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 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 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.”

Updated data on the impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes and assisted living facilities

The following documents contain updated data regarding each of the nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Connecticut that have reported positive cases of COVID-19 among their residents. The data is presented as it was reported to the state by each of the facilities. If a facility is not listed, that means it is reporting that it does not have any residents who have tested positive. These data reports are updated weekly.

Department of Housing and Connecticut Housing Finance Authority launch new web portal to support COVID-19 Temporary Housing Assistance Programs

The Connecticut Department of Housing and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority today launched a new website to help manage the eligibility and screening process for two new programs that provide housing assistance amid the COVID-19 crisis. The Temporary Rental Housing Assistance Programs (TRHAP) offers rental assistance, while the Temporary Mortgage Assistance Program (T-MAP) offers mortgage assistance for those struggling to pay their housing costs due to the job loss, reduction of work, furlough, or closing of business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Details on TRHAP and T-MAP program eligibility can be accessed by visiting the Department of Housing’s website at portal.ct.gov/doh or the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority’s website at www.chfa.org.

“The call center opened on July 15 and the number of calls was overwhelming. Busy signals and long hold times were frustrating for everyone,” Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno said. “Callers must answer a series of questions on eligibility, so each call takes several minutes. We realized pretty quickly that we were going to need another option, and adding a web portal was best the solution.”

“The criteria to qualify for the T-MAP loan is more complex and requires homeowners to provide more information,” Connecticut Housing Finance Authority CEO Nandini Natarajan said. “Instead of holding for the call center, homeowners can go to the website at any time and answer a series of questions to see if they qualify for the program. Then they can decide if they want take the next step to apply for the assistance.  The website will also direct people to other resources if they do not qualify for either program.”

The T-MAP and TRHAP programs have $10 million each to assist people struggling with housing costs. With rent extensions, forbearance and eviction moratoriums, and other relief measures ending soon, these programs are designed to help people remain in their homes while they work to regain their financial stability.

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, or text CTCOVID to 898211. 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 toll free 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.