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TODAY’S UPDATE (5/1): 9th Day in a Row with Net Decline in Hospitalizations/ State Revenues Plummet
Since yesterday’s update, an additional 1,064 positive COVID-19 cases have been reported in Connecticut, bringing the statewide total to 28,764, including a total of 51 confirmed cases in East Windsor (+5 since yesterday) and 34 confirmed cases in Ellington (no change since yesterday). The total COVID-19 associated fatalities of residents reported in East Windsor and Ellington did not change (still at 4 residents in each town) according to today’s state data.
To date, a total of 100,257 tests have been performed in Connecticut (+3,124 since yesterday). This data set includes persons who were tested multiple times or multiple specimens tested from the same person.
Approximately 1,592 patients are currently hospitalized (net -58 since yesterday). This is the 9th straight day of net declines in hospitalizations statewide. The total statewide number of COVID-19 associated fatalities is now 2,339 (+82 since yesterday). The Governor’s Office notes that the day-to-day changes are preliminary and reflect newly reported cases, deaths, and tests that occurred over the last several days to week.
Please continue to practice social distancing.
STATE REVENUES PLUMMET DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS
As Ranking Member of the the state legislature’s Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee (the tax and borrowing policy committee), I have been closely monitoring and receiving updates on the state’s fiscal situation since the outbreak. Yesterday, both the Governor’s budget team and the legislature’s Office of Fiscal Analysis came to a consensus that the state is currently projected to have a nearly $1 billion deficit in this fiscal year ending June 30th and a nearly $2 billion deficit for the fiscal year set to begin July 1st. The state’s Special Transportation Fund is also taking a major hit during this shutdown. The state’s Rainy Day Fund, though growing to historic levels in recent years, does not have enough to cover both of these deficits so policy decisions will need to be made. Because tax filing deadlines were extended until mid July, we likely will not have a clearer picture of how much revenue is actual lost until late July. It is likely that the legislature will reconvene in special session, with the advice of public health officials, at some point this summer to try to close these growing budget gaps.
For more information on the state’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, please visit ct.gov/coronavirus
As always, please feel free to reach me at [email protected] or repdavis.com if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions.