FDA Fully Approves Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine and more

August 27, 2021


Staying Current with Currey
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Friends and Neighbors,

It's so hot the swimming pool is boiling.
It's so hot the ice cream truck melted.
It's like a steam bath out here.
I'm wilting.
I'm sweatin' like a hog.
Could I stick my face in your deep-freeze for just a second?
Somebody fan me.
How many days till fall?

 
Hold up a second! That’s one too far. Because before you know it, we’ll be just as mad it’s cold out LOL. One month of summer remains, but I know with back to school activities and family vacations and reunions winding up, it surely feels like we need to pack a month’s worth of activities into a single week or weekend.
 
First and foremost, I hope you’re all taking the necessary precautions during this run up to the new school year and other end-of-summer programs to keep you, your family, and your neighbors safe and healthy.
 
MASK UP. GET VACCINATED. BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION.
 
Many of you were unsure of the vaccine and it’s our hope that with the recently announced FDA approval (see below), where the vaccine was not rushed but rather prioritized, you’re feeling a bit more comfortable going to get that poke. Hey, I’ve had three at this point, so hopefully you’re ok for now with one, maybe two. If you remain hesitant, please speak with your medical provider with any questions or concerns that remain. And regardless of your vax status, the BARE MINIMUM we can do as DECENT HUMANS is to simply wear a mask when you find yourself in public settings. Remember, this is not a me problem, this is a we problem, so only together we find our way out.

As noted above, earlier this week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the Pfizer BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine full approval, becoming the first vaccine to receive complete authorization following a comprehensive review by the agency, using the extensive data provided as well as conducting their own analyses.

The vaccine, which is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will now be marketed as Comirnaty. It is FDA-approved for anyone 16 years of age and older for the prevention of COVID-19.  The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.

The announcement is likely welcomed news for those in Connecticut and nationwide who have been somewhat skeptical about the vaccine, that despite its success rate, was being administered under the FDA's emergency use authorization.

As of August 25, 2.43 million – or 67.1 percent – of Connecticut residents have initiated vaccination. While this is certainly better than other states, we can and must do better. Now is the time!

To find out how to get a COVID-19 vaccine, click here. If you need to find a vaccine provider near you, please click here.

Below you will find a guide to the following information. We've upgraded our e-blast so that you can click the links to go right to the topic. Click on the subject to navigate to the topic section in the body of this email.

You can find additional resources and information on my web site,
www.housedems.ct.gov/currey. If there's something you need help with that isn't included in this email, please check my website. If you can't find what you're looking for there, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.

Sincerely,
 

COVID-19 UPDATE

Overall Summary

Total

Change Since Yesterday

COVID-19 Cases (confirmed and probable)

370,708

+788

COVID-19 Tests Reported (molecular and antigen)

10,410,984

+22,892

Daily Test Positivity

--

3.44%

Patients Currently Hospitalized with COVID-19

378

-2

Data on COVID-19 associated deaths is updated once per week every Thursday. The most recently reported total number of deaths is 8,355.

Click Here for COVID-19 Data Updates
Click Here for Governor Lamont's Updates
Click Here for Information on Getting Vaccinated

Specific Updates for Our Community

Town Total Cases Total Deaths Number of Tests Number of Positive Tests
East Hartford 6,893 156 156,177 8,572
Manchester 5,332 152 147,708 6,470
South Windsor 1,808 53 50,770 2,123

Weekly Update of the Department of Public Health's COVID-19 Alert Map

 
If you've been impacted by the pandemic and have questions about your rights as a tenant in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that the CDC federal eviction moratorium is illegal, the Connecticut Fair Housing Center is a great resource. While the federal moratorium has ended, this Supreme Court's decision does not apply to the Executive Order that is in place in Connecticut until September 30, 2021. Executive Order No. 12D requires that:
  • Landlords apply for the state's UniteCT rental assistance program prior to delivering an eviction notice for nonpayment of rent;
  • Landlords must provide tenants a 30-day Notice to Quit if they intend to evict for nonpayment of rent, for lapse of time, or because the right to occupy a unit has terminated;
  • All Notices to Quit given for any reason must be delivered with information about the State’s UniteCT program and the federal CDC eviction moratorium in both English and Spanish; 
  • Tenants have an opportunity to continue all terms of their rental agreement by paying outstanding rent within the 30-day Notice to Quit period; 
  • If an execution has already issued, the landlord and the tenant will be notified that an application for temporary injunction must be presented to the court for review and entry of an order stopping the move out.   

