Honoring Those Who Died Serving our Country This Memorial Day

May 22, 2020

Today at 11 a.m., I hope you will join me for a Facebook LIVE Community Conversation on my Facebook page. 

Feel free to email me your questions ahead of time at Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov or comment on the live video!

Memorial Day is a moment where we remember and honor those who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, parades and other public events have been canceled. However, there are still safe ways to honor those who gave their life for our country. Check out this Hartford Courant article for some ideas.

Even during these trying times, it's important that we take a moment on Memorial Day to show them our love and gratitude.

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

  • COVID-19 Update
  • MIS-C Cases in Connecticut
  • CVS Health Adds 13 Additional Testing Sites
  • Home Heating Assistance
  • Boating Safety
  • Economic Recovery in the Valley and State

COVID-19 Update

As of 4 p.m. Friday, a total of 39,640 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, click the image above.

DSS announces children enrolled in school meals program will soon receive additional, emergency SNAP benefits

The Connecticut Department of Social Services announced that due to the cancellation of in-person, pre-K to grade 12 classes at Connecticut schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year, the families of approximately 265,631 public school students and 1,748 private school students will receive additional, emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits under the federal Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program. 

When schools were initially scheduled to reopen May 20, Connecticut received federal approval to $71.3 million in EBT benefits, which increased to $97.5 million after the decision to cancel in-person classes for the remainder of the school year. 

DSS estimates approximately $34.5 million in additional food benefits will be issued to about 70,000 SNAP-eligible households and $63 million in food benefits to about 80,800 households not currently enrolled in SNAP: 

  • Pandemic EBT SNAP benefits will be deposited in the EBT accounts of about 70,000 households currently enrolled in SNAP on or about Sunday, May 24. An additional 800 households enrolled in SNAP will receive Pandemic EBT SNAP benefits in their EBT accounts
  • DSS will mail EBT debit cards to about 80,000 households not currently enrolled in SNAP and will deposit EBT SNAP benefits into their new EBT accounts on Sunday, June 7, for Medicaid-enrolled households and on Sunday, June 21, for all other households. These are households that do not currently have EBT cards because they are not enrolled in SNAP or cash assistance. 

Benefits can be used at any location accepting SNAP/EBT cards, including farmers' markets and direct market farms. Pandemic EBT participants will also have online access to eligible food purchases through delivery and curbside pickup. More on that below.

Families do not have to apply for these benefits. The planned one-time benefit is $364.80 per child enrolled in the free and reduced-price meals program.

Connecticut farmers impacted by COVID-19 eligible for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program funding

The Governor, Congressman Joe Courtney, and state Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt are encouraging Connecticut farmers and producers who have been impacted by COVID-19 to sign up and receive financial assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

The program is available for producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a 5% or greater price decline, or who had losses due to market supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and face additional significant market costs. 

The USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept applications starting May 26. The department will work with producers by phone, email, and online tools to process applications. Additional information about the program including eligibility, applications, payment calculator, and a list of FSA offices is available here.

Want to support local farms and agricultural producers? Visit www.CTGrownMap.com to find a farm near you.

Read more here.

CTDOL receives $2.33 million federal grant to create disaster relief jobs, employment and training services

The Connecticut Department of Labor has been awarded a $2.33 million federal grant to create temporary disaster relief jobs for dislocated workers and other eligible individuals, along with employment training services and other necessary supports. The grant will be used to address critical needs resulting from the public health emergency, including the surge in unemployed individuals, strain on the state's health care infrastructure, and the increased demand for workers in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance jobs.

Disaster relief jobs are expected to fall into 3 job categories:

  • cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting public facilities;
  • delivering medicine, food, other supplies to quarantined individuals and vulnerable populations; and
  • health care support jobs to assist with sick and vulnerable individuals.

More information is available here.

Read Friday's 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 press releases here.

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including an FAQ and other guidance and resources, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

MIS-C Cases in Connecticut

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a health alert on a condition association with COVID-19 called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). Connecticut has less than 10 cases, which are being treated and monitored. Symptoms can present up to 4 to 6 weeks after exposure to or a diagnosis of COVID-19. 

Possible symptoms include:

  • Persistent fever for more than 24 hours (Fever is the most common symptom)
  • Rash
  • Muco-cutaneous inflammation (red lips, tongue, palm and sole)
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms including stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting
  • Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
  • Feeling extra tired

Possible complications:

  • Cardiac complications
  • Bleeding disorder
  • Kidney, respiratory and neurologic disorder

Children and adolescents less than 21 years of age are considered at risk. 

If children are showing signs of the above symptoms, contact their primary care provider immediately for further guidance and treatment of the condition. 

Additional information from the CDC can be found here.

More information from the World Health Organization is available here.

CVS Health Adds 13 Additional Testing Sites

CVS Health is opening 13 new COVID-19 test sites at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations in Connecticut. These locations come in addition to the 12 locations the company previously opened on May 15.

The 13 new CVS Health test sites include:

  • CVS Pharmacy, 292 Spielman Highway, Burlington, CT
  • CVS Pharmacy, 47 Lake Avenue Extension, Danbury, CT
  • CVS Pharmacy, 16 Main Street, East Hartford, CT
  • CVS Pharmacy, 15 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme, CT
  • CVS Pharmacy, 1770 Kings Highway, Fairfield, CT
  • CVS Pharmacy, 1657 Route 12, Gales Ferry, CT
  • CVS Pharmacy, 690 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford, CT
  • CVS Pharmacy, 57 Providence Pike, Putnam, CT
  • CVS Pharmacy, 229 Hope Street, Stamford, CT
  • CVS Pharmacy, 1938 West Main Street, Stamford, CT
  • CVS Pharmacy, 2005 Norwich-New London Turnpike, Uncasville, CT
  • CVS Pharmacy, 355 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT

For more information, click here.

Home Heating Assistance

Connecticut residents who need assistance paying last winter's home heating bills that there is still time to apply to the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP). An extended application deadline of Monday, June 1, 2020 gives eligible families and individuals more time to apply.

Connecticut residents, including those impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency, are welcome to apply. Home heating benefits are available for households with incomes up to 60% of the state median income (currently $36,171 for a single person and $69,559 for a household of four). 

Applicants should contact the community action agency serving their region, or partnering intake sites around the state. Visit www.ct.gov/staywarm or call 2-1-1 to find the application site closest to you.

Boating Safety

 

It's National Safe Boating Week! Please be safe in or near our rivers, whether you're boating, fishing, or anything else. Our rivers are running high, fast, and cold right now so wear your life jackets. And please follow proper physical distancing guidelines too. 

Along with boat safety, I want to remind you about water safety. It only takes a moment. A child or weak swimmer can drown in the time it takes to reply to a text, check a fishing line or apply sunscreen. Do your part, be water smart! More information is available here. The Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation also teaches families and kids water safety. Learn more here.

Economic Recovery in the Valley and State

Tuesday, May 26 at 11:30 a.m., please join me, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner David Lehman and Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bill Purcell for a discussion on reopening the state and region and moving the economy forward. 

This conversation will be streamed via Facebook Live on my Facebook page - www.Facebook.com/StateRepKaraRochelle.