Governor Lamont Provides Update on Connecticut’s Coronavirus Response Efforts - May 13, 2022

From: Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont
May 14, 2022

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 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 13, 2022:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of newly reported data on COVID-19 in Connecticut from the past 7 days.

Overall Summary

Cumulative
(except for hospital census)

Past 7 days*

Positive PCR/NAAT Tests

844,039

+10,459

All PCR/NAAT Tests

14,249,455

+76,293

Test Positivity (pos/all PCR/NAAT)

--

13.71%

Patients Currently Hospitalized with COVID-19

323

+84


*This column indicates all PCR/NAAT tests by specimen collection date from the past 7 days. Test positivity is calculated as a rolling 7-day test positivity by specimen collection date; all positive molecular (PCR/NAAT) test results are divided by all molecular (PCR/NAAT) test results (positive and negative) for the last 7 days and multiplied by 100 to reach a percentage. Hospitalizations over the past 7 days indicates the change in the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 over that period. Deaths over the past 7 days indicates the number of new COVID-19 associated deaths reported; deaths are reported once weekly.

As of April 4, 2022, negative rapid antigen and rapid PCR test results for SARS-CoV-2 are no longer required to be reported to the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Negative test results from laboratory based molecular (PCR/NAAT) results are still required to be reported as are all positive test results from both molecular (PCR/NAAT) and antigen tests. Both positive molecular (PCR/NAAT) and antigen tests will continue to be used for determining case status.

Of the 323 patients currently hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, 102 (31.58%) are not fully vaccinated.

Data on COVID-19 associated deaths is updated once per week every Thursday. The most recently reported total number of deaths is 10,883.

To read the full report – which includes a series of interactive graphs and charts that provide additional data on metrics related to age, gender, race/ethnicity, municipality, county, and other information – visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”

CDC lists six Connecticut counties in the high category as part of its latest COVID-19 Community Levels update

On Thursday evening, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed six Connecticut counties in the high/orange category as part of its COVID-19 Community Levels map. Only Fairfield and New London Counties are listed in the medium/yellow category.

The COVID-19 Community Levels map, which was launched in late February, informs CDC recommendations on prevention measures, such as masking and testing. The guidelines include a color-coded system available on the CDC website of “low,” “medium” and “high.” This approach focuses on preventing hospitals and health care systems from being overwhelmed and directing prevention efforts toward protecting people at high risk for severe illness.

“This latest update comes as no surprise considering the trajectory that this latest omicron sub-variant is taking,” Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani said. “And I cannot stress enough that the tools to combat this virus are in place and easily accessible. These include vaccines, first and second boosters, test-to-treat locations, therapeutics, self-tests, and state-supported testing.”

Residents living in the high/orange categories – which include Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, Tolland, and Windham Counties – should wear a mask indoors in public, stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines, and get tested if they have symptoms. Additional precautions may be needed for residents who are at high risk for severe illness.

Residents living in Fairfield and New London Counties – which is listed in the yellow/medium category – who are at high risk for severe illness in these counties should talk to their health care providers about when they need to wear a mask and take other precautions. These residents should also stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if they have symptoms.

Connecticut’s SNAP-eligible households to receive additional emergency food benefits May 18

The Connecticut Department of Social Services on May 13th, announced that it will deliver more than $33.4 million in Emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to over 215,500 Connecticut households on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Monthly allocations of emergency SNAP benefits are going to all enrolled households, based on continuance of a declared public health emergency related to COVID-19 in Connecticut.

Authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, this federal allocation will provide a minimum of $95 in extra food aid to all enrolled families and individuals, raising the state’s total emergency SNAP funding to over $713.1 million since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Specifically:

- All 215,500 SNAP-eligible households statewide will receive the emergency benefits on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards on May 18, 2022.

-Households already eligible for the maximum monthly SNAP benefit will receive an extra $95.

- The remaining households that don’t usually qualify for the maximum monthly SNAP benefit because of income or other factors will receive extra benefits of at least $95 but averaging an estimated $155.40 (depending on their specific benefit situation).

- With this additional $33.4 million allocation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, emergency benefits are totaling over $713.1 million in additional SNAP assistance statewide over 25 months, with commensurate spending at supermarkets, groceries, farmers markets, and other food retailers.

- The $95 increase results from President Biden’s January 22, 2021, executive order, which required the USDA to consider new guidance allowing states to increase SNAP emergency benefit allocations for all households, including those previously ineligible to receive it. This increase is expected to be ongoing, contingent on the continuation of the state and federal public health emergencies.

- All households also received their normal SNAP benefits, based on the new Thrifty Food Plan amounts, on one of the first three days of the month as they normally do, according to last name.

- If a household is granted regular SNAP benefits on or after Friday, May 13, the additional SNAP benefits will be added to the EBT card on a Friday, depending on the date of granting.

For additional information about SNAP, visit www.ct.gov/snap.

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 is strongly urged to contact their medical provider.

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