COVID-19 Community Levels Update, March 17, 2023: The CDC has listed all eight Connecticut counties in the Low/Green category as part of its weekly Community Levels update. People who are at a high risk for severe illness should consider additional measures to minimize their exposure to COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses. Visit the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels Map for updates.


Please visit covidtests.gov to request four free COVID-19 self-test kits from the Federal Government. Find a location that has a supply of COVID-19 therapeutics as part of the Test to Treat initiative here. The complete DPH COVID-19 toolbox is located at ct.gov/coronavirus.

Public Health Emergency Preparedness in Connecticut

Blizzard Highway

Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement (PHEP CoAg) is for building and strengthening public health departments’ abilities to effectively respond to a range of public health threats, including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological events. The State of Connecticut was awarded this grant from the CDC and in turn contracts with the CRI regions to distribute funding to improve their ability to respond to a range of public health incidents and build better prepared communities. The PHEP CoAg includes activities and deliverables for the CT Department of Public Health such as conducting risk assessments, writing plans, and conducting drills and exercises focused on the 15 National Public Health Preparedness Capabilities.

CT Department of Public Health receives additional funding from the federal government beyond PHEP. To learn more please visit Hospital Preparedness Program.

 

PHEP Funding at a Glance

CT Population: 3,572,665

Frequent Public Health Emergencies:

  • Tropical Storms/Hurricanes
  • Blizzards
  • Infectious Disease Outbreaks

Key Emergency Operations Center Activations:

  • 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic
  • 2019: Winter Storm
  • 2016: Statewide Radiological Drill

CDC PHEP Funding:

  • FY 2021: $7,693,758
  • FY 2020: $7,514,989

CDC Crisis Response Funding: COVID-19

  • FY 2021: $21,851,989
  • FY 2020: $9,309,998


 
2022 PHEP Funded CRI Regions and Local Health Departments/Districts (LHD):

  • Region 1: 12 LHD
  • Region 2: 11 LHD
  • Region 3: 14 LHD
  • Region 4: 4 LHD, 1 Tribal Nation
  • Region 5: 9 LHD

Top Five Capability Investments:

  • Medical Countermeasure Dispensing and Distribution
  • Public Health Laboratory Testing
  • Public Health Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation
  • Community Preparedness
  • Medical Material Management and Distribution
Hurricane Irene Connecticut Shore

 

 

For more information about how PHEP supports Connecticut communities, please contact the DPH Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response at (860)509-8282.