Kara Rochelle

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 Daily Update
• Update on Unemployment Insurance
• CTCARES For Frontline Workers
• Cloth Face Covering Do's and Don'ts
• Talk It Out Hotline
• TEAM, Inc. Distributing Diapers
• Food Resources for Kids
• Connecticut's First Rapid Testing Site Launched
• Spotlighting Local Excellence

For more information about the state's response efforts visit ct.gov/coronavirus. 

To receive text message notifications, sign up for CTAlert, the state’s emergency alert system. To subscribe, text "COVIDCT" to 888-777.

COVID-19 Update

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, 26,312 positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Connecticut. Day-to-day changes reflect newly reported cases, deaths, and tests that occurred over the last several days to week. For a county-by-county breakdown of cases and to view additional data, please click the image above.

The state has published an updated list of nursing homes with COVID-19 cases. Click here to read it.

Friday, April 24, the Governor signed Executive Order No. 7FF, which enacts the following provisions:

• Additional flexibility for Medicaid-enrolled providers to perform telehealth through audio-only methods for new patients

Click here to read the full executive order. 

Thursday, April 23, the Governor signed Executive Order No. 7EE. This executive order enacted the following:

• Mandatory reporting by managed residential communities
• Mandatory reporting by nursing homes
• Civil Penalties for failure to comply with mandatory reporting
• Waiving certain Medicaid prior authorization requirements
• Waiving Medicaid bed reservation requirements for residents on leave from intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities
• Waiving requirements for signed delivery receipt for medical equipment, devices, and supplies

Read the full executive order here.

Read today's full news update here.

You can read all of the emergency orders issued by the Governor and state agencies here. Watch the daily news updates here, and read the press releases here.

Update on Unemployment Insurance

The Connecticut Department of Labor successfully updated its system to implement Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) to provide an additional $600 weekly to filers receiving state unemployment benefits. Benefits will be retroactive to March 29, 2020 for all eligible claimants. It will be provided through July 25, 2020. 

The CTDOL reported that FPUC processing was implemented successfully and claimants began to see the $600 supplement benefit in their online accounts Saturday, April 25.

Please note that first payment is this week and those who already received unemployment benefits for previous weeks - such as April 4, 11, and 18 - the agency will be providing retroactive payments as a lump sum by the end of this week.

Claimants should check their online accounts on the CTDOL website at www.filectui.com and see the deposits were issued over the weekend. Those who receive payments via direct deposit should see the additional amount in their bank accounts by Tuesday. 

The CTDOL is continuing to develop new systems to accommodate the 2 federal stimulus programs for UI:

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance that provides benefits to self-employed workers. APPLICATIONS WILL BEGIN TO BE ACCEPTED APRIL 30. Benefits will be retroactive for all eligible claimants.
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) is a 13-week federal extension to allow eligible claimants to collect the additional weeks after exhausting the 26 weeks of state benefits. The system should be in operation by mid-May.

With a recent software upgrade the CTDOL has been able to process 340,000 of the 402,000 unemployment applications it has received since March 13. The CTDOL is also processing applications much faster and has reduced the anticipated 6-week processing time to 1 to 3 weeks. 

To expedite processing of your claim, select temporary shutdown, and opt in for direct deposit, which will allow funds to be deposited within 2 business days after the claim has been processed and approved.

If you recently filed for unemployment benefits, check your email (including spam and junk folders) for an email from the CTDOL about the next steps in the process.

Please remember to file weekly through the green button on www.filectui.com so there is no interruption in your continued payments.

If you have questions, the CTDOL has a FAQ page that is updated daily.

Find a video tutorial on how to file an unemployment insurance claim here.
 
If you have general questions about filing or need help with your claim, you can email dol.webhelp@ct.gov.

If you do not have a computing device or an internet connection, you can call 860-263-6975 or 203-455-2653 for assistance and a customer service representative will take your contact information and someone will be assigned to process your claim over the phone within 5 business days. This will not expedite processing of your claim faster than using the online system.

American Job Centers are closed to in-person visits, but claimants can call the following numbers for general information concerning unemployment benefits:

• Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: 860-263-6975 and 203-455-2653
• Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: 203-809-9847 and 203-892-6036
• Spanish language support: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: 203-548-7322

Claims cannot be processed or expedited by calling this phone service.

