The novel coronavirus sweeping the globe hit home again Thursday, April 30, as the Health District reported three more death notifications overnight involving Newtown residents — all who were over the age of 70. The state is also reporting 111 active COVID-19 cases in Newtown.

Governor Ned Lamont’s office said Thursday that a total of 27,700 cases of COVID-19 have been reported statewide with 1,650 patients currently hospitalized, and 2,257 virus-related deaths.

It was additionally reported Thursday by the Connecticut Hospital Association that to date, 7,758 patients have been hospitalized for COVID-19 in Connecticut, and in total, 4,346 patients have been discharged.

Thursday morning, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes whose 5th District includes Newtown, announced her husband, a first responder in the City of Waterbury, was exposed to and tested positive for COVID-19 at his workplace.

"I am incredibly grateful that at this time he seems to be healthy and asymptomatic. Given my exposure, I was also tested and it was thankfully negative," Rep Hayes said in a release.

"Out of an abundance of caution, and in keeping in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, my family and I will be quarantining at home for the next 14 days and self-monitoring for symptoms," Hayes added. "I will continue working remotely, talking with constituents and community leaders, and communicating daily with colleagues as we work on the next relief package to combat the health and economic crisis that our country is in."

The governor's Thursday press briefing affirmed a projected date to safely and carefully begin reopening certain businesses and sites across the state is May 20. The governor was quick to caveat, however, that that would be contingent that Connecticut has the appropriate level of widespread testing, hospital capacity, and ample contact tracing resources in place.

Lamont said the widespread distribution of protective masks to businesses is another important contingency that would temper current preliminary plans for phased reopening.

He said in consultation with leaders of a Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group, plans are to look at reopening businesses by industry types that can be done safely based on contact proximity, and the ability for appropriate social distancing to continue.

The governor said consideration needs to be made for the number of person-to-person contacts occurring over the course of a work day; contact length, which could provide greater opportunity for the virus to spread; and the extent an establishment could employ disinfecting measures.

Lamont added that indoor/outdoor businesses would offer an advantage to patrons who prefer to remain outdoors, and would be inherently safer than businesses where transactions and customers are exclusively indoors.

Watching Other States

The governor said as a reopening plan is solidified in Connecticut, he will be closely watching states that have already implemented reopening procedures in the event coronavirus infections spike there. He also said he will be watching urban centers, particularly New York City and Boston, and if cases uptrend in one or both areas, it could impact more widespread reopenings in Connecticut beginning May 20.

Lamont said restaurants offering outdoor seating would be among the first businesses to be allowed to reopen, followed by remaining retail — main street type enterprises like boutiques and jewelry stores. Museums and Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo would also be part of the first stage of sites allowed to reopen, but only with outside access permitted at first.

Offices offering a continued option to work from home, or those creating split shifts or split workforce reductions, would also be permitted to reopen, along with most university research programs, and other outdoor recreation facilities like camping grounds and mountain biking trails.

The governor said he is still working on protocols for businesses like barber shops, and hair or nail salons, due to heightened social distancing challenges. Lamont added that by early next week, he will also have firm news regarding whether to reopen schools, as well as facilities hosting social gatherings.

Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group Co-Chairs Indra Nooyi and Dr Albert Ko both used the phrase “baby steps” when referencing the pace of planned reopenings. Dr Ko added that the elderly and those with compromising health conditions will still be asked to shelter in place beyond the May 20 projected reopening commencing.

Dr Ko also said the more at-risk population of older employees at reopening businesses will be afforded “opt-in” requirements for going back to work. The governor said he is leaning heavily on the state’s “scientific team to help us reopen safely,” and expects he will likely see patrons “voting with their feet if they think a business is opening too soon.”

In regard to the test availability as a criteria for phased reopenings, Dr Ko said Connecticut is on track to see a three-fold increase in COVID-19 testing by May 20.

Eviction Moratorium Requested

On Thursday, The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and 20 ACLU state affiliates, including Connecticut’s, sent letters to state officials across the country urging their offices to issue or expand statewide moratoria against evictions, utility shut-offs, and commit to preventing mass evictions after the moratoria end.

In the letter, the ACLU is calling on state officials to issue or expand a comprehensive moratorium that will:

*halt every stage of the eviction process;

*continue to prevent mass evictions during and after the pandemic;

*apply to all types of tenants and lease violations;

*prohibit the collection of late fees and retaliation against tenants who assert their rights under the moratorium; and

*prohibit utility shut-offs and require restoration of previously disconnected service.

Also Thursday, US Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass), members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, sent a letter to the US Department of Transportation (US DOT) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), urging the agencies to immediately issue a rule requiring face masks for all individuals engaged in air travel during the coronavirus pandemic.

Since the beginning of the current emergency, air travel has been a major vector for COVID-19. Despite flight cancellations and decreased passenger traffic, a large number of planes remain in the sky, creating health risks for flight crews on the frontlines, essential workers that must still travel, and the individuals both groups encounter at their destinations.

Although some individual airlines are now requiring passengers to wear face masks, most airlines only require cabin crew to wear face coverings, while merely encouraging passengers to do the same.

At the same time, Sen Blumenthal joined his Connecticut colleague Senator Chris Murphy and a dozen other lawmakers in urging Senate leadership to support and strengthen SNAP — also known as food stamps — to help ensure that families across America can keep food on their tables despite the mounting economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.

Specifically, the senators requested the following provisions be included in upcoming coronavirus relief legislation:

*Increase the maximum SNAP benefit for all recipients by increasing the thrifty food plan by at least 15 percent to all households, which is equivalent to another $25 per person per month, or a little under $100 per month in food assistance for a family of four;

*Increase the monthly minimum SNAP benefit from $16 to $30 to all households, which will go a long way in helping older Americans, single persons, and family households keep food on the table;

*Suspend rules proposed by USDA that would weaken SNAP eligibility and benefits at time when Americans need SNAP assistance; and

*Provide additional options and investments to support delivery for SNAP participants.

Anyone in crisis or facing issues making ends meet or experiencing stress or anxiety can also call the 211 infoline or consult its companion website 211ct.org.

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including an FAQ, other guidance and resources, and a way to ask questions, Newtown residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

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 Newtown’s own COVID-19 web page: CLICK HERE

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