Maria Horn

Yesterday I ended my Earth Day with a quick hike up Lion’s Head in Salisbury (an offshoot of the Appalachian Trail and a family favorite) to take a little time to appreciate the incredible natural world we are blessed to share with each other and other wild creatures.  There were a few snowflakes in the air, and it was a little chillier than I’d hoped, but still gloriously beautiful, and I even got to share that dramatic view with some friends and former neighbors, and their charming dogs.   If you haven’t yet done a community cleanup in honor of Earth Day, there are still opportunities described below!
 
And this week both of the “money committees” (Appropriations, and Finance, Revenue & Bonding) passed their proposed budgets for state spending and revenue for the next two years.  That represents just one more step in the process, as now the extensive negotiations between the legislature and the Governor begin.
 
Here’s a list of today’s topics:

• Data Updates on Vaccine Administration in Connecticut. Click here. 
• Data Updates on Variants in Connecticut. Click here.
• Weekly Update on the impact of COVID-19 on Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities. Click here.
• COVID Alert Map. Click here. 
• Governor Lamont Signs COVID Emergency Declaration. Click here. 
• Governor Lamont and Executive Orders. Click here.
• Appropriations and Finance Committees passes  proposed budgets. Click here.
• Sharon Hospital and Foundation for Community Health partner to study sustainable healthcare model. Click here.
• Bipartisan Agreement to Restore Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Click here.
• Small Business Administration releases details on Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Click here. 
• Program to Expand High-Quality Summer Enrichment Programs for CT Children. Click here. 
• Regional Vaccination Opportunities. Click here. 
• Local Events. 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 vaccines administered in Connecticut, as reported to the state as of today:
 

Dose	Total Administered
First dose administered	1,760,545*
Fully vaccinated	1,175,362*
Total doses administered	2,828,825*

 

 
*A total of 107,082 doses of the single-dose J&J vaccine are included in all three categories
 
Connecticut currently ranks second in the nation for administering the most vaccines per capita.
 
So far, 60% of all Connecticut residents over the age of 16 have received at least one dose, including:

• 89% of those over the age of 65
• 76% of those between the ages of 55-64
• 61% of those between the ages of 45-54
• 50% of those between the ages of 35-44
• 42% of those between the ages of 25-34
• 33% of those between the ages of 16-24

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 identified among Connecticut residents as of today:
 
Variants of concern
 

• B.1.1.7 (first detected in the United Kingdom): 1,033 cases
• B.1.351 (first detected in South Africa): 11 cases
• P.1 (first detected in Brazil): 9 cases
• B.1.427 (first detected in California): 55 cases
• B.1.429 (first detected in California): 120 cases

 
Variants of interest
 

• B.1.526 (first detected in New York): 308 cases
• B.1.526.1 (first detected in New York): 73 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 22, 2021 on COVID-19 in Connecticut nursing homes **Download: Report from April 22, 2021 on COVID-19 in Connecticut assisted living facilities

 

 
Weekly update of the Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Alert Map: 112 of 169 municipalities in red zone alert level
 
The Connecticut Department of Public Health today released its weekly COVID-19 Alert Map, which indicates that 112 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 19 towns in the gray zone alert level, 9 are in the Northwest Corner.
 
 
Governor Lamont signs renewed COVID-19 emergency declaration, remaining in effect through May 20
 
Pursuant to legislation that was recently approved by the Connecticut General Assembly, Governor Lamont signed a declaration renewing the public health and civil preparedness emergencies that were enacted to enable the state to provide an adequate response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The declaration will remain in effect through May 20, 2021.
 

**Download: Governor Lamont’s declaration extending COVID-19 civil preparedness and public health emergencies

 
Governor Lamont consolidates previously issued executive orders and extends duration of others
 
Governor Lamont issued a series of new executive orders pursuant to the newly filed COVID-19 emergency declaration extension that considerably consolidates many the previously issued orders related to the pandemic and extends the duration of others. The governor explained that this new series – indicated by the sequence number eleven – reduces the number of currently active executive orders under the state of emergency by roughly 60%, helping to provide a clearer picture for residents of those that continue to be in effect.
 
