Governor Lamont Provides Update on Connecticut’s Coronavirus Response Efforts

(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 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2020:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

Since yesterday’s update, an additional 1,346 positive COVID-19 cases have been reported in Connecticut, bringing the statewide total to 13,381. To date, more than 44,309 patients have been tested in Connecticut. Approximately 1,760 patients have been hospitalized. The total statewide total number of COVID-19 associated fatalities is 602. It should be noted that the day-to-day changes reflect newly reported cases, deaths, and tests that occurred over the last several days to week.

A county-by-county breakdown includes:

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

Connecticut Department of Social Services announces infusion of emergency food assistance funding for food banks

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) today announced the allocation of over $3.8 million in federal food assistance to two of the state’s largest food banks, including the Connecticut Food Bank, which will receive $1.9 million for food and nearly $650,000 for administrative costs, and Foodshare, which will receive nearly $1 million for food and $300,00 for administrative costs.

The funding comes from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The funding will enable both of these organizations to increase their orders of TEFAP foods (including canned, frozen and fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, nuts, milk and cheese, and whole-grain and enriched grain products like rice, cereal, and pasta) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture food-ordering system. It will also help meet the increased demand for food in the community through the statewide network of food pantries, soup kitchens and distribution sites. Administrative costs cover trucking/delivery, warehousing, refrigerating, and staffing.

In addition, the recently adopted Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) is anticipated to provide additional TEFAP funding for Connecticut. DSS is waiting for guidance from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service about the state’s allocation and when the aid will be available. Those funds are also expected to be allocated to the Connecticut Food Bank and Foodshare.

AdvanceCT forms group of health and business experts who will provide recommendations to the Lamont administration on the reopening of Connecticut’s economy

The nonprofit organization AdvanceCT today announced that it is forming the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group, which will consist of experts within the state’s medical and business community who will examine issues concerning how best to reopen the state’s economy as the nation emerges from the unprecedented public health emergency caused by COVID-19. Established and governed by AdvanceCT, the group will consult with the state and regional partners and experts on next steps, and will remain in frequent contact with the Lamont administration.

The advisory group will be co-chaired by Indra Nooyi, who the current board co-chair of AdvanceCT and the former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, and Albert Ko MD, who is a professor of Epidemiology and Medicine and a department chair at the Yale School of Public Health. Other senior advisors will include Ezekiel Emanuel, who serves as Vice Provost for Global Initiatives and chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, and Scott Gottlieb, who is a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. AdvanceCT expects to announce additional members in the coming days.

“I’ve always been a believer that collaboration and relying on experts is the best way to be successful,” Governor Lamont said. “To make the reopening of Connecticut’s economy work in the best way possible, we must strike a proper balance between public health and the economy. To make this work, we need to make sure that Connecticut has a thoughtful approach to getting our state moving after this unprecedented, global public health emergency.”

For more information, read the press release issued today by Governor Lamont.

Coalition of northeastern governors plan multi-state council on getting people back to work and restoring the economy

Recognizing that their states have one integrated regional economy, the governors of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Delaware are forming a multi-state council that will work to develop a fully integrated regional framework to gradually lift the states’ stay at home orders while minimizing the risk of increased spread of the virus.

The group will be comprised of one health expert, one economic development expert, and the respective chief of staff from each state. Governor Lamont said that Connecticut’s representatives on the group will include Indra Nooyi, who is the co-chair of the nonprofit organization AdvanceCT and former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo; Albert Ko, MD, who is a professor of Epidemiology and Medicine and a department chair at the Yale School of Public Health; and Paul Mounds Jr., who serves as chief of staff in the Office of the Governor.

“One thing that’s undeniable is that this virus does not stop at the border of any county, state, or country, but the impact is the same when it comes to our respective economies and healthcare systems,” Governor Lamont said. “Working as a regional coalition to make the right decisions will lead to the best public health results for all of our residents. We must solve these problems together.”

For more information, read the press release issued today by Governor Lamont.

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 and TDD/TTY access. It intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone experiencing symptoms is strongly urged to contact their medical provider.