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Dr. Manisha Juthani
COMMISSIONER OF CT DPH - John Grisham may have imagined this...and January 2022 brings a different President using the military for COVID-19 service. New Haven Omicron news.

2022 SESSION COVIID rules; HOUSE PASSES END TO MOST MANDATES:

Here is an article explaining where we stand February 22, 2022

Omicron special Executive Orders 1-7-22
Private: “Long-term care facility” means any facility, agency or provider that is a nursing home, as defined in Section 19a-521, a residential care home, as defined in Section 19a-521, an assisted living services agency, as defined in Section 19a-490, an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities, as defined in 42 USC 1396d(d), managed residential community as defined in Section 19a-693a, or a chronic disease hospital, as defined in Section 19a-550; State facilities/hospitals

CT MIRROR ROUNDUP OF 2021 - PANDEMIC EFFECTS

More Omicron news...

OMICRON and other variants info/history/worldwide story NYT November 27, 2021

NURSING HOMES AND PATIENT CARE IN THE NEXT SESSION?

Ah yes, and the Federal funds do get laundered just like some thrillers.

Zoom continues for some towns - CT MIRROR 8-4-21

THE LATEST & BEST REPORT ON NURSING HOMES & ASSISTED LIVING HERE. And from the NYTimes: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/23/us/covid-vaccine-boosters.html

TELEHEALTH TO THE FORE IN PANDEMIC - UPDATE 9-19-21. ABOUT TOWN AHEAD OF THIS: ON YOUTUBE!

Bossie is confused about mask mandate and in Fall 2021 Superintendents "vote" for mask mandate s.

EMERGENCY POWERS FOR GOV. LAMONT EXTENDED AGAIN 'TIL END OF SEPTEMBER 2021 BY C.G.A. And again to April 2022...

THANK YOU CHRIS -and thank you Steve (who is my pick for leadership anytime). From the Weston-Today May 4, 2021 interview.
His idea for the future: "Weston will benefit from a concerted effort to share services that improve quality of life and save money." Smart Regionalization should held future Weston budgets, too.

"Dr. Spaulding said the virtual net metering deal eventually expanded to a share with Wilton, giving Weston more clean kilowatts and cost savings. He said the recent addition of Easton to the Westport Weston Health District is a positive development for all three towns and that Weston’s joining the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority (HRRA) averted staggering recycling cost increases and allowed the Transfer Station to remain open.

"A regional approach to emergency dispatch, currently being studied by WestCOG, the Western Connecticut Council of Governments, may be an attractive option for Weston, said Dr. Spaulding.

“This is all long-lasting stuff.”

WHAT HAPPENED IN LONG SESSION 2021 AT THE END...along the way below...

Long-term care facilities' latest 2021 Session COVID bill not there yet: https://ctmirror.org/2021/05/26/calls-intensify-for-nursing-home-reform-as-legislative-session-nears-its-end/
An opinion piece in CTNEWSJUNKIE 5-14-21: https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2021/05/13/analysis-cases-falling-quickly/
May 20, 2021 when COVID-19 executive orders expire: https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2021/05/03/lamont-anticipates-some-emergency-orders-continuing/?utm_source=CTNewsJunkie%20Main%20List%20With%20Publication%20Groups&utm_campaign=f3cbefb419-MCP_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a493d2308d-f3cbefb419-95953073

CT TO RE-OPEN LIFE...NOT SO FAST!!! We resume tracking the effects of the pandemic, March 2021...CT Supreme Court news here

In April 2021 the Lunch Box re-opened for indoor dining. A good place for personal therapy - only part of long article?
Market closed, as had the pharmacy before that. But Spring 2021 brings revival possibilities...
Interest in Cobb's Mill again and Weston moves forward.

