COVID-19 Updates 9/4

COVID
September 4, 2020

I hope you are continuing to stay strong because we will get through this together. Here is the latest on COVID-19 data, resources, and words of encouragement from local, national, and world leaders.
Local and National Data Updates
(Latest Data as of 4:00 PM on Friday, September 4, 2020)
 
  Confirmed Cases    Deaths    Tests Completed
Worldwide 26.7 Million 877,221  
U.S. 6.38 Million 191,801 85.7 Million
Connecticut   53,365 4,468 1.24 Million
Waterbury 2,349 193  

For several additional charts and tables containing more data groups, including a town-by-town breakdown of positive cases in each municipality and a breakdown of cases and deaths among age groups, click here.

Positivity for the Future

"Friends and family please talk to your children as they prepare to return back to school, this isn’t a normal school year. Be honest and explain the importance of the mask, and the importance of sanitizing, washing hands for their safety. Children are very very intelligent and are capable of grasping much more than we know explain it to them, for everyone safety." - State Rep. Geraldo Reyes
 
Voter Suppression

Take a look at my interview with Channel 8 from last week. I point out the clear attempt at voter suppression in my district as our polling place has been moved more than 2 miles out of district.

Remember, your vote counts! Be powerful. Be a voice.

Here are a few things to know about voting by absentee ballot in the Nov. 3 general election:

  • The Secretary of the State will mail absentee ballot applications to all active, registered voters Sep. 8-11. 
  • If you don't receive your application by Sep. 18, you can download another one here.
  • Complete and return the application as soon as possible. You must complete a new application, even if you voted absentee in the primary. Include your telephone/email address on the application to make it easier for your Town Clerk to contact you should there be a problem with your application (or ballot). 
  • To avoid postal delays, we recommend returning your application using the Official Ballot Drop Box in your town. You can find the exact location here.
  • Town Clerks will mail absentee ballots beginning Oct. 2.
  • Be sure to seal the ballot in the inner envelope, sign and date the inner envelope and include just one ballot per outer envelope. We again recommend completing your ballot as soon as possible, and returning it via your Town's Official Ballot Drop Box.
SNAP Benefits

A second round of SNAP replacement benefits (separate from Storm Isaias) are still available for households affected by last Thursday's (8/27) Tornado/Microburst storm upon request. There is NO mass replacement happening for this event. Requests are due to DSS by 

September 6th using the forms accordingly.

You can access both forms, in English and Spanish, by clicking the button below.
Access Forms

Weekly update to the regional travel advisory: Two states added, no areas removed

The regional travel advisory between Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York that directs incoming travelers from states with a significant community spread of COVID-19 to self-quarantine for a 14-day period was updated this week and now includes Alaska and Montana on the list of impacted locations. No areas were removed in this week’s update.

The quarantine applies to any person traveling into Connecticut from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents, or higher than a 10 percent test positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.

The list of impacted locations is updated once per week on Tuesdays. As of today, the full list of impacted locations falling under the travel advisory includes:

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Guam
  • Hawaii
  • Iowa
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Minnesota
  • Missouri
  • Mississippi
  • Montana
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • Oklahoma
  • Puerto Rico
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Virgin Islands
  • Virginia
  • Wisconsin
Anyone seeking the most up-to-date information on the regional travel advisory, including an extensive list of frequently asked questions, is encouraged to visit the state’s coronavirus website.