Sen. Hwang provides Aug. 16 Covid-19 Update

The Office of the Governor provided the following updates as of 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2020:

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, and tests in Connecticut.

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 and click the link that is labeled, “COVID-19 Data Tracker.”

For more information visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “COVID-19 Data Tracker.”

Sixty-sixth executive order related to COVID-19

Executive Order No. 7NNN enacts the following provisions:

• Modifications to face covering requirements: This order replaces Executive Order No. 7BB, which required the wearing of face coverings in public places in Connecticut, with a similar order that requires anyone declining to wear a mask or face covering because of a medical condition to have documentation of the condition. It also contains provisions for people with disabilities to obtain such documentation without facing a significant burden.
• Permission for DECD Commissioner to establish size limits for private gatherings: Permits the Commissioner of DECD to issue or amend Sector Rules to establish size limits for private gatherings of people who do not live in the same household, regardless of whether such gathering has been organized by a business.

Updated data on the impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes and assisted living facilities

The following documents contain updated 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. If a facility is not listed, that means it is reporting that it does not have any residents who have tested positive. These data reports are updated weekly.

Regional travel advisory updated to include more locations with high COVID-19 infection rates, several locations removed

The regional travel advisory between Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York that went into effect last month and directs incoming travelers from states with a significant community spread of COVID-19 to self-quarantine for a 14-day period was updated today and now includes Hawaii, South Dakota, and the Virgin Islands on the list of impacted locations. Meanwhile, the states of Alaska, New Mexico, Ohio, and Rhode Island have been removed from the list.

The quarantine applies to any person arriving from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or a state with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.

As of today, the full list of locations meeting this criteria includes:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• California
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Iowa
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Mississippi
• Montana
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• Oklahoma
• Puerto Rico
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virgin Islands
• Virginia
• Washington (Metrics for Washington are currently pending review, status may change)
• Wisconsin

This list will continue to be updated on a regular basis as the situation develops across the country. Anyone seeking the most up-to-date information on the regional travel advisory is encouraged to visit the state’s coronavirus website at ct.gov/Coronavirus/travel.

The Connecticut State Department of Education released new Frequently Asked Questions regarding the reopening of K-12 public schools

The purpose of the Frequently Asked Questions document, Volume 2, is to provide clarification on a variety of topics outlined in the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) Adapt, Advance, Achieve Reopening Plan (referred to here as the “CSDE Reopening Document”). View the document here.
Feds Approve Food Replacement Benefits for All SNAP Recipients Statewide

Over 210,600 Connecticut households enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive federal storm-related food replacement benefits, Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Deidre S. Gifford announced today.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has approved $9.9 million in food assistance for Connecticut SNAP recipients statewide, based on an analysis of Tropical Storm Isaias power outages and federal guidelines for replacement benefits.

All 210,600 SNAP-enrolled households (nearly 387,000 people) will automatically receive 20 percent of their August benefit amount in electronic benefit transfer (EBT) accounts on a date to be announced by DSS after systems planning.

More information available at www.ct.gov/snap and www.endhungerct.org. SNAP benefits can be used only for federally approved food items at supermarkets, grocery stores, approved online retailers and farmers’ markets.

In other important news – Your Electric Rates:

The Connecticut General Assembly’s Energy & Technology Committee will be holding bipartisan public hearings. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is the recognized state regulatory agency that oversees all utilities providing service within the state of Connecticut and is also holding a hearing on rate hikes on August 24th on the response of Eversource during Storm Isaias and their rate increase.. But keep in mind PURA did just recently approve rate hikes from Eversource. That’s why it’s so important to have all your voices heard at the upcoming public hearing and demand greater accountability and share stories of their struggle toward power restoration..

To those wanting to participate in the hearing, see below or go to senatorhwang.com.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s hearing will take place on Monday, August 24, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., via remote access.  Access instructions are set forth below.  The Authority may continue the hearing on additional dates, as deemed necessary.

Remote attendee access: Docket Participants and interested stakeholders must register through the web link below to listen in to, or to participate in the meeting:

https://ctdeep.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqcO2urTosGtGf4iMYOF9fUA1xdzNgkD_6

Meeting ID#  927 7463 1605

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.  The meeting will be recorded.

How to Submit Testimony:

Letters will be accepted from members of the general public who have an interest in the outcome of this proceeding through the last day of the hearing.

Email your comments, suggestions:

1. Email brief testimonial comments to [email protected] and include me as well..  [email protected] and we will hand deliver them to PURA.
2. Include Docket Number 20-01-01 in the subject line

Note that your comments will be part of public record