Meanwhile at the Legislature...OMG
https://ctmirror.org/2021/03/24/sports-betting-and-online-gambling-are-one-step-closer-to-reality-in-ct-as-bills-advance/

---------------------------

THE ODDS OF PAYING FOR ANY OR ALL OF EXCESS EXPENSES?
SCHOOLS (OFFICIAL): https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/upload/2020/06/EMBARGOED_CTReopeningSchools.pdf
VIRTUAL GOVERNMENT?
K-12 Courant: https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-school-reopening-plan-20200625-ntbpwp2kmjh63dyg5ogqdliivi-story.html

WHAT'S THE PLAN TO DEAL WITH RETURN OF COVID-19 IN FALL? NOW in 2021: Johnson&Johnson one-shot vaccine report.
GET READY FOR SMALLER CLASS SIZES!!!
ANTI-BODY TESTING.
ANYBODY LISTING TO DR. FAUCI?
DAILY BRIEFINGS BY GOVERNOR LAMONT

CALIFORNIA JUDGE DECISION (NO DOUBT TO BE APPEALED)

So it is OK to protest and crowd the streets, but "social distancing" is mandated and only 10 people can gather? Think someone will ask this question?
THE NEW CROWD DEFINITION: 10 people may gather indoors, 25 outdoors.
"Houses of worship can have up to 100 people during services or up to 25 percent capacity, whichever is less. Outdoor services can have up to 150 people so long as people maintain social distancing guidelines."
Play the odds.https://patch.com/connecticut/across-ct/lamont-releases-new-social-gathering-worship-guidance
Elsewhere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIf2audbX0Q
The WHO, what, where, why and how of asymptomatic carriers: https://nypost.com/2020/06/09/who-walks-back-claim-about-asymptomatic-coronavirus-transmission/

AND THIS: https://nypost.com/2020/06/09/covid-19-may-have-been-spreading-in-china-since-last-august-study/
THE 50 STATES RE-OPENINGS: https://thestacker.com/stories/4182/every-state-now-reopened-see-where-your-state-stands#2

RE-OPEN CT - NOTE: Demonstrations rules not included

Rep. Lavielle reports: Phase Two rules by sector:

Amusement Parks: Click Here
Hotels/Lodging: Click Here
Indoor Dining: Click Here
Indoor Museums, Zoos, Aquariums: Click Here
Indoor Recreation (e.g. bowling, movie theaters, etc.): Click Here
Libraries: Click Here
Outdoor Events: Click Here
Personal Services (e.g. hair salons, tattoo parlors): Click Here
Sports/Fitness Facilities (e.g. gyms, fitness centers, pools, etc.): Click Here

Phase One above for business - education round-table here. Phase One for administration during COVID-19: DPH Commissioner out.
We note that all following edicts came after Executive Order #7 on March 12, 2020. Below, our initial alert on suspension of open meeting laws, etc.

THE TOWN OF WESTON WEBSITE IS, FOR NOW, THE OFFICIAL LOCATION FOR POSTING PUBLIC NOTICES

Our running commentary on the Governor's Daily Briefings here.
COVID-19 DECLARATION OF LOCAL CIVIL PREPAREDNESS EMERGENCY.

As COVID-19 has blossomed into the "event of the century" sort of, our running commentary at the top right - and second row right, how it began.

CT SMALL TOWNS:
https://www.ctcost.org/home/urgent-alerts/important-covid-19-information-municipalites

C T A . C . A . S T I C K E R S H O C K F O R 2 0 1 7 - http://ctmirror.org/2016/10/28/as-aca-faces-new-challenges-fixes-not-assured/

"YOU CAN KEEP YOUR PLAN" AN OOPS MOMENT; CT CHOICE IN HEALTH CARE GONE? NOPE. HOUSE PASSES A.H.C.A. May 3, 2017...NYPOST article.
CT MIRROR, JUNE 2014 ON "OBSERVATION STATUS" IMPLICATION WHEN AT THE HOSPITAL - IF SENT TO A NURSING HOME TO RECUPERATE, WHO'S SORRY NOW?. INDEED.

H E A L T H C A R E U . S . A . N O W - A N D N O W P A N D E M I C S

Contents:

NEWS: TELEHEALTH PUBLIC HEARING BY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE;

From UCONN GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT: https://connecticut.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/052f57eabb654d59a217885918065417
From NY POST via Los Angeles Times: https://nypost.com/2020/03/24/coronavirus-turning-point-in-us-will-be-earlier-than-predicted-nobel-laureate-says/

VAPING the new word for "inhaling" - what's being inhaled?

