Maria Horn

In like a lion, out like a lamb. 
 
That’s supposed to be a saying about March weather, but I’m tempted to apply it more broadly right now.  While we certainly had some blustery weather last night, we’re also experiencing significant turbulence in the Northwest Corner (and, to some degree, throughout the state) trying to schedule vaccine appointments.  Having just significantly expanded vaccine eligibility to those 55 and older, as well as teachers and childcare workers, supply has not kept pace yet.  That is aggravated by the fact that two of our mainstay vaccination locations (Sharon Hospital and High Watch Recovery) are not scheduling new appointments at the moment.  I am working with the Department of Public Health (and many of you) to try to alleviate that, but at this point, patience is called for.  
 
The turbulence is playing out in some of the hearings in the legislature as well, as we debate difficult issues on vaccines, cannabis legalization, aid-in-dying, and expanding sports betting and online gaming, just to name a few. 
 
Let’s hope the saying holds true, and it means things get easier as the month goes along.  In the meantime, stay safe, healthy, and patient.   
 
Here’s a list of today’s topics:

• DMV Launches New Web Portal. Click here.
• Online Business Portal. Click here.
• Vaccine Program Expanded. Click here. 
• Connecticut Working with Vaccine Providers to administer at least 25% of Vaccines in Priority Communities. Click here.
• Governor Lamont and the Mohegan Tribe reach agreement on Sports Wagering and Online Gaming. Click here.

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
 

Specific Updates for Our Community

 

Town	Total Cases	Total Deaths	Number of Tests	Number of Positive Tests
Canaan	7	0	684	8
Cornwall	42	0	1,832	49
Goshen	123	1	4,080	147
Kent	132	0	7,755	158
Norfolk	61	0	1,907	69
North Canaan	183	8	8,167	201
Salisbury	118	0	9,152	140
Sharon	93	1	4,434	132
Torrington	2,754	130	74,601	3,364

 

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
 
DMV launches new web portal adding more online services.
 
The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has launched a revitalized web portal for the agency that increases the number of transactions customers are able to complete online. New online services added during this launch include the ability to request a duplicate driver’s license, a duplicate non-driver ID, and driving history. The DMV’s web portal can be accessed by visiting ct.gov/dmv.
 
These new online services are in addition to the announcement made last month that Connecticut residents now have the ability to renew their driver’s licenses and non-driver IDs online. Renewing credentials online can take as little as seven minutes.
  
Customers can view all online services or schedule an in-person appointment with the DMV by visiting the agency’s newly refreshed web portal at ct.gov/dmv.

Online Business Portal

Are you familiar with CT’s online business portal? It is filled with resources from starting a business to recovery during the pandemic. Spread the word and visit - click here for more information. 

Connecticut’s COVID-19 vaccination program expanded yesterday to include residents between the ages of 55 and 64, in addition to school staff and early childcare professionals
 
Beginning Monday, Connecticut residents between the ages of 55 and 64 are now eligible to schedule appointments and receive the COVID-19 vaccine through one of more than 130 sites throughout the state. In theory, at least.  As I can confirm from my own first-hand experience as well as from conversations with many of you, the reality in the Northwest Corner is while demand has increased, available appointments for first-shot vaccination are nonexistent.  I am working with DPH to get additional vaccination sites up and running, so I will get information out about that as soon as it is available.
 
In addition, public and private preK-12 school staff and childcare professionals have become eligible to receive the vaccine. School staff and childcare professionals will receive instructions from their school districts, town, or employer on how they will be able to receive their vaccines.
 
It is estimated that there are more than 500,000 individuals in Connecticut between the ages of 55 and 64, in addition to about 160,000 school staff and childcare professionals. This week, the state anticipates receiving a supply of around 130,000 doses of the approved vaccines from the federal government. With this in mind, the state anticipates that demand for the vaccine will far outweigh supply as the program expands today to include these new groups. Newly eligible residents are urged to be patient and recognize most will not be able to schedule their appointment immediately due to limited vaccine supply.
  
To find the nearest available vaccination clinics and schedule an appointment, residents should visit ct.gov/covidvaccine and enter their zip code. From there they will receive instructions on how to schedule an appointment at each specific clinic. Appointments can be scheduled over the internet or via telephone.
 
Those who do not have access to the internet can call Connecticut’s COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Assist Line at 877-918-2224 any day of the week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The assist line, which is operated by the United Way of Connecticut, recently increased its capacity and is able to manage 1,050 calls at any one time. If that number is exceeded, callers will hear a busy signal, indicating they will need to try again later. Staff at the assist line anticipate speaking with 10,000 callers per day, and once that capacity is reached, callers will hear recorded message telling them to call back the next day.

Connecticut working with vaccine providers to administer at least 25% of vaccines in priority communities
 
As part of the Lamont administration’s continuing efforts to increase equity in vaccine distribution to residents of underserved communities that have been hardest hit by COVID-19, the Connecticut Department of Public Health has identified the individual zip codes across the state that are in the top 25 percent of the CDC’s social vulnerability index (SVI). The department is working with vaccine providers to commit to administering at least 25 percent of available vaccine supply to the residents living in these priority zip codes and to collecting, tracking, and reporting data regarding race and ethnicity for vaccines administered.
 
On a periodic basis, the Department of Public Health will report on the progress that is made in administering the vaccine to residents of the priority zip codes and in ensuring that it is administered equitably across race and ethnicity.
 
Governor Lamont and the Mohegan Tribe reach agreement on sports wagering and online gaming
 
Governor Lamont and Mohegan Tribe Chairman James Gessner Jr. today announced an agreement that would allow the State of Connecticut to modernize gaming options available to state residents, including allowing for sports wagering and online gaming. The agreement would generate tens of millions of dollars in new revenue for the state, while keeping Connecticut competitive with gaming changes currently being offered or considered in neighboring states. The agreement also provides the inclusion of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation as a partner in the effort to modernize the state’s gaming landscape.
 
The agreement was announced while a hearing on a group of gaming-related bills was going on in the Public Safety and Security Committee.  One of those bills, HB 6512, concerns consumer protections for any expansion in gaming in the state of Connecticut, which will be a critically important piece as we move forward.  
 
Providing information to Connecticut residents
 
For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus. Residents can also subscribe to text message alerts from the state by texting the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.
 
Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Anyone who is out-of-state or requires a toll-free number can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 by dialing 1-800-203-1234. This 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 are strongly urged to contact their medical provider.