Food Allergy Awareness Month

May 11, 2020

I hope you and your loved ones are well. Please see below for a weekly update that includes: 

  • Reopening Plan Guidelines for Businesses
  • Food Allergy Awareness Week, May 10-16

 

Re-Opening Guidelines for Businesses

 

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 governor and his advisory group released documents with detailed information of the reopening plan for businesses that would fall under phase 1 must follow. The qualifying list of businesses includes restaurants; offices; hair salons and barbershops; retail stores; and outdoor museums and zoos. It is important to note, that individual business owners will decide when to open, but when they do, they must follow the outlined protocols.

Documents containing the rules for the first phase of reopening have been published on the state’s coronavirus website – ct.gov/coronavirus – and are available to download directly at these links: 

All businesses subject to these rules will be required to self-certify prior to opening on May 20. The certification system will be online beginning next week.

For a Spanish link to the reopening guidelines by the DECD please click here: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Coronavirus-Business-Recovery/Sector-Rules-for-May-20-Reopen.

Food Allergy Awareness Week, May 10-16

 

Last year - when our Stock Epinephrine bill - Public Act 19-19 was signed into law.

For those who know me, it's no surprise that one of my biggest passions is advocating for policies that improve the lives of those with food allergies. Last year, around this time, I was on the House floor championing and debating SB 706, a bill to increase access to life-saving epinephrine auto-injectors in public places, including theme parks, restaurants, daycare centers and overnight camps.

While passage and signing of the bill, was reason for celebration, my work is not done. This past session, before the pandemic struck and forced us to shut down our legislative session, I continued to push for additional training for restaurant workers. A proposal I worked on had a public hearing in the Public Health Committee and was in ongoing negotiations with the CT Restaurant Association.

I continue to hold hope that all this talk during COVID-19 of cross-contamination will enlighten the food service industry on adopting measures that will protect everyone.