Pursuing Purdue Farma $$...

In case you were wondering if your particular complaint can be served by medical marijuana...

Whiting lawsuit filed: https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-whiting-lawsuit-settlement-offer-20190913-i7m6xjdnqrhwfhbqgafgaq2344-story.html
Oxycontin "global agreement"

Summer Joint Public Hearing of Legislative Committees

2019 Whiting Task Force here...

POT news...expansion of what's a medical use here

A bridge too far? In 2019, dead in Senate.

Digital attack on opioid crisis, April 2019...

CT Legislative Committee: The "Insurance Capital of the USA" not on board nor is Gov. Lamont...

MENTAL HEALTH: Indeed, the CT Valley Hospital way.

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE - PUBLIC HEALTH;

CT at the fore price-fixing of generic drugs...lawsuit.

What might be the next step in sharing patient information: http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/connecticut_could_see_competing_health_information_exchanges/

Algae bloom destroyer...of the fish, too? http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Ultrasound-could-be-used-to-kill-blue-green-algae-10811857.php

FORUM ON OPIOIDS IN CONNECTICUT; ELSEWHERE. POT?

Medical examiner’s office on verge of losing accreditation Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Heat Index calculator;

"SOYLENT GREEN" AND OTHER ISSUES:

WWHD and COVID-19 news which one of these days will be here...
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
ASSISTED SUICIDE
West Nile Virus in 2019 evil doer at the top of the page.
MORE DISEASE NYTIMES NEWS: Coronavirus - and from the NYPOST

HEALTH CARE & CONNECTICUT HOSPITALS; HEALTH INSURANCE

CT NEW COMMISSIONS: 63 member body for women, children and seniors...

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

GLOBAL WARMING

GROUNDWATER POLLUTION

DISASTERS

PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE WITH INFORMATIONAL HEARING ON TELEHEALTH
TELEHEALTH DURING PANDEMIC got rid of legislation requiring CT license.
Medicare does not cover it. Hospice is.

More in our review, COVID-19 story: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html

CT ingenuity
https://www.theday.com/local-news/20200401/world-responding-to-lebanon-mans-design-increasing-capacity-of-ventilators

WESTPORT NEWS:
https://www.westport-news.com/news/article/State-officials-discuss-drug-prices-in-Weston-14572839.php

"MEAN-SPIRITED" OR JUST A DIFFERENCE IN PRIORITIES?
We note that this report explains what is really going on - 169 CCM hostages getting squeezed.

OXYCONTIN AND OPIOID ADDICTION- WATCH IT HERE
Attorney General William Tong speak at Construction Union press conference...Construction Workers Union announced new approach to opioid addiction on the job.
Roadshow come.

FAMILIAR FACES...AND VOICES
Public Hearing on brain injury medicaid waivers watched live August 13, 2019 (followed by Human Services Committee after). Pro-forma vote taken to approve changes just heard at PH..

Our take:

The Appropriations Committee (Chair. at left) knows why the changes were recommended;
Chair. of Human Services knows why they were making the change as well. Committee met afterward to vote.
I can only guess on Rep. Gonzalez' vote but Rep. Hughes said "yes" loud and clear (r.).

DIGITAL DIAGNOSIS
https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20190401_state_goes_digital_in_fighting_opioid_epidemic/

DID PUBLIC OPTION PASS? WE DON'T THINK SO...

Industry not on board new draft, nor is GOP...nor Governor, either, fully, as I read it?
Insurance Committee/Public Health Committee Forum...2-13-19;

Ask for info and you shall receive: https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20190719_public_option_push_to_resume/
Expanding the public option. "A bridge too far" Professor Hacker says in 2019. We asked the same question...a decade ago - see below!
LWVCT: http://www.lwvweston.org/FALLCONF09healthcare.html

HOW CAN HEALTH CARE BE THE BRIDGE TO SOCIAL INNOVATION?

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/robert-wood-johnson-foundation-awards-450-000-to-the-rutgers-institute-for-corporate-social-innovation-300733957.html

CLICK HERE FOR MORE
We note that Town of Wilton's program about student vaping taking place November 21st. What is Weston doing?

