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 Tuesday, August 18, 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.

*While 40 new cases were reported to the state since yesterday, 52 previously reported cases were removed from the statewide total because of newly identified data errors.

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.”

Weekly update to the regional travel advisory: Alaska and Delaware added, Washington removed

The regional travel advisory between Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York that directs incoming travelers from states with a significant community spread of COVID-19 to self-quarantine for a 14-day period was updated today and now includes the states of Alaska and Delaware on the list of impacted locations. Meanwhile, the state of Washington has been removed.

The quarantine applies to any person arriving from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or a state with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.

As of today, the full list of locations meeting this criteria includes:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• California
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Iowa
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Mississippi
• Montana
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• Oklahoma
• Puerto Rico
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virgin Islands
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

This list will continue to be updated on a weekly basis as the situation develops across the country. Anyone seeking the most up-to-date information on the regional travel advisory is encouraged to visit the state’s coronavirus website at ct.gov/Coronavirus/travel.

Lamont administration receives interim report on COVID-19 in Connecticut’s long-term care facilities

The Lamont administration today announced that it has received an interim report conducted by an independent, third-party research firm reviewing the response to COVID-19 in Connecticut’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The report, conducted by Mathematica Policy Research, was ordered by Governor Lamont earlier this summer to provide state officials with an analysis due before the start of autumn in order to prepare for a potential second wave of the virus.

In the interim report, Mathematica makes several recommendations aimed at preparing the state and long-term care industry for a potential second wave and for reducing future infections in long-term care facilities. The recommendations are based on interviews and analysis of data from Connecticut and other comparison states.

The interim report can be read online at portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Long-Term-Care-Facility-review. Mathematica is due to deliver a final report to the state by the end of September.

To watch video of a presentation that staff from the Connecticut Department of Public Health delivered today to legislators regarding the interim report, click here:

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.