Visit ct.gov/dol for more information.

CTCares for Frontline Workers

The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood will begin accepting applications for its CTCARES for Frontline Workers program to help our state's frontline workers pay for child care.

This will be a short-term program to help workers during the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic. Applications will be accepted until Friday, May 22, 2020.

Frontline workers struggling to pay for child care can receive between $100 and $500 per week for licensed child care. The amount of funding a family can receive depends on number of children and hours a frontline employee needs to work. 

OEC will pay the enhanced subsidy directly to the child care provider during the COVID-19 emergency. Parents should expect to pay a co-pay. There are also income restrictions for the program - family income should not exceed 85 percent of the state median income. Additionally the program is ineligible to those already participating in the Care4Kids program. 

To apply for the CTCARES for Frontline Workers Program call 2-1-1 Child Care at 800-505-1000.

Additional information is available here.

Cloth Face Covering Dos and Don'ts

The Governor has asked for people to wear cloth face coverings wherever close contact is unavoidable. This includes taxi, car, ride-sharing and mass public transit.

• Read the full Executive Order here.
• Watch the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams demonstrate how to make your own face mask here.
• Spanish language tutorials on how to make a face mask with and without a sewing machine are available here.

American Sign Language video on how to make a face mask can be accessed here.

Talk It Out Hotline

When it builds up, talk it out.

Trained professionals are just a call away for parents who wish to discuss concerns and anxieties surrounding family life under COVID-19. 

You can reach them at 833-258-5011, Monday- Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on the weekends, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

English and Spanish language operators are available.

Diapers Available at TEAM, Inc.

TEAM, Inc in Derby can help those who are in need of diapers and baby wipes. You can pick up these items at 30 Elizabeth Street, Derby, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Call TEAM with your needs at 203-736-5420. You can find additional information here.

Food Resources for Kids

The Office of Early Childhood (OEC) wants you to know you’re not alone.

The OEC offers many options to make sure Connecticut families are well-fed during this difficult time.

Read a flier they have developed here for sites near you serving breakfast and lunch to kids 18 and younger. Their webpage will be updated daily as meal sites are added.

Federal Government Approves $72.3 million in SNAP Benefits for Connecticut Children

Friday the Governor announced the state received federal approval for its plan to provide $72.3 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to children eligible for the free and reduced-price meals program. This is expected to bring food benefits to about 270,000 Connecticut children unable to receive meals at school.

The Connecticut Department of Social Services estimates it will issue about $34 million to 70,000 SNAP-eligible households and $38.3 million to 80,000 non-SNAP-eligible households.

Families do not need to apply for these benefits as children are automatically eligible. The planned benefit is $267.90 per child enrolled in the free and reduced-price meals program. Additional benefits may be provided if school closures are extended beyond May 20. DSS expects SNAP benefits will be deposited in EBT accounts beginning in mid-May. 

Consider Donating Non-Perishable Foods to CT's Pantries

During this difficult time, residents are leaning on food pantries to feed themselves and their families, and if you have extra canned and other non-perishable food items, I encourage you to donate to a food pantry in your neighborhood. You can locate a food pantry near you here. Monetary donations are also welcome, as are donation to our regional food bank - the Connecticut Food Bank. 

Connecticut's First Rapid Testing Site Launched

Earlier last week, a rapid coronavirus testing center opened in New Haven.  With the ability to test up to 750 people per day, pre-registration is required in advance online.

Although in partnership with CVS, it's important to note that testing will not take place at CVS locations. Social distancing will be adhered to, and people are asked to remain in their vehicles. Testing is free and results take approximately 30 minutes. 

To read more, and access the link to register, click here.

Spotlighting Local Excellence

Thank you to the food service workers and bus drivers of the 104th working to ensure our kids continue to have access to nutritious meals during this time. Please note that both Ansonia and Derby Public Schools are providing meals.

A huge THANK YOU to all who are helping to make sure our kids are fed and our families are supported! Read more about this in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

A huge shout out to Spector Furniture and Mattress Gallery for donating a large pile of surgical masks to Griffin Hospital!