More Details on Connecticut's Reopening Plan

May 21, 2020

Yesterday, certain businesses in the state opened their doors to customers for the first time since March. In order to stay open, businesses must follow policies set by the state that protect public health and safety. These policies have been put into place for your benefit and for those around you. 

This is a stressful time for many workers and consumers alike, so please be patient as everyone gets used to this new normal. 

In this email, you will find information on the following:

COVID-19 Update

​

As of Thursday at 10 a.m., 39,208 cases of COVID-19 have been reported among Connecticut residents. Day-to-day changes reflect newly reported cases, deaths, and tests that occurred over the last several days to week. All data in this report are preliminary; data for previous dates will be updated as new reports are received and data errors are corrected. For a county-by-county breakdown of cases or to view additional data, please click the image above.

Governor Signs 44th and 45th Executive Orders 

Today, the Governor signed Executive Order No. 7RR to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, support economic recovery, and provide efficient public services through this crisis. The executive order enacts the following provisions:

  • Authority for DEEP to issue rental refunds
  • Modification of age limit for early intervention coverage
  • Waiver of requirement for guest books at private clubs

Click here to read Executive Order No. 7RR. 

Wednesday Governor Lamont signed Executive Order No. 7QQ, which enacts the following provisions:

  • Modifications to permit the use of absentee ballots to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission during August 11, 2020 primary
  • Clarification that orders by commissioners issued pursuant to the governor’s executive orders are not regulations

Click here to read Executive Order No. 7QQ.

DMV extends credential deadlines to 180 days

The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles announced that as the state continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, its previously enacted 90-day extension for Connecticut resident with expiring credentials is being extended to a total of 180 days. Eligible DMV credentials that expire between March 10, 2020 and June 30, 2020 will be automatically covered by the extension. Late fees associated with eligible expired credentials will also be waived during the extension period.

The following DMV-related items are covered by the extension:

  • All Licenses, Permits and Identification Cards
  • All Registrations Including International Registration Plan (IRP) and Boat Registrations
  • Emissions Testing and Retesting
  • Permanent Disability Placard
  • Business Licenses
  • Temporary Registrations
  • Temporary (Paper) Licenses
  • Flashing Light Permits
  • New Residents
  • Suspension Related Matters
  • VIN Verification
  • School Bus Proficiency Tests
  • Ignition Interlock Devices

More information about the DMV credential extensions is available at CTDMV.info. Residents who have questions can call 860-263-5700 or 1-800-842-8222.

DSS preparing online access to food for SNAP recipients

The Connecticut Department of Social Services is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service, the state's electronic benefit transfer (EBT) vendor, and participating food retailers to implement SNAP online purchasing in Connecticut. 

The beginning of online food purchasing is tentatively scheduled for June 2. When activated, enrollees will be able to use SNAP benefits on the EBT card to purchase eligible food items online for delivery or curbside pickup at participating food retailers.

Participating retailers include Amazon, including Amazon Pantry and Amazon Fresh, 12 Walmart stores, and Wakefern Food Corp, which has 22 participating ShopRite stores.

Read the federal announcement here. For more information about SNAP in Connecticut, visit www.ct.gov/snap.

DOL notifying over 75,000 individuals about eligibility for extended unemployment benefits

The Connecticut Department of Labor announced it is planning to mail instruction letters to approximately 77,000 individuals in Connecticut who may be eligible to apply for 13 weeks of emergency extended unemployment benefits. 

CTDOL Commissioner Kurt Westby state the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) included an extension of the 26 weeks of the regular state unemployment insurance to 39 weeks through the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program. PEUC could be retroactive to March 29, 2020 and will be in effect until December 26, 2020. Weekly benefits are based on wage history using the formula to determine state unemployment insurance benefit amounts. It also includes the additional $600 Federal pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefit. 

The notification letter will include instruction eligible claimants will need to follow to receive the emergency extended benefits.

Read more here.

Read the full news update here.

For all of the emergency orders issued by the Governor and state agencies, click here. Watch the Governor's news conferences here, and read the releases here.

Reopening CT

The state has established new enforcement protocols to ensure businesses follow the Sector Rules for May 20th Reopen intended to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. 

