Connecticut COVID-19 Briefing: 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 28

Today’s briefing is scheduled for 4 p.m.

For more info and links to helpful web resources, click MORE.

Today they are going to discuss contact tracing for COVID-19 cases with Dr. Matthew Cartter, State Epidemiologist and Director of Infectious Diseases for the Connecticut Department of Public Health; and Kristen Soto, Syndromic Surveillance Coordinator for the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

If you are still working, but at reduced hours and thus have not been able to file for unemployment, check to see if your employer is participating in the “Shared Work Program.” It means that if your hours are reduced, the state will help pay part of your salary for the time you are not working. Take a look at the pdf linked below but we think the state chips in 50% of the wages you aren’t getting, but allows you to hang onto the fringe benefits. It’s essentially a portion of the weekly unemployment benefit – based on % of the pay reduction. You wouldn’t have to file anything *IF* your employer is participating: bit.ly/2xWMd8B

The IHME’s data said the statewide peak for COVID-19 was April 20 at 204 deaths. Under “containment strategy” the IHME chart suggests that “after June 9, 2020, relaxing social distancing may be possible with containment strategies that include testing, contact tracing, isolation, and limiting gathering size.”

Here’s the link to our page with the IHME chart. (You will need to selected “Connecticut” from the pulldown.)