilities.
- Volunteers must be 18 or older, and should not volunteer if at risk or compromised. Those who are immuno-compromised, over 60, showing symptoms of COVID-19, or live with or care for someone in any of those categories should avoid being in public, including for volunteer efforts. Please stay safe, stay home.
- Volunteers do not need to be health care workers. In addition to calling on physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals who may be retired, the state needs community members to help out at food banks, food deliveries to the elderly, and at shelters in a number of ways.
- For those who do have a background in health care, the state’s medical community has specific needs at this time. Hospitals have advised the state that they have a high need for critical care nurses and respiratory therapists.
- Every effort is being made to keep volunteers safe. The state and all of the organizations involved are working hard to make sure that everyone helping out can do so as safely as possible. If any volunteers have concerns, they are strongly urged to ask about the safety protocols of the organization they are volunteering.
- Volunteers will be sent where they are most needed and feel most comfortable. The volunteer process is centralized so that the state and participating organizations have a clear picture of everyone who can help, and everything that is needed. That way, volunteers can be matched with an opportunity that is most in need of that person’s skillset.
The Department of Economic and Community Development releases guidelines for reopening businesses in Spanish
Click here for the link: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Coronavirus-Business-Recovery/Sector-Rules-for-May-20-Reopen.
For today's COVID-19 statistics visit ct.gov/coronavirus.
Providing information to Connecticut residents
The CTAlert notification system - the state’s emergency alert system - provides text message notifications to users. Sign up by texting COVIDCT to 888-777. And for the most up-to-date information from the state on COVID-19 - including frequently asked questions, guidance and resources - visit ct.gov/coronavirus. You can also find answers to general questions by calling the 2-1-1 hotline. It's available 24 hours a day with multilingual assistance and TDD/TTY access.
State Re-Opening
Governor Ned Lamont announced that his administration has released documents detailing specific rules that eligible businesses falling under phase 1 of Connecticut’s reopening plans must follow amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The first phase – which includes restaurants; offices; hair salons and barbershops; retail stores; and outdoor museums and zoos – is currently planned to take effect beginning May 20.