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 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15, 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 70^th executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19

Governor Lamont today signed another executive order – the 70^th 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. 9B enacts the following provisions:

• Amendments to mandatory self-quarantine for travelers from states with high COVID-19 levels: Modifies the state’s previously issued self-quarantine and travel advisory order for people arriving to Connecticut from impacted states, expanding the testing exemption to all travelers who test negative for COVID-19 in the 72 hours prior to arrival. This takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, September 18, 2020.
• Authorization for the issuance of fines: Authorizes the commissioner of Public Health, local health departments, municipal chief elected officers, and state and local police to issue fines for violations of certain COVID-19 protective measures. These include:
  • A fine of $100 for an person who fails to wear a mask or cloth face covering as required under Executive Order No. 7NNN;
  • A fine of $500 for any person or business entity who organizes, hosts, or sponsors a gathering that violates the gathering size restrictions set forth in the DECD Rules for Gatherings and Venues and Sector Rules for Outdoor Events; and
  • A fine of $250 for any person who attends a gathering that violates the gathering size restrictions set forth in the DECD Rules for Gatherings and Venues and Sector Rules for Outdoor Events.
• Repeal of executive orders extending liquor permittee credit period: Repeals Executive Order No. 7OOO, Section 2 and Executive Order No. 7S, Section 3 effective September 17, 2020, returning to normal statutory provisions.

Weekly update to the regional travel advisory: Puerto Rico added, six states 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: Puerto Rico was added to the list, and California, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, and Ohio were removed.

The quarantine applies to any person traveling into Connecticut from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents, or higher than a 10 percent test positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average. The list of impacted locations is updated once per week every Tuesday.

As of today, the full list of impacted locations falling under the travel advisory includes:

1. Alabama
2. Alaska
3. Arkansas
4. Delaware
5. Florida
6. Georgia
7. Guam
8. Idaho
9. Illinois
10. Indiana
11. Iowa
12. Kansas
13. Kentucky
14. Louisiana
15. Mississippi
16. Missouri
17. Montana
18. Nebraska
19. North Carolina
20. North Dakota
21. Oklahoma
22. Puerto Rico
23. South Carolina
24. South Dakota
25. Tennessee
26. Texas
27. Utah
28. Virginia
29. West Virginia
30. Wisconsin

Anyone seeking the most up-to-date information on the regional travel advisory, including an extensive list of frequently asked questions, is encouraged to visit the state’s coronavirus website at ct.gov/Coronavirus/travel.

Providing information to Connecticut residents

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus. Residents can also subscribe to text message alerts from the state by texting the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.

Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can call 2-1-1 for assistance. 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 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.