LYME DISEASE WARNING
In time for the August 14th Primaries in both Parties - no joke - watch out for ticks and good instruction how to do so in this article.

SO SAD - WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SECOND LEAD ARTICLE
As a famous sports reporter used to say, let's go to the video tape...and they are still doing so. Please see our initial report here.

HOWS THAT AGAIN? What the...???
We note: "A spokesman for Horizon disagrees with Lembo’s assessment and description of its drugs".

"Lembo said that, according to state claims data, one prescriber alone accounted for $1.5 million in prescriptions for Horizon products or 11.6 percent of total amount of Horizon products prescribed through the state plan.

“'My office will continue to work in partnership with other state officials to block unnecessary costs to the state plan and investigate troubling pharmaceutical trends,' Lembo said."

Story in full: http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/lembo_seeks_to_block_use_of_expensive_specialty_drugs_12_6_2017/

WHITING FORENSIC TASK FORCE
Senate bill, House passed it Tuesday night before Wednesday's final day - https://www.cga.ct.gov/ph/taskforce.asp?TF=20190426_CVH%20Whiting%20Task%20Force/

WEBPAGE - https://www.cga.ct.gov/ph/taskforce.asp?TF=20190426_CVH%20Whiting%20Task%20Force/

MEMBERS OF TASK FORCE

PRESS COVERAGE:

Final Report on Whiting matter - (a different one, we think) CT MIRROR - October 11, 2021
Cloud report original
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21080837-2021-3-12-whiting-forensic-hospital-state-vl-poc

LAWSUIT FILED
https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-whiting-lawsuit-settlement-offer-20190913-i7m6xjdnqrhwfhbqgafgaq2344-story.html

"Of the 224 patients held at Whiting Forensic Hospital on June 28, a little more than half were hospitalized after being found not guilty of a crime by reason of insanity...".
https://ctmirror.org/2019/08/16/civil-rights-vs-security-whiting-task-force-considers-changes-to-state-law/

WHITING FORENSIC TASK FORCE
November 5, 2021, 2pm - CT MIRROR REPORT

Whiting (CVH) Forensic Task Force met for @50 minutes and voted to approve 35 page final report and planned for their next and last meeting on Nov. 19, 2021 at 9am on Zoom to complete their task (summary and cover letter to Public Health Committee leadership). Chair. Linda Schwartz and Mike Lawlor pictured above left - "no" vote at right (Lori Hauser) whose concerns were mentioned in CT MIRROR report.

Monday Jan. 27, 2020 meeting: http://ct-n.com/CTNplayer.asp?livestream=1

OCTOBER 30, 2019

One sharp lady!

Whiting Forensic Advisory Board Chair. (L) and member of board; doctor/administrator on Committee, patient advocate (not shown).
President, Att'y. Everybody shocked by incident. Dept. Mental Health forced F.O.I.A. to get info. Tough questioners!!! But actually appreceited by Advisory Committee

GREAT MEETING, WELL RUN!!!
Advisory Commission created in 1957 when Whiting Forensic opened. Great Q & A. They will have public hearings and then get to writing recommendations for 2021 deadline.

----------------------

WE DID THIS BACKWARDS

WE TUNED IN TO WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS JUST THE END, BUT SIGNIFICANT THOUGHTS EXPRESSED!
In advance of public hearing November 21st to get information, strategic discussions. Meeting scheduled at one of the hospitals for Friday the 13th of November. We think we got those dates correct...

If the meetings once the Short Session begins are outside the reach of CT-N, we will be in the dark for first hand observation.

AUGUST 5, 2019

This is a meeting going nowhere fast...
A canoe is afloat in Long Island Sound without a paddle. In it is a lawyer, a doctor and an ex-politician. Swimming alongside are former inmates of Whiting Forensic. Where's the shark?

Why are patients sent to Whiting? Is this question and answer that inspired this article?
Because they are violent. Because they have to be assessed as new patients sent by the courts. Paranoid psychosis might become worse if searches are observed by patient.

Legislative history, patients rights/searches.
At the heart of the matter is "culture" of institution. Current statute permits Whiting to do searches w/o presence of patient. "Nuts and bolts" (Committee used this term) of how patient steering committee works.