The executive orders include:

• Executive Order No. 11: Extends to May 20 various executive orders that have been identified as critical to pandemic response and recovery, except for those covered by Executive Order Nos. 11A through 11D.
• Executive Order No. 11A: Consolidates and renews sector rules and related enforcement authority so that the Department of Economic and Community Development can continue to issue changes to these rules as the circumstances evolve and vaccination rates increase.
• Executive Order No. 11B: Consolidates all of the temporary flexibilities and changes to liquor sales and service. Additional orders will follow to implement the governor’s announcement today about liquor service outdoors.
• Executive Order No. 11C: Consolidates and renews authority for relevant agency heads to restrict visitation at congregate facilities in order to limit the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
• Executive Order No. 11D: Consolidates and renews contracting flexibility to procure essential goods, services, and real estate to respond to the pandemic.
• Executive Order No. 11E: Extends to May 20 executive orders that have been identified as critical to pandemic response and recovery.

 
Appropriations and Finance Committees passes proposed budgets
 
The next steps in the state’s budgeting process took place this week, with both the Appropriations and Finance Committees passing passed proposed budgets for spending and revenue, respectively, for the next biennium budget. The Governor having proposed his draft budget in February, what follows next are the extensive negotiations between the legislative and executive branches. 
 
The Appropriations Budget addresses state spending, investing in Connecticut’s towns, schools nonprofits, and racial equity, without exceeding the state spending cap or touching the $3.5 billion Rainy Day Fund. I will highlight pieces of it in coming weeks, but here are some highlights: 

• Total proposed spending across all state funds is $22.569 billion in FY 22 and $23.449 billion in FY 223.
• Responding to COVID-19
  • Fully funds Local Health Districts
  • Provides additional $80 million to nonprofits who have been on the frontlines, providing essential work during this pandemic
  • Invests additional resources in our nursing homes
  • Provides $15.4 million to improve medical care and staffing in our prisons
• CT’s Economic Recovery
  • Implements Municipal Revenue Sharing Account to distribute a portion of the State’s sales tax to cities and towns
  • Fully funds Debt Free Community College ($15 million)
  • Expands workforce training in manufacturing ($500k)
  • Seeks to restructure government and work more efficiently as we anticipate many retirements over coming two fiscal years ($77 million in savings)
• Supporting Education
  • Maintains funding for local education through the ECS formula (Governor recommended freezing): $108 million over next two years with $4.7 million investment in low-income schools and districts with English Learners
  • Invests in Birth to Three (about $2 million in each fiscal year)
  • Increases per-student funding for Vocational Agriculture schools and Charter Schools
  • Provides $250k to get local food from CT farms into school cafeterias
• Fighting Racism
  • Establishes a Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health (recognizing racism as a public health crisis)
  • Ends the practice of charging inmates to make phone calls
  • Funds efforts to reduce gun violence in CT’s cities
  • Invests in police officer training
  • Establishes CT’s Inspector General who will independently investigate officer-involved shootings
  • Creates an office to identify those who have been wrongfully-convicted ($363k)
  • Invests in programming to reduce recidivism

Yesterday, the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee passed its budget, which includes
the revenue sources needed to fund government services, policy priorities, and all other state appropriations. I’ll provide more information on that next week. 
 
Sharon Hospital and Foundation for Community Health partner to study sustainable healthcare model

The leadership team and board of directors of Sharon Hospital have partnered with the Foundation for Community Health to study the development of a sustainable healthcare model to support medical needs in northwest Connecticut for years to come.
 
Intending to identify realistic and implementable best practices for the delivery of care in rural communities, the report will examine the demand for services and programs, in addition to fiscal and operational performance evaluations. With consideration for historic, current and anticipated community need, the review will also include insights from recent interviews and previous community health needs assessments, town halls, public hearings and the many community meetings held over the past 18 months.
 
The study is led by Stroudwater Associates, a private healthcare consulting firm that helps strengthen the vital role of hospitals and clinics in rural America across strategic, financial, clinical and operational areas. 
 
