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 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2020:

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.

County-by-county breakdown:

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “COVID-19 Data Tracker.”

Governor Lamont signs 51^st executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19

Governor Lamont today signed another executive order – the 51^st since he enacted the emergency declarations – that builds upon his efforts to encourage mitigation strategies that slow down transmission of the virus. Executive Order No. 7XX enacts the following provisions:

• Modification of safety rules for drive-in religious gatherings: Makes modifications to Executive Order No. 7TT to provide that “drive-in” religious, spiritual, and worship gatherings at which all attendees remain in their vehicles may be held with no limitations on capacity if either vehicle windows remain closed or vehicles remain at least six feet apart and participants wear masks or cloth face coverings.
• Safety rules for drive-in graduations: Permits drive-in graduation ceremonies at which all attendees remain in their vehicles except for graduates briefly leaving their vehicles to receive diplomas to be held with no limitations on capacity if either vehicle windows remain closed or vehicles remain at least six feet apart and all attendees wear masks or cloth face coverings.
• Suspension of the involuntary discharge of nursing facility residents and residential care home residents who may be discharged to homeless shelters, except during emergency situations or with respect to COVID-19 recovered discharges: Suspends the involuntary discharge of residents from nursing homes or residential care homes to homeless shelters for the duration of the declared emergency. This suspension excludes emergency situations when the individual presents a danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the resident or other residents or staff, including the refusal to comply with established COVID-19 infection control or social distancing measures that could also endanger staff, and does not apply to specific aspects of the Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 medical surge plan as addressed in Executive Order No. 7Y.

Phase 2 of Connecticut’s reopening efforts moved earlier to June 17

Governor Lamont today announced that Phase 2 of Connecticut’s reopening efforts is being moved up a few days to Wednesday, June 17 to avoid having it take effect during the busy Father’s Day weekend. It previously had been scheduled for Saturday, June 20. The governor will release additional safety guidance for businesses that fall under Phase 2 early next week.

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. Relay services can be accessed by calling 7-1-1. Anyone who is out-of-state or using Relay can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 toll free by dialing 1-800-203-1234. The hotline 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.