Read the full executive order here

Learn more about how the CT Fair Housing Center can help you here. If you're struggling to keep up with rent or utility payments, learn more about how you can apply for emergency assistance through UniteCT here.


FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CT
Connecticut received significant funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 - $4.77 billion to the state, $1.56 billion to towns and cities, and $1.67 million to independent agencies. On top of that, Connecticut residents receive about $3.93 billion in direct payments. If you're curious about how that aid breaks down at the state and local levels, the non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis has compiled a report outlining estimated grants. Click the button below to read the latest version of the report.
ARP Funding for CT
 
This week, the U.S. Department of Education approved the State of Connecticut's plan to use $110 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds through the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. Connecticut's plan seeks to maximize short-term and long-term investments of the federal funds to reduce opportunity gaps, accelerate learning, and advance equity, creating a safety net for the education community following the COVID-19 pandemic while also collecting evidence to support continued funding for successful strategies.

The plan outlines a variety of investments in evidence-based initiatives including a statewide K-8 model curricula, extended access to online/digital platforms that accelerate learning, expanded access to summer enrichment and afterschool programs, and additional supports for students with disabilities and English learners, and more. It also invests in educator support, recruitment and retention. 

Click the image above to read the full plan. To read the State Set-Aside Plan Executive Summary, click here.

 
Connecticut is one of four awardees across our country to receive grant funding through the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to operate a national MBDA Advanced Manufacturing Center. The state has been awarded a five-year, $2 million grant to help minority-owned manufacturers access advanced manufacturing and general businesses assistance to refine their business strategy and operations, aid with financial analysis and more to help increase sales and create and retain jobs. Connecticut manufacturers will work with the UConn School of Business and other technical assistance partners to access these resources.

Businesses interested in participating in the program can contact the Connecticut Small Business Development Center at ctsbdc@uconn.edu or by calling 877-723-2828. Click here to read the full announcement.


AT THE CAPITOL, IN DISTRICT, & BEYOND...
 
Pictured above is an outline of the MLK mural in East Hartford by Town Hall
Today, East Hartford residents had the opportunity to paint a mural of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King during a community paint day. The mural will be located at 701 Main St., at the I-84 overpass on Main Street near the East Hartford Town Hall. The mural is planned to be unveiled on September 3 at 4:30 p.m. 

It is part of an initiative by CT Murals to create 39 murals in communities across our state for each year of Martin Luther King, Jr's life by MLK Day 2022. 

Click here to learn more about this project and how you or your community can get involved. 

 
You're invited to East Hartford's 34th Annual Senior Picnic and Senior Center Grand Opening on September 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.! All East Hartford seniors are welcome to the event hosted by East Hartford Mayor Marcia A. Leclerc and the Commission on Aging. The ribbon cutting and grand opening for the senior center will happen at 10:30 a.m. with the senior picnic following at 11 a.m. 

Hot dogs, hamburgers or sausage, peppers and onions, salad and dessert are on the menu for lunch. There will also be live music featuring singer Noah Lis who appeared on "The Voice." This year's picnic theme will be "Neighborhood Hero" and those dressed the best will win a special prize. 

Tickets to the event are $10 and are only available to East Hartford residents who are registered members of the Senior Center. To register, call 860-291-7460 to make an appointment. Tickets will be available at the East Hartford Senior Center Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until Thursday, September 16. Click here to learn more.

 
The Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced a one lane closure on Route 5/15 southbound in East Hartford is scheduled from tonight at 9 p.m. until Monday, August 30 at 6 a.m. The closure will begin at I-84 westbound Exit 57 and end at Route 5/15 southbound Exit 86. Only one travel lane on Route 5/15 southbound will be open during the closure. Additionally, the on-ramp to Route 5/15 southbound from East River Drive Extension will be closed during this period. There will be a detour east on East River Drive Extension to Silver Lane and then onto the Route 5/15 on-ramp. 

This closure will help facilitate construction activities associated with the I-91 Charter Oak Bridge project. 

Please expect delays on Route 5/15 southbound an on roadways leading to it and allow enough travel time so you can get to your destination safely. Read more here.

 
Support Connecticut's farmers during Farm-to-Chef week starting August 29 through September 4! This week encourages culinary professionals to use Connecticut Grown ingredients in new ways on their menus and educate others about farm products grown right here in Connecticut.

The week will kick off on August 28 at City Seed's Wooster Square Market at Conte West Hills Middle School in New Haven from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

If you're looking for a participating restaurant, look no further than Manchester - 21 Oak and Mulberry Street are both participating in Farm-to-Chef week! For the full list of locations, click here

To learn more about Farm-to-Chef Week and how you can support Connecticut's restaurants and farmers, click here.

