COVID-19 Updates 4/20
GOVERNOR LAMONT PROVIDES UPDATE ON CONNECTICUT’S CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE EFFORTS (Latest Data as of 7:00PM on Monday, April 20, 2020)
Data updates on testing in Connecticut
A county-by-county breakdown includes:
| County | Laboratory-Confirmed Cases | Hospitalizations | Deaths |
| Fairfield County | 8,320 | 733 | 512 |
| Hartford County | 3,823 | 455 | 369 |
| Litchfield County | 639 | 23 | 58 |
| Middlesex County | 484 | 36 | 45 |
| New Haven County | 5,272 | 626 | 301 |
| New London County | 356 | 29 | 13 |
| Tolland County | 299 | 13 | 27 |
| Windham County | 108 | 4 | 2 |
| Pending address validation | 514 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 19,815 | 1,919 | 1,331 |
For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, click here.
Mask and Social Distancing Reminder
Governor Lamont Friday issued his 29thexecutive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The order now states that beginning tonight, cloth face coverings or a higher level of protection are required in public wherever close contact is unavoidable.
Details of Order
- Effective at 8:00 p.m. tonight, any person in a public place in Connecticut who is unable to or does not maintain a safe social distance of approximately six feet from every other person shall cover their mouth and nose with a mask or cloth face-covering
- Individuals shall use a mask or cloth face covering when using the services of any taxi, car, livery, ride-sharing or similar service or means of mass public transit, or while within any semi-enclosed transit stop or waiting area
- The commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development will be required to update the previously issued Safe Workplace rules and Safe Store rules
- Nothing in this order shall require the use of a mask or cloth face covering by anyone for whom doing so would be contrary to his or her health or safety because of a medical condition, anyone under the age of 2 years, or by an older child if the parent, guardian or person responsible for the child is unable to place the mask safely on the child’s face
- If a person declines to wear a mask or face covering because of a medical condition as described above, such person shall not be required to produce medical documentation verifying the stated condition
For more details, download: Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7BB.
For a full list of all current Executive Orders, Click here.
Multi-State Council Appointees
Governor Lamont, along with Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York, Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, Governor Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island, Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey, Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, and Governor John Carney of Delaware last week announced the appointees to serve on the multi-state, regional council to restore the economy and get people back to work. The appointees include one health expert, one economic development expert, and the respective chief of staff from each state.
Governor Lamont stressed that in Connecticut, this multi-state council is a separate entity from the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group, which is the localized, Connecticut-based panel of health, business, and education experts that will consult with the Lamont administration and the state’s legislative leaders on the re-opening of the economy. Members who will serve on the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group are in the process of being appointed and will be announced in the coming days.
The appointees from Connecticut include:
- Dr. Albert Ko: Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine and department chair at the Yale School of Public Health
- Indra Nooyi: Co-chair of the nonprofit organization AdvanceCT and former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
- Paul Mounds, Jr.: Chief of Staff for the Office of Governor Ned Lamont
Governor Lamont Expands Financial Assistance for Nursing Homes
Governor Lamont last week announced that he is directing his administration to boost Medicaid payments for all of Connecticut’s 215 nursing homes by 15 percent, providing an additional $65 million to these facilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
New partnerships to expedite Loan Processing and Payments
The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has formed partnerships with SoFi, a leading online personal finance company, and Equifax, a global data, analytics and technology company, to expedite loan processing and payments – and lower costs – under the Connecticut Recovery Bridge Loan Program.
The $50 million program was created by DECD to provide 0% interest relief to small businesses and nonprofits negatively impacted by COVID-19. The DECD program has already received over 5,000 applications.
While DECD will make all lending decisions, SoFi will utilize its advanced technology capabilities to expedite all loan processing and facilitate fulfillment to ensure borrowers receive their financial assistance in a timely fashion. Equifax differentiated data assets lend further support to the program to improve the process by validating required information of recipients, credit and bank accounts. These partnerships will help DECD meet the goal to make payments by the end of April. In addition to being more efficient, this new approach lowers costs by automating the closing process.
SoFi, which has over one million members, is providing these third-party services to support Connecticut and this important COVID-19 relief program as part of its larger mission to help people get their money right. Equifax blends unique data, analytics, and technology with a passion for serving customers globally and a commitment to helping people and businesses live their financial best.
AdvanceCT Updates
"I am pleased to tell you that we are now spending less of our time on assessing the issues and more on plans to reopen and recover.
We are looking to the day when we can reopen our economy in a way that balances commerce and public safety. We are moving closer to a plan to reboot our economy with protocols that safeguard our business owners and citizens. In the coming days, you will hear more from Governor Lamont and Connecticut’s leadership on this subject.
To properly guide our recovery plan, we need information and feedback from Connecticut’s businesses. This information will assist us in prioritizing the protocols and elements of the overall reopening plan. Your participation in the survey below is an important part of the process.
Our goal is to provide feedback to the state and policymakers regarding how Connecticut businesses have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis."