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05/28/2020 12:00 AMA note from Zip06 -- On Tuesday, May 26, Governor Ned Lamont issued his Reopen Connecticut report developed with recommendations from the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group. On Wednesday May 27, State Senator Christine Cohen (D, District 12), who represents Branford, North Branford, Guilford, Madison and Killingworth, released the following information sharing the Governor's COVID-19 update and a closer look at the report:
As of Wednesday May 27, a total of 41,288 positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported among Connecticut residents, another 341 new cases since yesterday. Connecticut's death toll from COVID-19 now stands at 3,803 lives lost, another 34 deaths since yesterday. 684 state residents remain hospitalized, which is 10 fewer than yesterday. Overall, 229,769 state residents have been tested for COVID-19, including 5,215 new tests yesterday.
Positive cases in the 12th Senate District, according to Connecticut Department of Public Health:
Branford 325
Durham 30
Guilford 94
Killingworth 13
Madison 135
North Branford 80
A Close Look at Reopening
The report envisions Phase 2 of re-opening beginning on June 20, with gyms, movie theaters, social clubs, museums, indoor restaurants, some youth sports, public libraries, summer camps and outdoor venues (with a maximum of 50 people) reopening. Masks and social distancing would still be mandatory. The goal is for Connecticut to be conducting 100,000 COVID-19 tests a week, and a contact tracing system in place that could contact more than 50% of people within 48 hours if a coronavirus transmission was suspected. People ages 65 and older and those in high-risk categories would still be urged to remain at home.
Phase 3 of re-opening is proposed to begin begin around Labor Day weekend, with bars, indoor venues, and outdoor events (with a maximum of 100 people) in the fold. The fall school year would begin for college undergraduates, grades K-12, and boarding schools. Masks and social distancing would remain mandatory.
Businesses eligible to open are required to self-certify to demonstrate they understand and will comply with COVID-19 rules and regulations and provide patrons with safety information as well. The application for self-certification can be found here: business.ct.gov/recovery.
Upon completing the certification process, companies are encouraged to download safety signs and badges to display at their businesses or websites, though utilizing those materials is voluntary.
More information will be forthcoming on industry-specific guidelines and protocols for phase 2 and 3 reopening.
Core Domains of Support
The plan is to follow six core domains of support and accessible communications including the following:
Food Access: Making sure those in need have access to nutritious foods during the duration of self-isolation.
Technology and Connectivity: Ensuring access to telehealth services and active monitoring.
Healthcare: Making sure those who need it have un-interrupted access to critical COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 care in self-isolation including mental health and access to medications and medical equipment.
Temporary Housing: Providing access to temporary housing if individual is unable to self-isolate safely at home.
Holistic Wellbeing: Providing personal care support including personal hygiene.
Economic Relief: Giving job and salary protection for individuals who are not able to work remotely while in self-isolation.
Programs for Individuals to Self-Quarantine
The report proposes two programs to ensure access to services and care to help people safely quarantine or isolate. The first is active clinical monitoring, which helps ensure that individuals who need to quarantine and who have symptoms but do not have access to a health care provider have active health monitoring while in isolation. The second is social support and wraparound services to provide support to enable individuals to follow quarantine and isolation guidelines by matching needs with existing resources, including housing and food.
Monitoring Our PPE Stockpile
Connecticut's current stockpile of personal protective equipment is 2-3 months and growing. Connecticut's health care systems need to reopen to provide optimal care that was interrupted by the pandemic. The report notes Connecticut should maintain an adequate emergency reserve of hospital beds, personal protective equipment, equipment and consumables, and staffing.
Prioritize Influenza Immunization
Health officials plan to prioritize influenza immunizations for all residents to protect people and to safeguard hospitals from a COVID-19 and influenza surge crisis. The likelihood of a COVID-19 resurgence is high, and a combination of the flu and coronavirus would have major effects on Connecticut's health care system. The state will implement efforts to achieve universal immunization of all residents who do not have a contraindication to influenza vaccine, and will secure a larger vaccine supply for the upcoming flu season.
Expand COVID-19 Testing
The report notes that while Connecticut has generally met its initial goal of 45,000 COVID-19 tests per week, this is only the start of expanding test access. The state has developed a roadmap to further increase testing availability. By June 20, Connecticut hopes to build up its efficiency to 100,000 tests per week, adding in repetitive testing of nursing home staff and residents, correctional facility staff and inmates, members of high-risk communities, high risk health care workers, first responders and direct care employees and residents. By doing this, these high-risk areas will see a reduced risk of infection transmission, especially in the event of infected individuals who do not show symptoms but may still be contagious. Future phases will also expand testing to prevent cases and, failing that, catch them before they become serious in order to save lives. By September 1, the hope is for Connecticut to have 200,000 tests performed per week, with additional tests in place for public education to enable a full reopening and reduce the probability of future outbreaks. Faculty, staff and students of state universities and schools would begin testing by then to prevent future outbreaks.
Testing to Determine COVID-19's Spread
Connecticut currently is putting new tests in place to determine how prevalent COVID-19 has been among the state population and to inform its future decision-making. In June, there will likely be a randomly selected group of 1,500 adults who receive blood tests to determine if they've contracted COVID-19. Nursing home residents and staff, health care workers, corrections staff, inmates and first responders will also be tested. That test is hoped to determine how prevalent COVID-19 has been in the general population in recent months. Should the survey be successful, further tests of up to 3,000 randomly selected adults will occur every one to two months to determine how infection is occurring and further monitor the ability to reopen the state.
Contact Tracing
In coming weeks, Connecticut will expand its contact tracing capabilities. If an individual tests positive for COVID-19 after becoming symptomatic, workers will attempt to contact as many individuals as that person came into contact with during the period they may have been symptomatic. All positive-testing individuals will be told to self-isolate for 10 days, or five days after symptoms abate, with their contacts asked to self-quarantine for 10 days, then receive daily contact from a public health professional to determine their health. The state will provide access to housing and food to those who cannot safely self-isolate, also providing access to healthcare, technology and well-being resources to fight further transmission of the virus.
CT Launches 13-week Extension for Expired Jobless Benefits
In March, under the CARES Act, those individuals who had been unemployed prior to the pandemic were provided with an extension of benefits for an additional 13 weeks. This Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUA) is now available to the over 75,000 individuals who qualify. The Department of Labor sent letters to those potentially eligible. Payments will be retro to the week of filing subsequent to April 4, 2020, if claimants exhausted all rights to regular unemployment compensation (UC) under state or Federal law for benefit year that ended after July 1, 2019.
Distance Learning Surveys
The Connecticut State Department of Education is doing some student outreach to better understand what is working and what isn't as far as distance learning is concerned. School districts will be reaching out to students with information on how to participate in a 5-10 minute questionnaire conducted by Thoughtexchange. The responses will be anonymous, but all shared with Commissioner Cardona and his team. Should distance learning be necessary next academic year, this information will help to shape learning portals and move towards the most engaging and education conducive environments.
Residents are encouraged to reach out to Senator Christine Cohen's office with questions or concerns [cohen@senatedems.ct.gov]. Her team is standing by and ready to help however they can. Cohen asks residents to please continue to wear their masks, wash hands regularly and maintain social distance from others outside your home.