The Connecticut Insurance Department will be holding a Public Informational Meeting next Tuesday, August 31 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This meeting will be held virtually online concerning rate proposals filed by several health insurers for the 2022 plan year. During this meeting, the public will be able to submit questions and provide comments to the CID's rate filings.

The online informational meeting will be available through telephone conference call. Click here to access the meeting link or dial in to the conference by calling 1-860-846-2075. The phone conference ID is 799 873 869#.

Additional information about the rate request filing can be found here.


IN THE NEWS
Gauri Kumbar, a sixth-grader from South Windsor, took home 3rd place in Raytheon Technologies first Invention Convention Globals fifth-grade category for her invention of The Ultimate Filter. Kumbar submitted her invention as a fifth-grader at Philip R. Smith Elementary School. She was one of 185 students from around the globe to participate in the convention. 

Kumbar's invention seeks to prevent the formation of dead zones, or oxygen-deficient water produced by feedlot runoff or animal waste. She previously won the Originality Award and the Kettering Built Award at the Invention Convention U.S. Nationals in June. 

Read more about this great achievement in the CT News Junkie!

 
Congratulations to the Manchester Little League for making it to the Little League World Series! To honor the team's achievement, Manchester will hold a ceremony on September 2 at Northwest Park, 448 Tolland Turnpike, starting at 6:30 p.m. The team will open the event with a procession onto the Ed Dettore Little League Field at 6:15 p.m. and official ceremonies will commence at 6:30 p.m. 

Read more about this in the CT Patch!


JOB OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES
Through the state's Department of Labor, the American Job Center offers resources, information, and support for individuals throughout the state searching for a job. You can receive help writing a resume and attend interview technique workshops for those currently on the job hunt. For more information, click here.
 
There's still time to register for Fall 2021 courses through East Hartford Adult & Continuing Education! Course offerings include General Education Development (GED), English as a Second Language (ESL), Citizenship, Family Literacy and more. Classes begin on September 13. To register for classes, click the button below. For more information about East Hartford Adult & Continuing Education, click here.
Register for Class Here
 
There are employment openings at the Town of East Hartford. Positions include an Assistant Zoning Official, Facilities Manager, Recycling Inspector, and more. Click the button below for the full list of job openings and to start the application!
View Job Openings Here
 
The Town of Manchester is hiring! There's a number of openings including Assistant Animal Control Officer, Assistant Fire Chief, Bus Driver, Librarian, Police Officer and more. Click the button below to see the full list of openings and download the employment application.
View Job Openings Here
 
There are several openings at South Windsor Public Schools! Openings include first-year girls' soccer coach, elementary classroom teacher, math instructional coach, custodians, maintainers and more. If you're passionate about helping kids reach their full potential, click the button below to see the list of openings and apply.
View Job Openings Here
 
DATTCO has several openings for bus drivers in East Hartford, Manchester, and South Windsor. Licensed school bus drivers could receive a $3,000 signing bonus. No experience is necessary and DATTCO will provide free training for an applicant's CDL. If you or someone you know may be interested, click the button below to apply. If you have questions, call DATTCO at 860-357-5706.
View DATTCO Openings Here
 
The Connecticut Fair Housing Center is looking for a staff attorney to join its team in Hartford! If you're interested in advancing the center's work to address housing discrimination and provide legal support for tenants, click the button below to apply. The application closes on September 1, 2021.
Apply Here
 
EAST HARTFORD:

Click here for the Town Meetings calendar.

Click here for the Community Events calendar.

Click here for information on the East Hartford Public Library. 

Click here for East Hartford Community Television. 

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SOUTH WINDSOR:

Click here for the Public Meetings calendar.

Click here for the Community Events calendar.

Click here for information on the South Windsor Public Library. 

Click here for South Windsor's Government Television Programming - watch LIVE town council meetings! 

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MANCHESTER:

Click here for the Town Meetings and Community Events Calendar.

Click here for information on the Manchester Public Library. 

Click here for Manchester Public Television. 

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Website
 
Upcoming Meetings and Events

A full calendar of all events happening at the Capitol next week, including public hearings, is available on the General Assembly website

You can find the agenda for public hearings on the calendar by clicking on the calendar item and following the link to the committee page. For instructions on how to testify at a public hearing, please click here.

You can view a list of all the bills passed by the House so far this session here.

 
 
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