The United States is inching closer to authorizing the use of a coronavirus vaccine. But even if Connecticut health care workers start receiving it as soon as this weekend, the general population shouldn’t expect it until later next year. Despite the positive news, cases continue to surge and the impact on local businesses continues to worsen.
Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus in Connecticut.
The Numbers (as of Wednesday)
Cases: 140,548 (+2,290 from Tuesday)
Tests reported: 3,595,185 (+30,279)
Positivity rate: 7.56%
Current hospitalizations: 1,262 (+39)
Deaths: 5,285 (+43)
Restaurants Want More Help, Lamont Says Feds Are Key
As restaurant owners in Connecticut plan to protest in Hartford Monday to demand more help to survive the pandemic, Gov. Ned Lamont says he is working on ways to give them more financial help.
“We are trying to find ways we can provide support. I was hoping to be a bridge to federal support just like last time around with the PPP,” he said Wednesday. “But I’m going to do what I can at the state level, not as much as anybody wants, but enough to be a help.”
Lamont noted that restaurants are open for indoor dining with limited capacity, and he has no plans to change that, at this point.
Meanwhile, the governors of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York have announced plans to roll back reopening in their states. But Lamont says most of their new protocols are in line with what Connecticut has in place now.
- Ali Warshavsky
Theaters Seek Legislative Help To Remain Operational
As previous federal help starts to run low, theaters across Connecticut are waiting on Congress for some much needed financial support. The proposed Save Our Stages Act, could provide businesses grants of $12,000 or 45 percent of gross revenue, whichever is less.
Tyler Grill, CEO of GoodWorks Entertainment, said theaters are in dire need as one of the first facilities to close during the pandemic and probably the last to reopen.
“PPP money for most of us is long gone. Unemployment for most of us is about to run out. That’s really putting the remaining key members of our team at risk,” he said. “From the for-profit perspective, we haven’t been able to open to any capacity, but we still owe taxes, personal property, real estate, etc. We’ve all had zero revenue since March and we’re on the hook for providing refunds for shows that have been postponed or cancelled.”
Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal is an advocate of the legislation. During a roundtable with local theater officials Wednesday, he said theaters are the “cultural lifeblood of Connecticut” and need the assistance now more than ever.
“They are also part of our tourism industry and bring dollars and real money to our economy,” he said, “and jobs to people that depend on them, not only in the theaters, but also in the restaurants and retailers that benefit from people coming downtown.”
Blumenthal said the grants, while helpful, should act as just a down payment. In order to make a substantial difference, continuous aid is a must.
- Camila Vallejo
Health Care Workers Targeted To Start Receiving Vaccine This Weekend
Connecticut health officials say the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to front-line health care workers in Connecticut could begin as early as this weekend.
Eric Arlia, the director of pharmacy for Hartford HealthCare, said they expect to receive the vaccine as early as Friday, within 24 hours of its emergency approval by the Food and Drug Administration. He says the first doses will go to those who treat COVID patients or work on units that treat COVID patients.
Yale New Haven Health has said assuming the FDA grants emergency approval, it plans to begin vaccinating 29,000 workers next week.
- Associated Press