Respect privacy of patients...so when will they meet next?
Whiting very cooperative. So why do you think "inmates running the asylum" is the best way to describe this?

Over? CVH visit? To be continued and we note press getting into it: https://ctmirror.org/2019/08/16/civil-rights-vs-security-whiting-task-force-considers-changes-to-state-law/

COURANT report July 8, 2019
https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-whiting-panel-questions-conditions-20190708-aieccfl7avacjo4kd54bnt5qti-story.html

Public Health Nurse, Co-Chair. with Hon. Mike Lawlor.
Savvy nurse and former legislator and lawyer, Malloy administration figure Mike Lawlor share leadership.

FACT: 250 patients at Whiting Forensic - 10% (?) for evaluation from Court.
Our report Tuesday on watching the end of the multiple hour meeting: We note that this meeting is to arrange for how to respond to Legislature's direction - covering so many pieces of the problem large and small with no budget...

GREAT DISCUSSION
2021 end date; research phase first, monthly meetings. Towards end, more frequent meetings.

NEXT:

Tour of CVH and Whiting (again?).
Public Hearings?
Probate Judge on site.
F.O.I. and other Federal rules.
And union issues ("complaints - i.e. abuse - and concerning employees").

August meeting? Tour C.V.H.? Tell staff plans. Try setting up six-months...Public Hearings prior to Session.

NOTE: Numbers below relate to "charge" above

4, 5 & 8 for next meeting;

4- abuse, neglect
5 - who's on the Board at Whiting
6 - patient present at search

3 & 7 for a subsequent meeting.

"World views" - of patients and/or staff tutorial.

Adjourned after more than 2 hrs.

CHARGE: https://www.cga.ct.gov/ph/tfs/20190426_CVH%20Whiting%20Task%20Force//membership.pdf

More CT Valley Hospital news...
https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-cvh-patient-eats-batteries-20190701-exlxhe7oyrashnygqrjim6axta-story.html#nws=true

Understaffing, forced overtime, aggressive patients perpetuate crisis at Whiting Forensic Hospital, union says.
Hartford Courant, June 26, 2019, 4:10pm

MIDDLETOWN -- ...At a rally Wednesday...From January to April, nearly 100 patient-on-patient and patient-on-staff assaults were recorded at Whiting, union officials said.
Story in full: https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-whiting-union-safety-demands-20190626-opmnttrypfdu5elszugegburva-story.html

WHITING FORENSIC TASK FORCE (6-17-19): http://ct-n.com/ctnplayer.asp?odID=16463

We're about and hour plus into this...

WHITING FORENSIC TASK FORCE (continued to the end of June 17 meeting on 7-5-19)

Whiting-CVH task force investigation, 7-5-19 meeting. We tuned in late...

Field visit scheduled.
Also pre-visit special meeting to be able to get on the same page before critical site visit.
Reminded of F.O.I. requirements for both "meetings" to come.

WHITING consultant and leader
We watched the end of this live, in time to see some slides showing delayed reaction to "cause" and "effect" of staffing vis a vis complaints/staffing (as I heard it).

FOLLOW UP ON P.H. COMMITTEE BELOW

https://ctmirror.org/2018/04/09/abuse-scandal-ct-lawmakers-push-reform-whiting/

https://ctmirror.org/2018/01/02/whiting-forensic-division-to-separate-from-connecticut-valley-hospital/

Most legislators sit on Committees for which they have a background. Two doctors, a nurse or two...

NEWS COVERAGE: Not overblown - we watched the Public hearing live for more than three hours - and before that another hour (approx) or more of Forum that was the usual stuff...

COURANT REPORT: http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-brother-of-whiting-abuse-victim-testifies-1113-story.html#nws=true
CTNEWSJUNKIE - MIDDLETOWN PRESS: http://www.middletownpress.com/middletown/article/Brother-of-Connecticut-Valley-Hospital-patient-at-12354572.php

PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATURE
Public Health Committee - Nov. 13, 2017

Morning forum and afternoon Public Hearing re: Whiting Forensic (Institute) of CT Valley Hospital scandal:

They make the Federal Government look good.
Devastating testimony to legislators by former patients and family of patient tortured on video. See COURANT article.
Also, in COURANT article, please see the item about overtime. This is an issue in budgets everywhere (i.e. Weston police).

