COVID-19-Related Updates

March 22, 2020

A lot of information has been thrown at you over the last week and we know at times it can be a bit overwhelming. To alleviate some of the stress of wondering where to find it all, our team has compiled some helpful information on a variety of topics below. If we have missed something, though, please reach out and we will do our best to find you a response.

In response to COVID-19, below you will find:

  • Governor Lamont's Update
  • What to do if you're sick
  • Recommendations to Minimize Exposure
  • Local Food Resources
  • Blood donations
  • How to Donate to the community
  • Volunteering opportunities for healthcare workers
  • Healthcare and Insurance Resources
  • Resources for Workers & Employers
  • Resources for Consumers
  • Resources for Seniors
  • Family resources
  • Public Transportation
  • Information for Pet Owners
  • Primary Elections Update

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay Informed.

Governor Lamont's Update

The Lamont administration has put together a fact sheet on the state’s response to COVID-19 that provides guidance for constituent concerns. Click here to see the FAQ Sheet.

The sheet will be updated regularly, and is available on the state's coronavirus website. Click here to visit the Connecticut Coronavirus website.

During his daily COVID-19 press conference update Friday, Governor Lamont directed Connecticut residents to "Stay Safe, Stay at Home."

Lamont also signed an executive order directing all non-essential businesses statewide to close effective Monday, March 23 at 8 p.m. until April 22. Workers of essential businesses will continue reporting for work. Essential businesses, as defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, include, but are not limited to:

  • Hospitals
  • Dentists
  • Elder Care
  • Home Health Care Companies
  • Pharmacies
  • Grocery Stores
  • Gas Stations
  • Banks and Credit Unions
  • Liquor/Package Stores
  • Trash/Recycling Collection
  • Post Offices/Shipping Services
  • Legal and Accounting Services
  • Pest and Landscaping Services
  • Child Care

The state Department of Economic and Community Development will issue official guidance regarding essential businesses no later than 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, with the order going into effect 8 p.m. on Monday, March 23.

Individuals will not be arrested or fined, however businesses could face punishment if they fail to comply. Restaurants will be permitted to continue providing take-out, pick-up, and delivery.

Click here to read Governor Lamont's Executive Order.

Click here to read Lamont's entire Friday update.

You can read the Governor's executive orders here, and read all of his updates here, and to watch his daily briefings, click here.

I'm Sick. What Do I Do?

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) and feel you may have been exposed to the coronavirus, don’t panic. Please stay home and call your doctor. Please do not go to a doctor’s office or emergency department in person without calling ahead and speaking to a health care provider.

Call Centers/Collection Sites

Several call centers and specimen collection sites are in operation around the state. At most call centers, medical staff can answer your questions, provide remote screenings if you think you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, and help you with next steps if you meet the clinical criteria for possible infection with COVID-19.

  • Nuvance Health COVID-19 Community Hotline: 888-667-9262; open daily, 8 am - 6 pm (Nuvance Health COVID-19 page includes Frequently Asked Questions about testing.)
  • Murphy Medical Associates (with multiple testing locations) coronatestct.com
  • Stamford Hospital Call Center: 203-276-4111; open daily, 7 am - 7 pm
  • Yale New Haven Health Call Center: 203-ASK-YNHH; open daily, 7 am - 7 pm

If you are sick, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following:

  • Stay home if you are mildly ill with COVID-19, and do not leave EXCEPT to receive medical care
  • Stay in touch with your doctor, and call before you get medical care. If your symptoms become worse, or believe it is an emergency, seek medical attention
  • If you are sick, ensure you wear a facemask when you are around other people and before you enter your healthcare provider's office
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw the used tissue in a trash can
  • Wash your hands for AT LEAST 20 seconds. Can't wash your hands? Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
  • Disinfect high-touch surfaces, bathroom, your or the sick person's room

Emergency Warning Signs - Seek Medical Attention if:

  • You have difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
  • Pain or pressure in your chest
  • New confusion or inability to arouse
  • Bluish lips or face

Call 9-1-1 if you are experiencing these symptoms and notify the operator that you have or may have COVID-19.

When to End Home Isolation if you will not be tested:

  • You have had no fever for at least 3 full days without using fever reducing medicine AND
  • Other symptoms have improved AND
  • At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared

When to End Home Isolation if you will be tested:

  • You no longer have a fever (without using fever reducing medicine) AND
  • Other symptoms (cough, shortness of breath) have improved AND
  • You receive 2 negative tests in a row, 24 hours apart.

If you choose to end home isolation, consult with your primary health care provider. Local decisions depend on local circumstances.

Additional Resources on what to do if you're sick and might have COVID-19:

Minimizing Exposure

As of Friday, 194 Connecticut residents have tested positive for coronavirus, with 122 in Fairfield County alone. Sadly two New Canaan residents have passed away from the virus.

To ensure our healthcare system does not become overwhelmed, we must take appropriate precautions, like practicing social distancing, to limit the spread of the virus.

The best way to avoid coronavirus and other illness is to avoid exposure.

  • Practice social distancing
  • Work from home if possible
  • Avoid large gatherings and crowded public spaces
  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds
  • If unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
  • Stay home when you are sick
  • If you are over 60 years of age or have a chronic illness, limit the amount of time you spend in public and avoid large crowds if possible
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash

Local Food Resources

Click here for updates from Norwalk Public Schools, including for meal delivery for students during the closure

Students under 18 can also pick up food at any school they attend between 12:30-1:30, with the exception of Side By Side where students may go to Columbus Magnet School.

