November 25th Updates: Team Sports, Paid Leave
I hope you and your family are healthy and well.
Below you will find important updates related to COVID-19, as well as information on a variety of other topics.
For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on the pandemic, including an FAQ and other guidance and resources, visit ct.gov/coronavirus.
Last week, Governor Lamont announced that all club and team sports in Connecticut will be paused until January 19, 2021. The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC), which governs high school sports, also postponed its winter season to Jan. 19.
Some of the other changes related to the governor's announcement include:
- All team sporting activities, except collegiate and professional, are prohibited until January 19, 2021.
- All team scrimmages, competitions, camps, clinics, and tournaments including all interscholastic, “pick-up” games, and other informal athletic activities prohibited.
- “Team” is defined as a group of more than four people jointly engaged in an organized or recreational athletic activity on a court, field, etc.
- Masks are now required in all gyms and fitness centers with no exceptions.
- Fitness classes have been reduced to 25 percent capacity.
While these decisions are painful, these are challenging times and we have to protect the public health. Click HERE to read more about this announcement.
On Friday, Governor Lamont signed another executive order that builds upon his efforts to encourage mitigation strategies that slow down transmission of the virus. Executive Order No. 9M enacts the following provisions:
- DECD authority to enact rules for all sports activities: Expands authority of the commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development to establish mandatory safety rules to all sports.
- Renewals of certain permits extended: To promote compliance with pandemic-related restrictions on sales of liquor, extends the renewal period for certain liquor permits and refunds certain renewal fees already paid.
- Extending authorization for online continuing education for plumbers and electricians: Extends to February 9, 2021 the time during which plumbers and electricians may satisfy continuing education requirements through online learning.
- Extended deadlines for continuing education for plumbers and electricians: Extends to February 9, 2021 the deadline for electricians and plumbers to complete their continuing education requirements while allowing them to renew licenses according to original deadlines.
In addition, here is the latest data on COVID-19 in Connecticut:
Connecticut's Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which goes into effect in 2021, will be a crucial social program for workers in our state. The Paid Leave program offers workers access to paid time off for qualifying life events, including childbirth and seeking treatment for serious health conditions for themselves or their families.
The Benefits
- In most cases the state paid family leave program will provide you up to 12 weeks of paid time off and 14 weeks for certain issues during pregnancy
- This law supports and recognizes that families come in all forms. Unlike the current Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act, which limits leave to care for only close blood relatives, the new leave law will allow Connecticut’s workforce to take time to care for newly adopted children, grandchildren, grandparents and those who workers consider family by virtue of their bond with them, such as a foster sibling.
- Up to 12 days of paid leave is available for those affected by domestic violence, and more paid time may be available if that person affected by domestic violence has a serious health condition for which they are seeking treatment from a health care provider.
For additional information on this program, visit the CT Paid Leave Authority's website by clicking HERE.