Reopen CT Phase 1 Guidelines for Businesses Now Available

May 12, 2020

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 the week’s highlights.

Below you can find information on the following topics:

  • COVID-19 Update
  • Reopen CT Phase 1 Guidelines for Businesses
  • Paycheck Protection Program
  • Additional Funding Available for COVID-19 Business Response Program
  • Valley United Way, TEAM Partner to Provide Aid
  • Spotlighting Local Excellence

COVID-19 Update

As of Monday at 8:30 p.m., a total of 34,333 cases of COVID-19 have been reported among Connecticut residents. Day-to-day changes reflect newly reported cases, deaths, and tests that occurred over the last several days to week. All data in this report are preliminary; data for previous dates will be updated as new reports are received and data errors are corrected. For a county-by-county breakdown of cases or to view additional data, please click the image above.

Governor Signs 40th Executive Order

Today, the Governor signed Executive Order No. 7MM to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. It enacts the following provisions:

  • Allows municipalities to expedite changes to their zoning rules or other ordinances to expand outdoor dining
  • Creates an expedited approval process for restaurants and other establishments that serve food to get fast-tracked permission to create or expand outdoor dining areas
  • Allows other businesses such as retail stores to get fast-tracked permission to sell goods on the sidewalk or in other outdoor areas, including shared spaces or spaces provided by municipalities
  • Allows restaurants and other businesses who already have liquor permits to serve alcohol only with food without applying for a separate patio or extension of use permit
  • Allows private clubs to sell alcohol only to their members for delivery or pickup

Read the order here.

Monday, the Governor signed Executive Order No. 7LL, which enacted following:

  • Modifications to the petitioning process for the August primary: Makes modifications to the existing statutory petitioning process for minor parties, unaffiliated petitioning candidates, and major party candidates who fail to receive fifteen percent at a major party district convention and wish to run in the August primary as follows:
    • Reduces by 30 percent the number of signatures required;
    • Extends the deadline for submission of petitions by two days; and
    • Permits an individual to sign and mail or email to a candidate a petition containing only that individual’s signature, provided the individual makes all the required representations and attestations under penalty of false statement.

Click here to read the executive order.

State Receives Largest PPE Shipment to Date

Over the last several days, the state received its single largest shipment of personal protective equipment to date in the fight to combat COVID-19. The equipment was delivered to the state's commodities warehouse in New Britain. It includes:

  • 6 million surgical masks;
  • 500,000 protective masks;
  • 100,000 surgical gowns; and
  • 100,000 temporal thermometers.

The PPE is being sorted and then will be distributed to frontline workers, including first responders, hospital staff, long-term care facility staff, direct care providers and others. Click here for more information.

The state is continuing to work with the United Way 2-1-1 of Connecticut to collect donations of PPE. Those who would like to donate these vital materials can complete an online form located at www.211ct.org/DonationsCOVID19.

Items being requested at this time include:

  • N95 Respirators
  • Face Masks/Surgical Masks
  • Face Shields
  • Surgical Gowns
  • Gloves (nitrile, or non-latex)
  • Thermometers
  • Thermometer Covers (if applicable to type of thermometer)
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Other Medical Items

Click here to read today's news briefing.

You can find all of the emergency orders issued by the Governor and state agencies here. Watch the Governor's news conferences here, and read the releases 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.

Reopen CT Phase 1 Guidelines for Businesses

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic and daily information on cases and outcomes, we are finally seeing some steady progress towards re-opening. Thanks to the social distancing measures we put in place and most everyone's cooperation and compliance, we have seen a daily decline in hospitalizations across the state. As a result, and the continual decline in hospitalizations, Governor Lamont announced the state will begin a cautious, phased-in re-opening that is currently targeted for May 20th. The preliminary plans contain guidance for the following businesses:

Businesses subject to these guidelines are required to self-certify prior to opening May 20th. The certification system will be online this week, and a link will be added. For more information, click here.

Paycheck Protection Program

DECD Commissioner Lehman recently issued an update to the business community that just over $110 billion in funding remains for the second round of the U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

This program provides potentially forgivable loans to qualifying small businesses and non-profits with less than 500 employees. 75 percent of the loan must be used for payroll expenses, with the remaining used on rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

Note: If you do not have any existing banking relationship, you can also apply for this program through approved online lenders (fintechs) such as:

Read Commissioner Lehman’s letter here.

Additional $3 Million Available for COVID-19 Business Response Program

Friday, DECD announced it has committed an additional $3 million to the COVID-19 Business Response Program to provide financial relief to minority-owned and women-owned small businesses negatively affected by the pandemic. This commitment more than doubles the number of companies receiving support during this time. New applications are not being accepted at this time.

Hartford Economic Development Corporation (HEDCO) administers the program, which provides zero-interest lines of credit up to $20,000 to small businesses with 20 or fewer employees.

The program was announce last month and has received 607 applications and 137 have been approved for $1.6 million in assistance.

Valley United Way, TEAM Partner to Help Community

A huge thank you to the good people of the Valley United Way and TEAM, Inc. along with their donors for helping to bring relief to our most affected families.

“This unique, statewide effort, called the Connecticut United Ways COVID-19 Response Fund, is now disbursing payments to the mobile phones of residents across the state who need money for food and other necessities.

Valley United Way is currently working with TEAM Inc. to identify those most in need during this first round. Initially, recipients will receive $200. Additional funds may be available as donations allow. With almost $13,000 funds raised for the Valley to date, over 60 families have already started to receive funds to help with their most pressing needs.”

Read more in the Valley Independent Sentinel here.

Spotlighting Local Excellence

A huge thank you to Jorge Cabrera and Kingdom Life Christian Church for joining forces with me and TEAM to deliver groceries to families in the Valley last week. Thank you for showing up for the people of our community!