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 4:00 p.m. on Monday, January 18, 2021:

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.

*Today’s report includes the addition of 286,103 laboratory tests from prior months that were previously not included in the daily report totals.

County-by-county breakdown of current COVID-19 hospitalizations:

For a series of interactive graphs and maps that provide additional data, including metrics related to age, gender, and race/ethnicity, as well as data broken down by every town and city in Connecticut, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”

Food benefits will increase by 15 percent on Wednesday for all Connecticut households enrolled in SNAP; Approximately 110,000 enrollees will receive monthly COVID-19 emergency benefit on Saturday

The Connecticut Department of Social Services today announced that it will provide a total of $25.5 million in additional federal food benefits to Connecticut residents in two allocations this week through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

First, on Wednesday, January 20, all 213,590 of the state’s households enrolled in SNAP will receive an average benefit increase of $45.91, which will be the first of several monthly 15 percent increases that will continue through June. This additional food aid totals an estimated $8.5 million per month and results from the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

For example, a single adult previously receiving the maximum benefit amount of $204 will receive an additional $30 for a new maximum benefit amount of $234. A family of four previously receiving the maximum benefit amount of $680 will receive an additional $102, bringing their new maximum benefit amount to $782. If a household was granted benefits on or after January 9, 2021, it already has received the 15 percent increase as part of its regular SNAP benefits.

Second, on Saturday, January 23, approximately 110,000 SNAP-enrolled households will receive an average benefit increase of $154.90, which will be the tenth monthly emergency COVID-19 allocation authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020. This additional food aid totals $17 million for January, adding to the $176.2 million in emergency benefits disbursed in each month since April 2020.

This emergency COVID aid will go to households that are not currently receiving the maximum benefits allowed for their household size. This means that all households enrolled in SNAP will receive the maximum food benefit allowable for their household size, even if they are not usually eligible for the maximum benefit.

The average emergency benefit amount a household will see on its electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card on January 23 is $154.90. If a household is granted regular SNAP benefits on or after January 22, 2021, and is also eligible for the emergency supplemental benefits, the latter benefits will be added to the EBT card on a Friday, depending on the date of granting.

Counting the new 15 percent benefit increase for all enrolled households, emergency benefits allow the household’s SNAP benefit to increase to the maximum, as noted in the following chart:

For each additional person, add $176. For example, if a household of two normally received $200 of SNAP benefits in January, it will receive a 15 percent increase of $30 on January 20 and an additional $200 emergency benefit on January 23, to bring this household up to the maximum benefit for its size of $430.

For additional information about SNAP, visit www.ct.gov/snap.

Providing information to Connecticut residents

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus. Residents can also subscribe to text message alerts from the state by texting the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.

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