Maria Horn

Governor Lamont signs Executive Order No. 7SS enacting the following provision:
 
·       Permits the creation of a temporary nurse aide position to assist health care providers managing the COVID-19 pandemic and other health-related services during the pandemic.
 
Judicial branch announces resumption of partial operations at courthouses in Middletown, Rockville, and Litchfield
 
Chief Court Administrator Patrick L. Carroll III today announced that the Connecticut Judicial Branch will resume partial operations in three courthouses starting Monday, June 8, including the Middlesex Judicial District Courthouse in Middletown, Rockville’s Geographical Area No. 19 Courthouse, and the Litchfield Judicial District Courthouse in Torrington.
 
Ten courts have remained open through the pandemic: the Supreme and Appellate Courts, the Judicial District courthouses in Bridgeport, New Britain, New Haven, New London and the Geographical Area Courthouses in Hartford (No. 14) and Waterbury (No. 4); and the juvenile courts in Hartford and Bridgeport. Beyond these locations and the three courthouses resuming partial operations effective June 8, all other courts will remain closed until further notice.
 
For more information, read the press release issued today by the Connecticut Judicial Branch.

 
Testing data by town added to daily updates
 
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) continues its efforts to provide access to timely information on the COVID-19 pandemic by releasing detailed testing data each day. The State of Connecticut was among the first states to publish data on cases and deaths by town, cases and deaths by race, ethnicity and gender, on persons whose death certificate lists COVID-19 disease as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death (probable), and cases and deaths in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
 
DPH continues to expand access to data as the pandemic evolves. Daily updates on COVID-19 cases are now available statewide for all 169 towns by date reported, and on total tests and cases by date collected and date reported. Data on testing, cases, hospitalization, and deaths are accessible via daily updates on the state’s COVID-19 portal – ct.gov/coronavirus – and the dedicated COVID-19 section of the state’s open data portal – data.ct.gov/coronavirus. The open data portal includes historical data, as well as the ability for users to download data, create charts, tables, and other visualizations.
 
Governor Lamont releases Reopen Connecticut report
 
Governor Lamont released his Reopen Connecticut report, which contains recommendations from the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group – the panel of local health, business, workforce, and education experts who provided his administration and legislative leadership with recommendations on the reopening of Connecticut’s economy and education system as the nation emerges from the unprecedented public health emergency caused by COVID-19.
 
Throughout the pandemic, Governor Lamont has been using the advisory group’s recommendations, combined with inputs from state agency leadership, legislators, and other stakeholders, to inform his decisions on the reopening of the state.
 
With the release of the governor’s report, the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group has adjourned its activities and will no longer meet, however the governor said he will remain in contact with its members over the coming months as the situation continues to develop.

FEMA approves Connecticut’s request to extend services for non-congregate housing
 
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved the Lamont administration’s request to provide an extension for its non-congregate housing programs until July 2, 2020. This vital program, which was approved by FEMA in March, provides non-congregate housing to vulnerable individuals that have COVID-19 or have been in contact with COVID-19 positive individuals. It provides the state and its municipalities with a 75 percent reimbursement of all eligible costs associated with this housing. The program includes non-congregate housing for:
 
·       Those at high risk of exposure in public service;
·       Individuals in at-risk facilities such as group homes, nursing homes, long-term care sites, and alternative care facilities;
·       First responders and health care workers who have been exposed and cannot return home;
·       Homeless individuals in congregate shelters; and
·       Individuals in domestic violence shelters.
 
Connecticut’s implementation of this program has been highlighted as a best practice by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition.
 
Department of Revenue Services continues to provide taxpayer assistance during pandemic
 
The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS) is reminding residents that the agency continues to provide taxpayer assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include:
 
·       Priority One Assistance Program: The Priority One Assistance Program offers assistance to businesses and individuals who have an existing collection matter with DRS. The new program, which was created to facilitate assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, connects taxpayers with a DRS professional, who will assist in developing a workable solution. Taxpayers seeking assistance can call 860-541-7650 on Mondays to Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or can send an email to DRSPriorityOne_CollectionsAssist@po.state.ct.us.
·       File electronically: Filing and payment deadlines for Connecticut individual income tax returns have been extended until July 15, 2020. The easiest way to file - and the fastest way to receive a refund - is through online filing, including via the DRS Taxpayer Service Center, which is easy, secure, and free to use. Since Connecticut's individual income tax return begins with federal adjusted gross income, it is often beneficial to complete one's federal income tax return first. Taxpayers who file a paper tax return will experience longer processing times for refunds. DRS strongly encourages taxpayers and tax professionals to file electronically.
·       Helpful information on the DRS website: The DRS website – portal.ct.gov/DRS – includes answers to many questions, and a Frequently Asked Questions page that is updated regularly. Taxpayers who need to contact DRS may email DRS@po.state.ct.us. To reach DRS by phone during normal business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) call 860-297-5962 (from anywhere); 800-382-9463 (within Connecticut, outside Greater Hartford area only); or 860-297-4911 (TDD/TT users only).
 
How contact tracing works: what happens if you get a positive test result
 
I’ve had a few questions about how the process of contact tracing works, and what happens if you get a positive result on a COVID-19 test, so I thought it would be helpful to provide that information to everyone. 
 
Positive and negative COVID-19 test results are reportable by laboratories and by ordering physicians per state legislation that was enacted at the onset of the outbreak. This means that the result of the test and pertinent patient information like Name, DOB, and Address are reported to the Department of Public Health for the purposes of follow-up and containment of the outbreak. Local Health Departments only have access to information on positive cases within their jurisdiction so they can assist with monitoring and follow-up with cases in their area.
 
A representative from the Local Health Department or State Department of Public Health will reach out to conduct contact tracing with positive cases. The information on those cases is collected directly from the results that are reported to the Department of Public Health. The information available varies based on what was provided by the reporting lab or physician but typically contains Name, DOB, and Phone Number. 
 
The contact tracing is done via phone or electronically. No one is required to participate. See the link below for additional information on what is collected. Click here for more information.
 
 
For all people who test positive, we ask them to follow the CDC guidelines to prevent further spread of infection. The link below has all of the information of what we are asking of positive cases. Contacts who are identified by the positive case are asked to quarantine for 14 days and monitor for symptoms. Click here for more information.
 
Data collection by the Department of Public Health for the purpose of protecting public health is exempt from HIPAA policy. Patient health information and confidentiality is strictly monitored and any data released is only done so when there is a clear public health need. See the link below for additional information on reportable diseases. Click here for more information.
 
Governor Lamont encourages residents to sign up for the state’s CTAlert notification system
 
Governor Lamont is encouraging Connecticut residents to sign up for CTAlert, the state’s emergency alert system, which provides text message notifications to users. To subscribe, text the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.
 
Providing information to Connecticut residents
 
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. Relay services can be accessed by calling 7-1-1. Anyone who is out-of-state or using Relay can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 toll free by dialing 1-800-203-1234. The hotline is intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms is strongly urged to contact their medical provider.