State Capitol Update for the Week of February 15

February 19, 2021

There have been a few recent news articles about reapportionment or redistricting throughout the country, particularly in those states that have a nakedly partisan process. Our state has reason to be proud of our process, so I wanted to share its broad outlines with you. 
 
It may be helpful to define a couple of terms.  “Reapportionment” refers to the process of figuring out how congressional seats get allocated among the states and “redistricting” is the process of drawing congressional and state legislative districts so that each represents a roughly equal number of people.  This process is conducted every ten years, following the census. 
 
Because of the pandemic and some disputes at the federal level this year, the 2020 census results are delayed.  Ordinarily, they would have been reported by the end of 2020, but now they are expected sometime this spring.  That will complicate the process, as those responsible for making recommendations will have to make some decisions with incomplete information, and/or act very quickly once complete information is available.  (And there are always questions about how “complete” the census really is, given established patterns of reluctance to participate in some communities.) 
 
Connecticut has five U.S Congressional Representatives, based roughly on its population as a share of the total US population.  Preliminary information suggests that will remain the case: we don’t expect reapportionment to reduce or increase the size of our congressional delegation this year. 
 
Redistricting, however, nearly always happens, because our population is not static, and people move within the state.  This process is driven by the Constitutional principle of “one person, one vote,” meaning that each district must be roughly equal to others in terms of population, and by the need to comply with the protections of the Voting Rights Act to ensure minority representation is not suppressed.
 
Decisions on drawing new districts are made in Connecticut by a bipartisan Reapportionment Commission (yes, the name is misleading – they really do redistricting, not reapportioning).  The commission is made up of nine members: four selected by Democratic legislative leadership, four by Republican legislative leadership, and the ninth picked by the other eight.  You need 5 votes to agree on a plan, so by definition it must have bipartisan agreement.  If the commission can’t agree on a plan, it goes to the Connecticut Supreme Court.  
 
Finally, to answer a question a couple of you asked: yes, they do pay attention to where legislators live, as they generally want to avoid inadvertently drawing lines in such a way that a legislator suddenly wakes up in another district.  Given that I live in the corner of the Northwest Corner, that’s not all that likely in any event!
 
 
Here’s a list of today’s topics:

  • Weekly Hospital Capacity Update. Click here.
  • Data Updates on Vaccine Administration in Connecticut. Click here.
  • Nursing Home Update. Click here. 
  • COVID Alert Map. Click here.
  • Comcast Update. Click here. 
  • Eversource Storm Resources. Click here. 
  • Blood Drives in the District. Click here.

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
 
AnchorWeekly update on hospital capacity in Connecticut
 
The following document contains weekly data regarding hospital capacity in Connecticut.
 

**Download: Report from February 19, 2021 on hospital capacity in Connecticut

 

 
AnchorData 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:
 

Dose Total Administered
First doses administered 504,129
Second doses administered 242,759
Total 746,888

 

 
Connecticut ranks third in the nation for vaccine distribution.
 
So far, the state has vaccinated:
 

  • 68 percent of its population over the age of 75
  • 29 percent of its population between the ages of 65 and 74

 
Connecticut is currently in phase 1b of its COVID-19 vaccination program. Right now under this phase, individuals over the age of 65 can receive the vaccine. In the coming weeks, the phase will open to include individuals between the ages of 16 and 64 who have underlying health conditions, and frontline essential workers.
 
Information on Connecticut’s COVID-19 vaccination program is available at ct.gov/covidvaccine.
 
 
AnchorWeekly update on the impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes and assisted living facilities
 
The following documents contain the weekly 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 facilities.
 

**Download: Report from February 18, 2021 on COVID-19 in Connecticut nursing homes
**Download: Report from February 18, 2021 on COVID-19 in Connecticut assisted living facilities

 

 
AnchorWeekly update of the Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Alert Map: 138 of 169 municipalities in red zone alert level
 
The Connecticut Department of Public Health today released its weekly COVID-19 Alert Map, which indicates that 138 of 169 towns and cities in Connecticut are currently in the red zone alert level, the highest of the state’s four alert levels.
 
Several municipalities in the state that are not in the red zone are located in the 64th District, including:
 

  • Goshen and Kent, which are in the orange alert level;
  • Salisbury, which is in the yellow alert level; and
  • Canaan, Cornwall, and Norfolk, which are in the gray alert level.

The color-coded zones include:

  • Red: Indicates case rates over the last two weeks of greater than 15 per 100,000 population
  • Orange: Indicates case rates between 10 to 14 cases per 100,000 population
  • Yellow: Indicates case rates between 5 and 9 per 100,000 population
  • Gray: Indicates case rates lower than five per 100,000 population

 
The weekly alert map is also accompanied by a chart that provides guidance on recommended actions based on the alert levels for individual residents; institutions such as schools, houses of worship, and community organizations; and municipal leaders and local health directors.
 
The COVID-19 Alert Map is updated every Thursday afternoon and can be found in the Data Tracker page of the state’s coronavirus website at ct.gov/coronavirus.
 
AnchorComcast to suspend implementation of data caps
 
Yesterday, Comcast announced its decision to suspend implementation of data caps beyond July 2021 and, minimally, through the end of 2021, as the result of pressure from Energy and Technology Committee Co-Chairs State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex), State Representative David Arconti (D-Danbury) and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong.  In late 2020, Comcast announced it was imposing a 1.2-terabyte monthly data limit on its customers starting in early 2021; that data cap was initially rolled back with a target reinstatement of July until the agreement was struck.
 
As a result of this decision, customers will not have internet usage limited or slowed down in any way, nor will they face fees for going over caps. Initially, had the caps gone into effect, customers would have been charged $10 for surpassing 1.2 terabytes in a month, with an additional $10 fee kicking in every additional 50 gigabytes up to a total possible fee of $100 per month.

AnchorEversource Storm Resources

New England winter weather is living up to its reputation with snow storms looming and mixed precipitation in current forecasts.

Winter storms can bring heavy snow, strong winds and frigid temperatures that could potentially become life-threatening, especially for young children and elderly people.

The best way to stay safe during a winter storm or any storm is to be prepared ahead of time.

Below is a list of resources that I hope you will find helpful.

Useful Resources 

As with any weather-related emergency, preparation is the key to safety and can even help to save lives. Stay warm and be safe.

AnchorUpcoming Blood Drives in the District
 
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.  Blood donations help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer.  A decision to donate blood can save a life, or several.  The American Red Cross has regularly sponsored blood drives in the region, including an upcoming one in Salisbury.   
 
The American Red Cross is particularly looking to add sites in Kent and Sharon.  If you know of a site that might be appropriate (preferably over 1,600 square feet so as to ensure social distancing), or If you are part of a community group that might be interested in helping to organize a reach out to Sean E. Bravakis, who is in charge of  Donor Recruitment for American Red Cross. He can be reached at sean.bravakis@redcross.org or at 860-384-1365. 

Providing information to Connecticut residents
 
For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus. Residents can also subscribe to text message alerts from the state by texting the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.
 
Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Anyone who is out-of-state or requires a toll-free number can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 by dialing 1-800-203-1234. This is intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms are strongly urged to contact their medical provider.