COVID-19 Updates 1/19

COVID
January 19, 2021
GOVERNOR LAMONT PROVIDES UPDATE ON CONNECTICUT’S CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE EFFORTS (Latest Data as of 5:00PM on Tuesday, January 19, 2020) 

Hamden Specific COVID-19 Updates:

As of 5:00 p.m. on January 19th —

 Hamden has conducted 34,377 COVID-19 tests with 3,493 confirmed cases. Cases increased by 28 from January 18th, which had 3,465 confirmed cases.

As of today, the overall positivity rate for Hamden is 10.2%.
Data updates on testing in Connecticut

County-by-county breakdown of current COVID-19 hospitalizations:
 

County

Current COVID-19 Hospitalizations

Fairfield County

283

Hartford County

329

Litchfield County

17

Middlesex County

37

New Haven County

343

New London County

93

Tolland County

6

Windham County

33

Total

1,141

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, click here.

Data updates on vaccine administration in Connecticut

The following data represents the total number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered in Connecticut, as reported to the state as of today:

  • First doses administered: 196,753
  • Second doses administered: 24,067
  • Total doses administered: 220,820
Connecticut is currently in phase 1b of its COVID-19 vaccination program. Right now under this phase, residents over the age of 75 can receive the vaccine. Soon, the phase will expand to include residents between the ages of 65 and 74, and residents between the ages of 16 and 64 who have underlying health conditions. Residents and staff of congregate settings and frontline essential workers will soon also become eligible during this phase.

There are a total of 1.4 million individuals in Connecticut who are eligible to receive the vaccine during phase 1b. At this moment, the state anticipates receiving about 45,000 doses of the vaccine per week from the federal government. Governor Lamont is working with the federal government to get more supply into the state.

Connecticut currently ranks in the top five of states for administering the COVID-19 vaccine to its residents.

Information on Connecticut’s COVID-19 vaccination program is available here.

Food benefits will increase by 15 percent on Wednesday for all Connecticut households enrolled in SNAP; Approximately 110,000 enrollees will receive monthly COVID-19 emergency benefit on Saturday

The Connecticut Department of Social Services announced that it will provide a total of $25.5 million in additional federal food benefits to Connecticut residents in two allocations this week through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

First, on Wednesday, January 20, all 213,590 of the state’s households enrolled in SNAP will receive an average benefit increase of $45.91, which will be the first of several monthly 15 percent increases that will continue through June. This additional food aid totals an estimated $8.5 million per month and results from the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

For example, a single adult previously receiving the maximum benefit amount of $204 will receive an additional $30 for a new maximum benefit amount of $234. A family of four previously receiving the maximum benefit amount of $680 will receive an additional $102, bringing their new maximum benefit amount to $782. If a household was granted benefits on or after January 9, 2021, it already has received the 15 percent increase as part of its regular SNAP benefits.

Second, on Saturday, January 23, approximately 110,000 SNAP-enrolled households will receive an average benefit increase of $154.90, which will be the tenth monthly emergency COVID-19 allocation authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020. This additional food aid totals $17 million for January, adding to the $176.2 million in emergency benefits disbursed in each month since April 2020.

This emergency COVID aid will go to households that are not currently receiving the maximum benefits allowed for their household size. This means that all households enrolled in SNAP will receive the maximum food benefit allowable for their household size, even if they are not usually eligible for the maximum benefit.

The average emergency benefit amount a household will see on its electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card on January 23 is $154.90. If a household is granted regular SNAP benefits on or after January 22, 2021, and is also eligible for the emergency supplemental benefits, the latter benefits will be added to the EBT card on a Friday, depending on the date of granting.

Counting the new 15 percent benefit increase for all enrolled households, emergency benefits allow the household’s SNAP benefit to increase to the maximum, as noted in the following chart:

Household Size

Maximum Benefit Amount

1

$234

2

$430

3

$616

4

$782

5

$929

6

$1,114

7

$1,232

8

$1,408
For each additional person, add $176. For example, if a household of two normally received $200 of SNAP benefits in January, it will receive a 15 percent increase of $30 on January 20 and an additional $200 emergency benefit on January 23, to bring this household up to the maximum benefit for its size of $430.

For additional information about SNAP, click here.
 
Every Voice Bill
I am So proud of the Every Voice Coalition and excited to work with them to get the Campus Climate Survey Bill signed into law this year. This bill would ensure we get the data we need to address campus assaults. It would further act as an educational tool so that new students can be aware of the pitfalls of their first year.
An additional piece, ensuring that students who are witnesses or survivors aren't punished for drinking on campus, is also a major aspect of this bill. We need to let students know that we are behind them - and that we want our campuses to be safe spaces for people to learn and grow.
Watch Student Leaders Discuss the Bill