Survey data, to be shared with the community upon completion, will offer key guidance as Sharon Hospital looks to adapt an operational and financially viable model of care aligned with best practices for rural hospitals. 
 
Funding for the analysis was provided to Sharon Hospital by the Foundation for Community Health, also located in Sharon. The private, nonprofit foundation is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of residents in the greater Harlem Valley in New York and the northern Litchfield Hills of Connecticut, with an emphasis on serving those most vulnerable.
 
Find out more about Sharon Hospital and the Foundation for Community Health.
 
Bipartisan Agreement to restore Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund

State leaders announced this week a bipartisan proposal to restore the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and reduce taxes on the majority of Connecticut businesses.
 
Connecticut’s unemployment insurance trust fund has been insolvent for 48 of the last 50 years, forcing Connecticut to borrow money from the federal government during economic downtowns. During the Great Recession, Connecticut borrowed $1.25 billion from Washington – a debt repaid with $85 million in interest over the next six years. During the current recession, Connecticut has borrowed $712 million and counting – another debt it will repay with interest as the economy struggles to recover.
 
The bipartisan proposal will prevent that story from repeating yet again, restoring trust fund solvency and reducing taxes on at least 73% of businesses by broadening the taxable wage base, reducing tax rates, and reforming benefits.
 
Small Business Administration releases details on Restaurant Revitalization Fund
 
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has released details on the application and eligibility requirements for the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). The funding – included in the American Rescue Plan and run by the SBA – will assist the hardest-hit restaurants with the funds they need to meet payroll, purchase COVID-related supplies, and recover industry jobs lost during the pandemic.

Over the next two weeks, the SBA will create a seven-day pilot period for the application portal and conduct outreach and training. Participants in the pilot program will be randomly selected from existing Payroll Protection Program borrowers and will not receive RRF funds until the application portal is open to the public. During the pilot period, the SBA will address technical issues ahead of the public launch.
 
All eligible businesses are encouraged to apply, but during the first 21 days, priority will be given to businesses owned by women, veterans and socially and economically.

The SBA is conducting Restaurant Revitalization Fund sessions:
 
Monday, April 26 @ 2pm
Link for attendees:       https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/uconn-cmr/onstage/g.php?MTID=e823dff3ed8a3d4a909289ca5b94c7614
Audio conference:  +1-415-655-0002 Access code: 120 731 8082
 
Tuesday, April 27 @ 9am
Link for attendees:       https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/uconn-cmr/onstage/g.php?MTID=e9b10732fe40ca1e6b592b6629e4aa5da
Audio conference:   +1-415-655-0002 Access code: 120 130 9410
 
Wednesday, April 28 @ 10am (Spanish speaking event)
Seminario web sobre el Fondo de Revitalización de Restaurantes de SBA Tickets, Wed, Apr 28, 2021 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite
 
Again, the application portal is not yet open, but will be soon.  Published information is available at www.sba.gov/rrf.

Program to expand high-quality summer enrichment programs for CT children
 
CT is proposing to dedicate up to $11 million in federal funding Connecticut has received for COVID-19 recovery efforts toward the expansion of programs that connect students to high-quality summer enrichment and recreational opportunities, with an emphasis on communities and children who were most impacted by the pandemic.
 
The funding will come from the portion of the American Rescue Plan Act funding allocated to the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE). Through a partnership between Governor Lamont’s Office, CSDE, the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, Regional Educational Service Centers (RESC), and members of the AccelerateCT Education Taskforce, the funding will be used through a two-pronged approach – expansion grants and innovation grants – to deliver these high-quality and financially accessible summer enrichment opportunities for children of all ages.
  
The grant applications and additional information on both programs will be released by CSDE in the coming days.
 
Regional vaccination opportunities
 
Several new options are opening up in our area for getting your COVID-19 vaccinatios, at the Salisbury School (5/8 and 5/22) , Falls Village Fire Department (5/3 and 5/24), High Watch Clinic at Kent Barns (walk-ins on Tuesdays- Saturdays) and North Canaan Town Hall (5/5, for second shots only for those who were vaccinated there on 4/14).  

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.