While Newtown's caseload of COVID-19 positive cases held at 55 Wednesday, Governor Ned Lamont's led his April 8 press briefing by discussing how the virus is taking a proportionately higher toll on Connecticut's African American residents.

Based on the latest data, Lamont said in Connecticut, blacks were two times as likely to become infected with COVID-19 than whites, and Hispanics were approximately 1.5 times more likely to contract the virus.

At the same time, the state's Asian population is substantially less impacted than whites. Lamont said further analysis of the new data would be forthcoming from his office soon.

He also told reporters that his next Executive Order will, in part, prevent state landlords from evicting tenants for at least the next 90 days. He also said the state is working with CVS on setting up two rapid turnaround testing centers in Stamford and New Haven that will likely be able to produce individual test results in approximately 15 minutes.

The governor's daily press update also included a briefing by state Department of Labor Commissioner Kurt Westby on the logjam involving more than 300,000 new unemployment claims that have been registered since March 13.

That number represents an average of two year's worth of claims being filed in just under one month, he explained, with an escalating number of staffers being added to process them.

Westby also referred briefly to the "40-year-old computer system" the department is continuing to use to facilitate the claims process as being part of the challenge, as well.

According to a follow-up release from Westby's office, his employees provided more than $35 million in benefits payments to nearly 104,000 claimants for the week ending April 4. The agency has now processed nearly 133,000 claims of the more than 302,000 the agency has received since March 13.

“During this time of need, the agency is working extra hours and weekends to process claims as quickly as possible and to program in computer changes to accommodate the new federal programs that will provide additional unemployment benefits,” the DOL commissioner said.

100 Percent Increase

Before the COVID-19 pandemic began to dramatically affect Connecticut and its businesses community, the DOL was typically issuing approximately 40,000 benefit payments weekly, providing $15 to $16 million in benefits to those seeking new employment. The $35 million issued this past week represents a more than 100 percent increase in the amount of benefits that were provided the previous week.

“The agency appreciates the public’s patience as it works to process the thousands of claims that have been filed as a result of the pandemic," Westby added. "Although there continues to be a six-week backlog, all eligible claims will be processed, paid, and retroactive to the date they were filed.”

While the numbers in Connecticut are staggering, he said Connecticut is not unique. Unemployment claims are up in record numbers across the country, as states close non-essential businesses to slow the virus.

To speed up the processing of their claims, unemployed residents who have not yet filed should visit www.filectui.com

Filers are asked to click first on the message above the large blue button that notes: “for quicker payment of unemployment benefits, please follow these instructions.” The link will bring claimants to a guide that should be read before filing for benefits.

For residents that have already filed a claim, Westby reminds residents that it is very important that they check their e-mail (including junk and spam folders) daily for updated messages from the Labor Department.

The agency hopes to be able to provide the federal benefits, including the weekly $600 in additional payments and benefits to self-employed individuals and independent contractors, in the next several weeks. Updates on the status of these programs will also be posted to the agency’s website.

Federal benefits will be retroactive to the date they were signed into law.

Latest Executive Order

Late Tuesday, Governor Lamont announced that Connecticut manufacturers can now apply for grants of up to $75,000 to assist in the production of critical equipment and supplies needed to respond to the COVID-19 emergency. The grants, offered through the state’s Manufacturing Innovation Fund Voucher Program, can be used for working capital, new equipment, and other purposes that help companies build capacity or repurpose their operations.

Applications for the funding will be reviewed and approved by the Department of Economic and Community Development, in partnership with the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, based on the state’s current needs for medical equipment and supplies related to the pandemic. Funding for this short-term program is limited to $1.3 million and requires a one-to-one match from participating businesses. Learn more about the program and the application process by visiting https://ctmvp.ccat.us.

Lamont's 23rd Executive Order - No. 7V - was signed on Tuesday and enacts the following provisions:

Safe workplaces in essential businesses: Requires the Department of Economic and Community Development to work in consultation with the Department of Public Health on the development of legally binding statewide rules prescribing additional protective measures that every workplace in Connecticut deemed essential – and any other business or nonprofit allowed to remain open – must follow. Such rules will be mandatory throughout the state.

Immediately upon Governor Lamont’s signing of this executive order, the Department of Economic and Community Development published the Safe Workplaces Rules for Essential Employers on its website, outlining guidance for these businesses. These rules go into effect immediately.

Temporary permits for certain health care providers extended and fees waived: Waives the application fees for temporary permits for each of the health care professions that are administered by the Department of Public Health. It also extends the duration of the temporary permits for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency, unless otherwise modified.

Practice before licensure for certain health care profession applicants and graduates: Allows recent medical school and other medical profession graduates who are not yet licensed to participate in the state’s COVID-19 response for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency. This is necessary during the emergency period because the ability to take the required exams or other steps to receive a license have been suspended.

Practice before licensure for marital and family therapy associates: Allows those who have recently completed an accredited graduate degree program in marital and family therapy offered by a postgraduate clinical training program to practice without a license for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency.

Practice before licensure for professional counselor associates: Allows recent graduates with a degree in clinical mental health counseling who are not yet licensed to practice as a professional counselor associate without obtaining a license for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency.

Protection from civil liability for actions or omissions in support of the state’s COVID-19 response: Replaces the section of Executive Order No. 7U concerning protection from civil liability for actions or omissions in support of the state’s COVID-19 response with new language, which adds protection from liability for common law claims – in addition to the previously enacted protection from liability for statutory claims – for healthcare workers and providers.

Lamont also said by week's end, approximately 85 soldiers from the U.S. Army Reserve's Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force will provide additional medical staff to Stamford Hospital. The Army Reserve group includes clinical and administrative staff, as well as those who are subject matter experts in operational medicine, infectious disease, preventive medicine, nursing, respiratory therapy, clinical psychology, occupational therapy, dietetics, pharmacy, and other areas.

The task force will be organized under the Dual-Status Commander Brigadier General Ralph Hedenberg, who is a Connecticut Guardsman expected to be approved by the US Secretary of Defense to serve as Commander for both federal and Guard forces within the borders of Connecticut.

Over the last several days and continuing tomorrow, units of the Connecticut National Guard have been working alongside the staff at Stamford Hospital to build out more patient capacity.

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 211 for assistance. The hotline and corresponding website 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.

The Newtown Bee is continuing to provide and mirror information and messages coming from local and state agencies on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. Newtown residents can get more details by visiting:

*Town of Newtown COVID-19 web page - CLICK HERE

*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - CLICK HERE

*World Health Organization - CLICK HERE

Residents can also review all prior COVID-19 updates and follow the newspaper’s Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages for breaking local and state reports.

Please check in regularly, share, and follow the newspaper’s hyperlocal coverage at newtownbee.com through the remainder of this public health emergency.