Local health officials, local law enforcement, and municipalities will be able to enforce the sector rules by inspecting businesses for compliance with public health and the reopen sector rules. 

The first violation will result in a warning and education by local law enforcement. A second or more egregious violation will be referred to the local public health department or chief elected official designee, which may order business closure.

Residents and employees who want to report noncompliance should contact local law enforcement or use the online complaint form here. Individuals who do not have internet access can call 2-1-1 and an operator can complete the form on the caller's behalf. 

Contingent upon meeting outlined public health metrics, the Governor is planning for the following sectors to open on APPROXIMATELY June 20:

  • Accommodation (no bar areas)
  • Gyms, fitness, & sports clubs
  • All personal services
  • Outdoor arts, entertainment and events (up to 50 people)
  • Outdoor amusement parks
  • Movie theaters
  • Bowling alleys
  • Social clubs, pools
  • All museums, zoos, aquariums 
  • Restaurants (indoor, no bars)

OTHER SECTORS BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE PHASE 2 REOPENING:

  • Nonresidential workforce programs (mid Jun)
  • Nonresidential clinical/laboratory courses (mid Jun)
  • Selected youth sports (Jun 20) 
  • Public libraries (Jun 20)
  • All summer camps (Jun 22)
  • K- 12 summer school (July 6) 
  • Other nonresidential programs (July/Aug)
  • Graduate programs (July/Aug)
  • Undergraduate residential small-scale pilot programs (July/Aug)

PHASE 3 PROJECTED SECTORS TO OPEN
(APPROXIMATELY 4 WEEKS AFTER JUNE 2O) 

  • Bars
  • Indoor event spaces & venues 
  • Indoor amusement parks & arcades 
  • Outdoor events (up to 100 events)

FALL SCHOOL YEAR: 

  • Undergraduate residential programs K-12 (TBD)
  • Boarding schools (TBD)

DPH Reports Infection Control Deficiencies in CT Nursing Homes

The Connecticut Department of Public Health posted online findings of deficiency in 20 additional nursing homes related to infection control and were made following focused infection control surveys of Connecticut's 213 nursing homes. 

These surveys were conducted in partnership with the Connecticut National Guard and inspectors from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and involved unannounced visits to nursing homes. These surveys resulted in enhanced staff training and additional deliveries of personal protective equipment (PPE). A key infection control procedure cited in four of the deficiency findings is cohosting, or grouping nursing home residents who have tested positive for COVID-19, or another infectious disease, to contain a virus.

Additional deficiencies identified were improper notification inside the facility and to families, improper physical distancing between residents, infection control issues, and improper use or cleaning of PPE.

Because visitation to skilled nursing facilities has been banned, these findings can be found on Connecticut's e-license website.

DEEP outlines state park operations plan heading into summer season

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection released an operation plan outlining current guidelines around the use of Connecticut state park grounds, trails, beaches, boat launches, and other areas amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the plan here.

A majority of state parks have remained open throughout the duration of the pandemic and the restrictions they've been operating under will remain in place. 

More information is available here.

CT Office of the Attorney General Reaches $550 Million Settlement with Santander

Earlier this week the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General announced a $550 million settlement with Santander, the nation's largest subprime auto financing company.

In our state, 1,740 resident will be entitled to restitution. Santander knowingly placed these customers into auto loans they knew had a high chance of default, putting these borrowers at financial risk. 

The settlement includes significant loan relief for customers as well as injunctive measures to assure this does not happen again and to hold financial institutions accountable when they play fast and loose with families' hard-earned income. 

Click here to learn more about applying for restitution. 

EMS Appreciation Week

​

There are no words that would be able to fully express how in indebted we are to the men and women serving our community in emergency medical response during this crisis, and how fortunate we are for their dedication and service. This week is EMS Appreciation Week, but let's make sure we show our gratitude for our EMS workers and volunteers often. Text and thank those you know who serve, donate to our local EMS, and do what you can to slow infection rats to make their jobs a little easier and safer. We're in this together and we owe so much to our EMS workers. A huge thank you today, this week, and every week for what you do for us.

Spotlighting Local Excellence

Thank you Elaine Selling for making masks for the staff at the Derby Senior Center! Nicely done!