Questions about Food delivery should be directed to the NPS Transportation Office 203.854.4074 or Dining Services 203.854.4156.

Consider Donating Blood

The Red Cross is seeking blood donors as Connecticut experiences a blood shortage. Blood drives nationwide have been cancelled, but hospitals across our state and country still need blood. To allow for social distancing, donors can call the Red Cross to make an appointment. Interested individuals can make an appointment using the Red Cross web site, here, or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Download it here. They can also call 1-800-Red-Cross

How to Donate to the Community

There is also a need for personal protective equipment for medical workers at hospitals and long-term care facilities. This includes:

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

The public, businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations may donate these items through the Connecticut United Way/211. Click here to learn how you can donate.

Volunteering For Your Community

Do you have a background in medical care? You can contact your local health department. Locate your local health department here.

If you are a nurse, you can register to volunteer through the Connecticut Nurses Association web site: www.CTNurses.org/coronavirus

Healthcare & Insurance Resources

The Connecticut Dept. of Social Services will cover telemedicine services for individuals and families enrolled in Medicaid/HUSKY Health.
DSS is also planning to:

  • cover testing for COVID-19.
  • make prescription drug coverage more flexible.
  • eliminate cost sharing in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (HUSKY B) and for members enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid.

Telemedicine coverage includes:

  • implementing real-time video conferencing, as can be enabled with a smart phone, between HUSKY Health members and their health care providers for specific medical and behavioral health services. This will enable many members and doctors to communicate remotely, with Medicaid covering the virtual visit.

broadening video conferencing to include all primary care type evaluation and management services for medical and behavioral health.

  • Access Health CT recently announced a Special Enrollment Period from March 19 until April 2 for uninsured CT residents. Call an enrollment specialist at 855-365-2428.
  • If you are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus but don't have health insurance or a primary care doctor, call 2-1-1. A number of hospitals have set up hotlines, which you can find using the CT Hospital Association COVID-19 Update Center, here.
  • There are 15 drive-through testing locations in Connecticut. Find one near you here.
  • The Jackson Laboratory in Farmington announced it would partner with the Connecticut Dept. of Health, UConn Health, and Hartford Hospital to test patient samples for COVID-19, allowing our state to test more people quickly. Read the Governor's release here.
  • The American Dental Association has recommended dentists nationwide postpone elective dental procedures. Visit the below resources for additional information:
  • Connecticut State Dental Association
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Resources for Workers & Employers

CT DOL Frequently Asked Questions About Coronavirus (COVID-19) for Workers and Employers

The state Department of Revenue Services has extended the deadline for the below businesses tax returns:

  • 2019 Form CT-1065/CT-1120 SI Connecticut Pass-Though Entity Tax Return: Filing date extended to April 15, 2020; payment deadline extended to June 15, 2020
  • 2019 Form CT-990T Connecticut Unrelated Business Income Tax Return: Filing date extended to June 15, 2020; payment deadline extended to June 15, 2020

The Connecticut DRS also advised that due dates for filing and payment of state income taxes could be adjusted to align with any specific, actionable announcement from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding due dates for the filing and payment of federal income taxes.

DECD and AdvanceCT survey to get feedback from CT businesses on the impact of the coronavirus. The results will help the state better respond to businesses struggling during this difficult time.

Resources for Consumers

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), has put together some tools to help you detect scam emails, calls and texts and ensure charities are on the up-and-up.

If someone is claiming they have a cure or vaccine for COVID-19, they are lying to you. You should stick with the experts at the CT Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO). AARP (www.aarp.org/coronavirus) and the Connecticut Attorney General's office are also great resources if you are worried about COVID-19 scams.

More information and resources about targeted scams:

Resources for Seniors

What You Need to Know About the Coronavirus Outbreak

Resources for Families

Internet/Wi-Fi:

  • Folks who need wi-fi to help their kids stay online, AT&T, Verizon are waiving fees, promising not to terminate services, and Comcast is providing internet to low-income families during the outbreak. Click here for more information.
  • Charter Communications will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days for households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum subscription. To enroll, call 1-844-488-8395. More information is available here.
    • PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IF YOU DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE FREE SERVICES, THAT YOU SET A REMINDER FOR WHEN THE OFFER EXPIRES TO DETERMINE WHETHER YOU WILL KEEP THE SERVICES OR NOT. IF YOU DO NOTHING, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENROLLED IN THEIR SERVICES AND WILL BE BILLED ACCORDINGLY

For Parents of young children:

The CT Office of Early Childhood has a number of resources for parents with children. Click here for updates.

Fun stuff for kids:

Additional Resources:

Public Transportation Resources

Currently Metro-North New Haven lines are operating as normal.

If you plan to use rail transportation, check www.mta.info/mn for updates.

CTtransit bus service has also been impacted, but is operating on normal weekday and weekend schedules. Check www.cttransit.com for updates.

Read more information here.

Resources for Pet Owners, Shelters & Veterinarians

For Pet Owners:

For Shelters and Veterinarians

Election Update

Thursday, Gov. Lamont announced Connecticut's Presidential Primary will be postponed until June 2.