Maria Horn

As the weather warms up, I’m seeing more events get scheduled in the district, and I’m able to have more in-person meetings outdoors, which is refreshing, especially as I start to anticipate long days in Hartford in the coming weeks. Some of the upcoming local outdoor events are traditional spring clean ups in anticipation of Earth Day on April 22.  I detail a couple of them below, but please let me know if your town is holding one so that we can get the word out. 
 
In Hartford, we’re starting to think through the logistics of how to get legislative business done as we move from committees (which we can do from home via Zoom) to the full House and Senate votes (which still require Zoom, but must be done from the Capitol in Hartford).  That will certainly mean limiting the number of bills we will be able to consider, and will probably mean combining bills on related topics. 
 
Finally, we at last got the sign-up links for the FEMA mobile unit’s vaccine clinics in North Canaan and Winsted.  As many of you know, the process was complicated and frustrating, partly related to more complex eligibility concerns, but also the many different parties involved, including federal, state, and local government, as well as a private hospital located in a distant part of the state.
 
With the usual caveats that these appointments are only available as supplies and slots last, here are the links for the two clinics (please note that the North Canaan clinic  on 4/14 is for all of Northwest Connecticut, but that the Winsted clinic on 4/15 is limited to residents of Winsted):

• www.griffinhealth.org/northcanaan
• www.griffinhealth.org/winsted

 
Here’s a list of today’s topics:

• Data Updates on Vaccine Administration  in Connecticut. Click here. 
• Data Updates on Variants in CT. Click here. 
• Weekly Update on Nursing Homes. Click here.
• COVID Map. Click here. 
• Local Earth Day Events. Click here. 
• Reopening of Parks and Boat Launches. Click here. 
• Additional Funding for State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management Areas. Click here. 
• Vaccine Clinic for Veterans. Click here.
• Scholarship from Torrington Savings Bank. 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.”
 

Data updates on vaccine administration in Connecticut
 
The following data represents the total number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered in Connecticut, as reported to the state as of today:
 

Dose	Total Administered
First dose administered	1,421,831*
Fully vaccinated	883,169*
Total doses administered	2,230,742*

 

 
*NOTE: A total of 74,258 doses of the single-dose J&J vaccine are included in each category
 
Connecticut continues to rank among the top three states in the nation that have administered the most vaccines per capita.
 
So far, 49% of all people in Connecticut over the age of 16 have received at least one dose, including:
 

• 82% of those over the age of 65;
• 69% of those between the ages of 55-64;
• 51% of those between the ages of 45-54; and
• 23% of those between the ages of 16-44.

 
All Connecticut residents over the age of 16 are currently eligible to receive the vaccines. Appointments must be made in advance at all clinics statewide. To learn how to make an appointment, visit ct.gov/covidvaccine and enter a zip code to find the nearest clinics.
 
Data updates on variants in Connecticut
 
The following data contains the cumulative number of SARS-CoV-2 variants that have been reported among Connecticut residents as of today:
 
Variants of concern
 

• B.1.1.7 (first detected in the United Kingdom): 649 cases
• B.1.351 (first detected in South Africa): 8 cases
• P.1 (first detected in Brazil): 5 cases
• B.1.427 (first detected in California): 39 cases
• B.1.429 (first detected in California): 108 cases

 
Variants of interest
 

• B.1.526 (first detected in New York): 272 cases
• B.1.525 (first detected in Africa and Europe): 10 cases
• P.2 (first detected in Brazil): 7 cases

 
For more information on variants, see page 7 of this week’s extended COVID-19 data report.
 
Weekly update on the impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes and assisted living facilities
 
The following documents contain the weekly data regarding each of the nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Connecticut that have reported positive cases of COVID-19 among their residents. The data is presented as it was reported to the state by each of the facilities.
 

**Download: Report from April 8, 2021 on COVID-19 in Connecticut nursing homes **Download: Report from April 8, 2021 on COVID-19 in Connecticut assisted living facilities

 

 
Weekly update of the Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Alert Map: 141 of 169 municipalities in red zone alert level
 
The Connecticut Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 Alert Map, which indicates that 141 of 169 towns and cities in Connecticut are currently in the red zone alert level, the highest of the state’s four alert levels. Of the 14 towns in the gray alert level, the lowest, 6 are in the Northwest corner. 
 
The COVID-19 Alert Map is updated every Thursday afternoon and can be found within the Data Tracker page of the state’s coronavirus website at ct.gov/coronavirus.
 
Local Earth Day clean up events
 
Earth Day (on April 22) is around the corner, and a number of towns in the district are scheduling spring clean ups of roadsides and green spaces.  Events in Sharon and Kent are included below, but please share others with me so that I can help spread the word!
 
In Sharon, the annual Keep Sharon Beautiful Trash Walk is a socially distanced community event to pick up the litter on the sides of the road.  The group will meet on the front lawn of the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon on April 17 at 10 am to hand out masks, maps with routes and latex gloves. They will also give instructions for deposit points for the full trash bags. The rain date is Sunday, April 18.

Reopening of parks and boat launches
 
Connecticut’s State Parks system and boat launches are planning to return to providing full services to visitors during the 2021 season, with some state campgrounds opening to campers with reservations this week, pursuant to the operational plan for the 2021 outdoor recreation season.
 
For a list of every state park in Connecticut, visit portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Listing-of-State-Parks.
 
There is a current 200-person limit for outdoor group activities in Connecticut, which may be further adjusted throughout the recreation season. Most park buildings, museums, nature centers, and other enclosed structures, including restrooms, will be opened on Memorial Day weekend. Six feet of social distancing must be maintained at all times while inside park buildings, along with adhering to mask wearing requirements. Visitors who do not abide by these rules may be asked to leave state park property.
 
 
Additional $2 million in state funding for state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas
 
$2 million in state funding is anticipated to be approved next week by the State Bond Commission, which will be used to fund statewide repairs and maintenance works at Connecticut state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas.
 
Examples of projects that will be funded through this bond allocation include: grading and filling of gravel roads; building repairs such as roof, window and door replacement; heating and ventilation system repairs; plumbing, electrical and water system repairs, toilet building, maintenance facility and minor building repairs; replacement of picnic tables, grilles, fire rings and other park and campground amenities; timber rails, decking materials, grading and filling of parking areas; and security gates, including replacement materials.
 
The State Bond Commission is anticipated to vote on the allocation during its meeting next Friday, April 16.
 
 
Details for COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics for veterans, spouses, and caregivers
 
Below is updated information from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs regarding the Upcoming COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics that will be open to anyone who served in the military, veteran spouses & veteran caregivers.
 

• April10 from 8am-3:30pm

New London Clinic, 4 Shaw's Cove (Johnson and Johnson)
 

• April 11 from 8am-3pm

Connecticut Veterans Home, 287 West Street, Rocky Hill (Moderna) 
 

• April 12 from 8am-3:30pm

West Haven campus, 950 Campbell Avenue, Donaldson Center, Bldg. 2, 2nd floor (Pfizer)
 

• April 13 from 8am-3:30pm

Newington campus, 555 Willard Avenue, Bldg. 2E basement (Johnson and Johnson)
 

• April 14-16 from 8am-3:30pm

West Haven campus, 950 Campbell Avenue, Donaldson Center, Bldg. 2, 2nd floor (Pfizer)
 

• April 15 from 8am-3:30pm

Newington campus, 555 Willard Avenue, Bldg. 2E basement (Moderna)
 

• April 17 from 8am-4pm

Harding High School, 379 Bond Street, Bridgeport (Johnson and Johnson)
 
 
Scholarship opportunity from Torrington Savings Bank

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.