David Michel

COVID UPDATE
 

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases and tests in Connecticut. It is important to note that these newly reported updates include data that occurred over the last several days to a week. All data in this report are preliminary, and data for previous dates will be updated as new reports are received and data errors are corrected.

State Transfers $1.1 Billion To Pay Down Pension Debt

Connecticut leaders this week transferred $1.1 billion from the state’s budget reserve fund, also known as its Rainy Day Fund, to make a significant payment on the state’s pension debt. Why? Currently, the budget reserve balance can’t be valued at more than 15% of the state’s net budget, meaning the Rainy Day Fund has accrued so much excess value that part of that value must be spent on other purposes. This payment provides new momentum for Connecticut to meet the challenge of paying down significant pension debt accrued over past decades.

Webinar Series On Children’s Mental Health September 13, 20

A two-part webinar series co-hosted by the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity and the Office of the Child Advocate, “Addressing Despair,” will look at children’s mental health with an eye toward strategies to better support children in need. The webinars are scheduled on Monday, September 13 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Monday, September 20 from 2 to 3:30 p.m., respectively. The first will be a community conversation featuring accounts and experiences of children and their families experiencing situational and long-term needs for mental health treatment, while the second will be a discussion of the barriers and challenges faced by individuals and how new strategies could better address this mental health crisis. Registration for each respective webinar can be found here and here.

September Is National Recovery Month

September marks the celebration of National Recovery Month, intended to educate the public and support those who have recovered from mental illness and substance use disorders. Recovery supports everyone in our communities, helping people reclaim their lives and helping families come together. Connecticut organization The Hub has plenty of information about recovery services and support here.
 

September Is National Suicide Prevention Month

Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death in the United States and the second-leading cause for those ages 10-34. National Suicide Prevention Month helps spread the word that suicide is preventable and it’s OK to talk about it – talking about it and supporting those in need can and will save lives. Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. To support someone struggling, stay in contact with them. Ask if they are experiencing suicidal thoughts and if they are, work to keep them safe. Resources are available to help, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 800-273-8255; the Text the Crisis Text Line at 741741; and Connecticut Mobile Crisis, 2-1-1 option 1.
 

COVID Hospitalization Data Continues To Show Efficacy Of Vaccines

Hospitalization data in Connecticut continues to show the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the governor’s office, of the 363 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 74%, or roughly 269, are not vaccinated or fully vaccinated against the virus. With 66.7% of the state’s population fully vaccinated against the virus, that means a minority of residents, roughly 33%, are responsible for nearly three out of every four current COVID-19 hospitalizations. Further information from our state shines even more detail on the disparity between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. A Yale University study of fully vaccinated patients who were hospitalized found those patients tended to be older, with a median age of 80.5 years, and had pre-existing conditions that can worsen the effects of COVID-19 such as heart disease and diabetes, or were on immunosuppressive drugs that negatively impacted the effectiveness of their vaccines – meaning patients more likely to require medical care in general were more likely to be hospitalized and receive more intensive care. This data reinforces the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine and its effectiveness in limiting the effects of COVID-19 infection. If you have not yet been vaccinated, please discuss this issue with your primary care provider or medical provider.