Phase 2 of CT Reopening Plan Rescheduled

June 16, 2020

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:

  • COVID-19 Update
  • Executive Order Signed to Modernize Police Strategies
  • Phase 2 of CT Reopening Plan Rescheduled
  • CT Back to Work Initiative
  • Mortgage Relief Program Extended 60 Days
  • DMV Deadlines Extended 180 Days
  • 2020 Census
  • Spotlighting Local Excellence

COVID-19 Update

 

As of Tuesday at 4 p.m., a total of 45,349 cases of COVID-19 have been reported among Connecticut residents. This includes 43,415 laboratory-confirmed cases and 1,934 probable cases. To better measure the burden and impact of COVID-19 on Connecticut communities and conform with CDC reporting guidance, the state Department of Public Health is reporting cases and deaths as "confirmed" or "probable." Previous reports presented these as a combined number.  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.

Updated data on the impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes and assisted living facilities

The following documents contain updated data regarding each of the nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Connecticut that have reported positive cases of COVID-19 among their residents. The data is presented as it was reported to the state by each of the nursing homes and assisted living facilities. This data is updated on a weekly basis.

Data on Nursing Homes in Connecticut as of June 10
Data on Assisted Living Facilities in Connecticut as of June 9

53rd Executive Order Signed

Tuesday the Governor signed Executive Order No. 7ZZ to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, streamline public services, and work towards the goal of opening state and local economies. The order enacts the following provisions:

  • Modifies several previous executive orders to adapt to Phase 2 reopening efforts. This includes sectors such as hotels/lodging; indoor dining; personal services; sport and fitness facilities; amusement parks; and museums, zoos, and aquariums;
  • Amends previously issued executive orders on large gatherings and events and permits the commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development to issue rules on these gatherings except for religious gatherings;
  • Clarifies limits on alcohol sales by restaurants, bars, and private clubs to allow hotel liquor permit holders to sell liquor with pick-up and delivery services;
  • Extends prohibition of operations at off-track betting facilities through July 20, 2020;
  • Clarifies Executive Order No. 7MM to allow activities permitted by the expedited approval process under this order to continue throughout the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency;
  • Extends remote notarization for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency.

Click here to read Executive Order No. 7ZZ.

Updated Guidance on Indoor and Outdoor Gatherings

Updated guidance on indoor and outdoor gatherings have been released. The plan is as follows:

  • Effective today, June 17:
    • Indoor private gatherings - 25 people
    • Outdoor gatherings - 100 people
    • Outdoor event venues (amphitheaters, race tracks) - 25% of fire capacity and distancing
  • Effective July 3:
    • Indoor private gatherings - 25 people
    • Outdoor private gatherings - 100 people, one time exception for graduations at 150 people
    • Outdoor organized gatherings (fireworks, concerts in municipal parks) - 15 feet of space blanket to blanket, cap of 500 people; event organizer responsible for compliance
    • Outdoor event venues - 25% of fire capacity and distancing
  • Effective mid-July (date to be determined)
    • Indoor private gatherings – 50 people
    • Outdoor private gatherings (including graduations) – 250 people
    • Outdoor organized gatherings (e.g. fireworks, concerts in municipal parks) – 15 feet of space blanket to blanket, no cap; event organizer responsible for compliance with guidance
    • Outdoor event venues – 50% of fire capacity and distancing

To read Tuesday's full update, click here

For all of the emergency orders issued by the Governor and state agencies, click here. Watch the daily news briefings 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.

Executive Order Signed to Modernize Police Strategies

Monday the Governor signed an executive order to modernize police strategies and programs in our state amid the ongoing national conversation on accountability and transparency in law enforcement strategies. 

This order accomplishes the following:

  • Bans the Connecticut State Police from using chokeholds, strangleholds, arm-bar control holds, lateral vascular neck restraints, carotid restraints, chest compressions, or any other tactics that restrict oxygen or blood flow to the head or neck
  • Requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to review and update the Connecticut State Police Administrative and Operations manual
  • Requires DESPP to appoint and train community trust liaisons in each Connecticut State Police Troop and instruct them to assist those troops in building relationships with residents and community-based organizations, learning from residents and organization on better serving their communities, and making the State Police more accessible to residents and organizations
  • Prohibits DESPP from purchasing or acquiring military and military-style equipment from the federal government until further notice
  • Directs every officer of the Connecticut State Police to be equipped with a body camera and every marked vehicle of the Connecticut State Police to be equipped with a dashboard camera

The executive order is not related to the ongoing declaration of civil preparedness and public health emergency enacted several months ago due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

Click here to read Executive Order No. 8.

Additionally, you can find information about Connecticut State Police (CSP) policies such as body-worn cameras, annual reports including data on use of force, training and staffing, and more on the CSP Transparency Portal, here.

Phase 2 of CT Reopening Plan Rescheduled

The planned Phase 2 reopening has been moved forward to June 17, 2020 to avoid having it take effect during the busy Father's Day weekend. It had previously been scheduled for Saturday, June 20. Phase 3 is tentatively scheduled to follow four weeks after Phase 2. 

The state has released guidelines for eligible businesses. Click here to read the guidelines.

Businesses and nonprofits planning to reopen during Phase 2 must self-certify to affirm they are compliant with the reopening rules. Self-certify here.

CT Back to Work Initiative

CT has launched the CT Back to Work Initiative, which will provide user-friendly career tools to workers and businesses impacted by the recent economic fallout.

The state will partner with several private-sector employment services, including the job search engine Indeed, and the workforce training providers Metrix Learning and 180 Skills, to launch CT Back to Work. Indeed.com will create a portal—the first of its kind in the country—for Connecticut residents who have lost jobs. Metrix Learning and 180 Skills will expand the SkillUp CT program announced last month. All of the plan’s components can be accessed here.

Mortgage Relief Program Extended Until July 30

Over 45 banks and credit unions have agreed to extend their voluntary participation in the Connecticut Mortgage Relief Program, which provides relief to consumers facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will now run through July 30, 2020. It was set to expire May 31, 2020.

This program provides the following forms of assistance:

  • 90-day grace period for all mortgage payments
  • Relief from fees and charges
  • No new foreclosures for 60 days (through July 30, 2020)
  • No credit score changes for accessing relief

For more information and a list of participating financial institutions, click here.

DMV Deadlines Extended 180 Days

DMV deadlines have been extended by 180-days from their original expiration dates. Eligible DMV credentials that expire between March 10, 2020 and June 30, 2020 will automatically be extended.

For more information, visit https://CTDMV.info.

2020 Census

Have you and your family been counted in the 2020 Census? What about your friends and neighbors? Help make sure Ansonia and Derby get the resources they deserve for services like health care, education, transportation, public safety, and more. 

Census data is critical in deciding the allocation of federal funds to our communities for the next 10 years. It will also shape our state and federal legislative districts. 

Complete the Census at My2020Census.gov.

Learn more about the Census here.

Spotlighting Local Excellence

Ansonia resident Maliqua Mosley-Williams recently penned an important Op-Ed that was selected for publishing. She is an impressive young adult with great talent and heart and we are lucky to have her as part of our community. Thank you Maliqua for being a powerful and clear voice on issues touching our community and country and for sharing your experience. Read her Op-Ed in the CT Post here.