As of April 3, 2020, a total of 4914 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported among Connecticut residents. 909 patients are currently hospitalized. 131 residents have died. The increase in cases reported today is related to catch up of data entry and implementation of a new method for reporting cases to the Department of Public Health.\u00a0This is up from the 3,824 Connecticut residents who tested positive, the 112 who died, and the 827\u00a0hospitalized as of Thursday. This increase does not reflect a change in the trajectory of the outbreak.<\/p>\n
For a town-by-town breakdown and other COVID-19 statistics, please visit:\u00a0https:\/\/portal.ct.gov\/Coronavirus<\/a><\/p>\n Additional SNAP benefits Department of Social Services extends winter home-heating assistance application deadline Small Business Protection Program\u00a0<\/strong> This program is for any small business, private non-profit or veterans organizations affected by COVID-19 with less than 500 employees. Businesses in certain industries may have more than 500 employees if they meet SBA size standards for their industries. Small businesses in hospitality and food with multiple locations can also be eligible at store and location levels if they employ less than 500 workers.<\/p>\n Businesses can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union or farm credit system institution participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. For a list of SBA preferred lenders,\u00a0click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Portions of loans will be forgiven for payroll costs and interest on mortgages, rent and utilities \u2013 at least 75 percent of the forgiven amount must be used for payroll. Loan payments will be deferred for six months with no collateral or personal guarantees required. Forgiveness is based on employers maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels. If full-time headcount declines, or salaries and wages degrease, forgiveness will be reduced.<\/p>\n A sample application form is\u00a0available here<\/a>. More general information is\u00a0available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n New State Park and Forest Regulations<\/strong> Going outside to get exercise remains important right now, and DEEP shared these steps to stay safe outdoors:<\/p>\n Protecting Domestic Violence Victims<\/strong> New Rules For Lodging<\/strong> Alcohol Deliveries As of April 3, 2020, a total of 4914 laboratory-confirmed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press-releases"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
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\nThe Department of Social Services will provide emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to nearly 100,000 Connecticut SNAP participants on April 9 and April 20. Authorized by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, these extra benefits will go to approximately 87,000 households currently not receiving maximum benefits allowed for their household size. All households enrolled in SNAP will receive the maximum food benefit allowable for their household size. More information is available at\u00a0www.ct.gov\/snap<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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\nThe Department of Social Services announced it will extend the application period for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program to June 1, 2020 for those applying for assistance to help cover this past winter\u2019s heating bills; the initial deadline was May 1. For application sites and eligibility information, please visit ct.gov\/staywarm, call 211, text CTWARM to 898-211 or contact a\u00a0local community action agency<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nThe Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to help small businesses stay open and provide direct incentives for small businesses to keep workers on payroll. The Small Business Association will forgive portions of loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest or utilities. It is available from April 3 through June 30.<\/p>\n
\nThe state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or DEEP, announced the following measures to reduce crowding and help visitors stay safe outdoors:<\/p>\n\n
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\nVictims of domestic abuse no longer need to sign applications for orders of protection under oath in front of notaries or attorneys. Instead, they must sign applications outside the presence of a third party under penalty of false statement. This ensures victims of domestic abuse continue to have court access.<\/p>\n
\nA new executive order places new restrictions on non-essential lodging. Hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts and short-term residential rentals are now prohibited from renting to customers for leisure or vacation purposes. Lodging there must be limited to:<\/p>\n\n
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\nFood establishments and liquor manufacturers under certain conditions can now deliver alcohol and manufacturers can sell alcoholic liquor for pick-up and delivery, allowing for safer delivery and reduced travel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"