Lamont: 84 new coronavirus deaths in Connecticut; exec order; CT Air National Guard flyover Thursday

HARTFORD, CT – As the State of Connecticut continues taking actions in response to the global spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Governor Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2020:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, and tests in Connecticut. It is important to note that these newly reported updates include data that occurred over the last several days to a week. All data in this report are preliminary, and data for previous dates will be updated as new reports are received and data errors are corrected.

County-by-county breakdown:

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

Governor Lamont signs 41^st executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19

Governor Lamont today signed another executive order – the 41^st since he enacted the emergency declarations – that builds upon his efforts to encourage mitigation strategies that slow down transmission of the virus. Executive Order No. 7NN enacts the following provisions:

• Waiver of statutory vote on supplemental federal block grant
• Remote participation in member meetings
• Waiver of certain regulatory limitations on the amount of support that can be provided to caregiver relatives
• Technical modification of grace period for April and May rent
• Authorization for OPM to direct DSS to provide Coronavirus Relief Fund distributions to nursing home facilities
• Authorization for OPM to direct DSS to provide Coronavirus Relief Fund distributions to COVID recovery facilities and alternate COVID recovery facilities
• Authorization for additional COVID-19 related hardship relief funding under the Coronavirus Relief Fund to nursing home facilities
• Coronavirus Relief Fund distribution determinations not subject to rehearing or appeal
• Extension and sunset of suspension of tax on single-use plastic checkout bags

Flyover salute to Connecticut’s health care workers on Thursday, May 14

To salute Connecticut’s health care workers for the service they are providing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Connecticut Air National Guard will conduct Operation American Resolve on Thursday, May 14. This includes the flyover of the Guard’s C-130H aircraft over hospitals and other health care facilities throughout the state.

“Defending the homeland has taken a new shape, and the Connecticut National Guard is proud to serve alongside the first responders and essential personnel in the COVID-19 response efforts,” Major General Francis Evon, Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard, said. “This is our way of showing appreciation to the thousands of heroes at the front line battling COVID-19. We are humbled by their sacrifices.”

“There are so many front line workers across Connecticut providing care for people who have been impacted by the pandemic, and this is our way of saluting them and saying thank you,” Governor Lamont said. “They are true heroes, and the amount of good they are providing for our state is immeasurable.”

Connecticut residents are recommended to observe the flyover from the safety of their home, maintain social distancing, and avoid large gatherings in accordance with local health officials.

The C-130H aircraft is expected to be overhead within plus or minus five minutes of the times listed below, which are an estimate and subject to change:

• Torrington 11:08 a.m.
• Sharon 11:13 a.m.
• Waterbury 11:21 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
• Danbury 11:27 a.m.
• Greenwich 11:34 a.m.
• Stamford 11:36 a.m.
• Norwalk 11:37 a.m.
• New Canaan 11:39 a.m.
• Bridgeport 11:43 a.m. and 12:09 p.m.
• New Haven 11:48 a.m.
• Derby 11:50 a.m.
• Wallingford 11:55 a.m.
• Meriden 11:57 a.m.
• Hartford 12:08 p.m.
• Farmington 12:18 p.m.
• New Britain 12:19 p.m.
• Bristol 12:20 p.m.
• Manchester 12:23 p.m.
• Vernon 12:24 p.m.
• Middletown 12:25 p.m.
• New London 12:32 p.m.
• Norwich 12:36 p.m.
• Windham 12:40 p.m.
• Putnam 12:45 p.m.
• Stafford Springs 12:51 p.m.
• Enfield 12:56 p.m.

Office of Early Childhood launches CTCARES for Family Child Care

The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood today announced that it has launched “CTCARES for Family Child Care” to provide support to licensed family child care providers during the COVID-19 public health emergency and beyond. The initiative is made possible with approximately $830,000 in support from nonprofit organizations, including the Connecticut Early Childhood Funder Collaborative, 4-CT, and other philanthropic groups – and financial support continues to grow.

CTCARES for Family Child Care connects licensed family child care providers with a Family Child Care Network to provide grant funding and other supports to help small, home-based providers keep their business running during this challenging time. Licensed family child care plays a critical role in Connecticut’s economy by providing needed child care so parents can go to work to financially support their family. During the COVID-19 emergency, 61 percent of family child care programs continue to support essential workers.

“Since the start, our state has viewed access to child care as a top priority for health care workers and other frontline workers,” Governor Lamont said. “I’m proud to see yet another effort to support these programs. When parents know their children are cared for, they can focus on doing the job they need to do to save lives.”

“The Office of Early Childhood is grateful to the Connecticut Early Childhood Funder Collaborative and 4-CT for their support of this initiative,” Early Childhood Commissioner Beth Bye said. “Family child care providers have continued to support families and children during this public health emergency. This generous gift will bring them much needed supports and sets up a framework to support the family child care industry beyond the pandemic.”

The initiative offers the following services:

1. Connecting to a Family Child Care Network: Family Child Care Networks are community entities with expertise working with family child care providers. They offer ongoing support services and resources, which may include professional development, coaching and consultation, business development training, and administrative support to increase the quality and sustainability of the family child care business. Current Networks are All Our Kin, CERCLE, EdAdvance, TEAM, Inc., and the United Way of Western Connecticut, all supported in part or whole by the OEC and private philanthropy. CTCARES for Family Child Care funding will support up to six additional Family Child Care Networks across the state.
2. Phone consultations with behavioral health experts: The Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (ECCP) will provide telephone and/or online opportunities to answer questions regarding social-emotional and behavioral concerns for children ages 0-5. ECCP can also help providers with managing self-care and dealing with stress.
3. Access to health consultation: The Connecticut Nurses Association will deliver webinars on health and safety topics related to the COVID-19 emergency in both English and Spanish.
4. Access to the Connecticut “Talk It Out Help” Line: A dedicated line for parents and caregivers offers help with the stress and increased needs resulting from caring for children during the COVID-19 emergency.
5. Grants to support operational expenses: Providers who choose to participate with one of the Family Child Care Networks will be eligible to apply for funding to support maintaining smaller group sizes, purchasing additional program supplies, and paying for expenses to enable the program to remain open.

“This initiative is another example of state government and philanthropy combining their knowledge and funding to address the critical issue of maintaining child care. It also recognizes family child care centers as essential business enterprises that need to be supported now and going forward,” Carol O’Donnell, Early Childhood Funder Collaborative Executive Director said.

“Providing safe child care to help parents who are hard at work in our state is an essential part of reopening Connecticut,” Ted Yang, co-founder and COO of 4-CT, said. “4-CT is proud to support the CTCARES effort as we continue to deliver on our mission of providing relief to those affected by COVID-19.”

CTCARES is supported by: 4-CT, CT Early Childhood Funder Collaborative, American Savings Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, Connecticut Community Foundation, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Grossman Family Foundation, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, United Way of Western Connecticut, and Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation. Several other philanthropic entities are finalizing approvals to support CTCARES for Family Child Care.

Information on CTCARES for Family Child Care can be found online at www.ctoec.org/covid-19/ctcares-for-family-child-care.

Governor Lamont encourages residents to sign up for the state’s CTAlert notification system

Governor Lamont is encouraging Connecticut residents to sign up for CTAlert, the state’s emergency alert system, which provides text message notifications to users. To subscribe, text the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.

Providing information to Connecticut residents

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including an FAQ and other guidance and resources, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can also call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Relay services can be accessed by calling 7-1-1. Anyone who is out-of-state or using Relay can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 toll free by dialing 1-800-203-1234. The hotline 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.