Masks and Social Distancing Requirements in Public

April 21, 2020

Below is an update on the state's coronavirus response efforts and I have included information on the following:

  • Governor Lamont's Daily Update
  • Masks and Social Distancing Requirements in Public
  • Grants for Restaurant Workers
  • How We Feel App
  • Spotlighting Local Excellence

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including an FAQ and other guidance and resources, visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

To receive text message notifications from CTAlert, the state's emergency alert system, text "COVIDCT" to 888-777.

Daily COVID-19 Update

There have been an additional 545 cases of COVID-19 in Connecticut since yesterday bringing the state's total to 20,360 cases. There have been 1,949 hospitalizations, up 30 since yesterday and 1,423 fatalities related to coronavirus. Click the image above for a county-by-county breakdown of cases or for additional data. 

Today Governor Lamont signed the 30th executive order, Executive Order No. 7CC, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, which enacts the following provisions:

  • Applicability of Executive Order No. 7S, Section 7 to additional critical and time-sensitive municipal fiscal actions
  • Clarification of time periods regarding suspension and modification of non-judicial tax sales pursuant to Executive Order No. 7S, Section 11
  • Exclusion of federal stimulus payments in evaluating eligibility for state or local programs financed in whole or in part using state funds
  • Alternative to physical presence in court for finding of irretrievable breakdown of marriage
  • Alternative to in-person waiver of right to file motion or petition for educational support
  • Alternative to physical appearance of petitioner regarding decree of dissolution after entry of decree of legal separation
  • Alternative to in-court canvas prior to entrance of final agreement
  • Alternative to physical presence when findings on the record required
  • Revised financial protections for people covered by insurance who receive out-of-network health care services during the public health emergency

Click here to read the full executive order.

State Seeking to Scale-Up Testing Capacity

Today the Governor announced the state issued an RFP seeking organizations that want to partner with Connecticut to scale-up its daily COVID-19 testing capacity as part of its efforts to reopen the state's economy.

In addition to the current testing of patients and frontline workers who are exhibiting symptoms, the state plans to build its capacity to test those who are asymptomatic. The state is looking for proposals from organizations to support sample collection, particularly in communities significantly impacted by the virus.  

Proposals will be accepted and awarded on a rolling basis. Read the RFP here.

Relief for Student Loan Borrowers

The Governor and Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez have announced the state has secured relief options with many private student loan servicers whose borrowers are not covered by the recently adopted federal CARES Act, which provides relief for students with federal loans, not borrowers with federal loans not owned by the U.S. Government or those held by private lenders.

Under this initiative, Connecticut residents with commercially owned Federal Family Education Loan Programs or privately held student loans who are struggling to make their payments because of the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for the following relief options:

  • Providing a minimum of 90 days of forbearance;
  • Waiving late payment fees;
  • Ensuring that no borrower is subject to negative credit reporting;
  • Ceasing debt collection lawsuits for 90 days; and
  • Working with borrower to enroll them in other borrower assistance programs, such as income based repayment.

Borrowers are encouraged to contact their student loan servicer to identify the appropriate relief options.

If regulated student loan servicers are limited to take the above actions due to investor restrictions or contractual obligations, servicers are encouraged to work with loan holders when possible to relax restrictions or obligations. 

To determine the types of federal loans residents have and who their servicers are, borrowers can visit the U.S. Department of Education’s National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 or 1-800-730-8913 (TDD). Borrowers with private student loans can check the contact information on their monthly billing statements.

If a borrower is experiencing trouble with their student loan servicer, they are encouraged to ask to speak to a supervisor. If assistance is still needed, they can contact the following and file a complaint:

Private student loan servicers providing relief under this initiative include:

  • Aspire Resources, Inc.
  • College Ave Student Loan Servicing, LLC
  • Earnest Operations
  • Edfinancial
  • Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation
  • Lendkey Technologies, Inc.
  • MOHELA
  • Navient
  • Nelnet
  • SoFi Lending Corp.
  • Tuition Options
  • United Guaranty Services, Inc.
  • Upstart Network, Inc.
  • Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority
  • Vermont Student Assistance Corporation

Additional private student loan servicers may be added. An up-to-date list will be maintained on the Connecticut Department of Banking’s website at www.ct.gov/dob.

Life Insurers Warned Not to Ask Applicants for Their COVID-19 Health History

Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais has issued a notice to life insurers conducting business in Connecticut urging them to refrain from asking applicants about exposure to coronavirus. Any life insurance application form filing containing questions related to COVID-19 or about being quarantined will be declined. 
Consumers, insurers and brokers with questions can contact the department directly by email at cid.pc@ct.gov or by calling the Insurance Department at 1-800-203-3447 or 860-297-3900.

CIGNA, New York Life Create Foundation Benefiting COVID-19 Health Care Workers, Volunteers

Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais commended CIGNA and New York Life for establishing the Brave of Heart Fund to benefit the bereaved families of COVID-19 front line health care workers and volunteers. 

More information about the Fund is available here.

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including an FAQ and other guidance and resources, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can also call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance and TDD/TTY access. It intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone experiencing symptoms is strongly urged to contact their medical provider.

Update on Masks and Social Distancing Requirements in Public 

Governor Lamont Friday issued his 29th executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Effective Monday night, cloth face coverings or a higher level of protection are required in public wherever close contact is unavoidable.

Wearing a mask will help reduce the spread from people who are asymptomatic carriers of the virus. There have been many stories of local volunteers who worked hard to sew face masks for those who are the most vulnerable, from grocery store workers to residents and staff members at our nursing homes. Thank you so much for your selfless work.

The CDC website has instructions on how to create your own mask at home, with or without sewing machines. Some masks can be produced by using common household items.

U.S. Surgeon  General Dr. Jerome Adams released a short video that describes other ways to create a homemade mask. To see all of the CDC recommendations, click here. 

Grants for Restaurant Workers

Grants for Restaurant Workers are available through the Restaurant Strong Fund. Samuel Adams, the Greg Hill Foundations are bringing this fund to 20 states to aid restaurant workers impacted by COVID-19-related closures. 

Following the success of the Massachusetts launch in mid-March, Samuel Adams is donating over $2,000,000 to kickstart funding in:

  • Arizona 
  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Massachusetts
  • Maine
  • Michigan
  • North Carolina
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Vermont

To qualify for grant assistance, you must satisfy all of the following requirements:

  • Completed Application Form
  • Full-time employees (Minimum of 30 hours total per week, can be multiple restaurants)
  • Employed for 3 months or longer at the same location
  • Worked in a restaurant, bar, cafe or nightclub located in CT.
  • Submit the last two full-time (30 hours) pay stubs

Click here to apply. 

How We Feel App

Today, the Governor announced the State of Connecticut is partnering with developers of the How We Feel app to provide scientists with anonymous, critical health information needed to understand the spread of COVID-19. Connecticut residents can report their daily symptoms through a series of short prompts about how they feel and share that data with scientists in real time to help the medical community make quicker decisions on how to slow or contain the virus. 

Download the free app in the Apple Store and the Google Play store. The survey can also be completed at howwefeel.app.

More information is here.

Spotlighting Local Excellence

Ansonia's own Stani Dairy donated their delicious yogurt to staff at the Connecticut Hospice. 

It is often said that "food is love," and Stani Dairy's actions embody that sentiment. Thank you for being such a vibrant part of our community and helping some of our frontline workers.