SEIU 1199 Union testifies.

Should separate Whiting from CT Valley Hospital.
Needs professional oversight.
Argument against budget cuts.

This is a big problem, based upon my personal experience in health care and unionizing efforts. Question: How do get rid of "bad apples" in unions? Not so fast..

Shouldn't have been there
A very excellent piece of testimony by former "patient" who didn't belong there in the first place and was recommitted by public defender in a bureaucratic action. Very painful to watch - evidence against lawyers.

At 4:46pm we are out of here...

NOT THE FIRST STUDY

THE DAY, SUNDAY, NOV. 26, 2017 futher report. MORE RIVETING THAN "HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE"

We had watched the Public Health Committee live on CT-N.

Nothing is original. Altho' perhaps not applicable here, other famous movies suggest familiar scenarios.

Whiting Forensic Institute was one of a few - Fairfield Hills, Norwich and Connecticut Valley Hospitals (Whiting Forensic is here) - prior to the closings of the first two mentioned.

"Forensic patients are primarily those judged not guilty of crimes by reason of insanity and committed to the hospitals by a criminal court" is how a 1989 NYTIMES article put it..

In The Day today is follow up from the public hearing. And just so you know, CT-N covered this Nov. 13th gripping and gruesome event.

Informational and then afternoon Public Hearing video of PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.

SO WHAT CAME BEFORE?

Mid-day "public hearing" on rate increases - who can afford to go and testify?
HEALTH INSURANCE RATE INCREASES: Why is it escalating so fast? And further more, write to Senator Hwang!!!

CT MIRROR coverage here: https://ctmirror.org/2017/06/14/health-insurers-skewered-for-again-seeking-double-digit-rate-increases/

In Alaska: http://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2016/09/01/4-4-earthquake-gives-southcentral-alaska-a-morning-jolt/

OPIOIDS: Connecticut one of states not pleased...
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/11/health/purdue-pharma-opioids-settlement.html

C.G.A. TO THE RESCUE
FENTANYL: https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20190717_families_celebrate_bill_reclassifying_fentanyl_as_a_narcotic/

April 2019 working paper (opiods/family formation) from the U.S. Census Bureau website:
https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/working-papers/2019/demo/sehsd-wp2019-04.pdf

CT MENTAL HEALTH PARITY
https://ctmirror.org/2019/07/08/mental-health-parity-bill-signed-into-law/

A NEW ADMINISTRATION, NEW AG, EXPANDING AN OLD CRISIS? OR NOT? DIGITAL APPROACH NEW.

Panel recommends no new courts for opioid addicts
1-2-19 Channel 12 - AP report the source.
http://connecticut.news12.com/story/39720154/panel-recommends-no-new-courts-for-opioid-addicts

PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING PUBLICITY PRANK?
http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-stamford-opioids-spoon-sculpture-0623-story.html

Share the cost - like Robin Hood?
As in the political statement "I feel your pain."

And then there is this: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iditarod-dog-doping-case-dallas-seavey-opioid-pain-reliever-tramadol/
And more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/24/sports/iditarod-doping-dallas-seavey.html

LATEST WESTON-RELATED STORY HERE

NATIONAL NEWS: http://www.theday.com/nationworld/20170511/public-restrooms-become-ground-zero-in-opioid-epidemic

OPIOID DEATHS - CT BUDGET AFFECTED: http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-budget-over-spending-20170410-story.html

AG Jepsen seeks help in battling opioid abuse
CT POST
By Bill Cummings
Published 1:01 pm, Sunday, October 22, 2017

HARTFORD — Attorney General George Jepsen is leading a bipartisan group of attorneys general in demanding health care companies that provide pharmacy benefit management services mitigate prescription opioid abuse...story in full:
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/AG-Jepsen-seeks-help-in-battling-opioid-abuse-12297434.php

On the regulating opioid front...

Latest on "settled law"
When in doubt, litigate, settle?

2017 news: http://www.nhregister.com/health/20170319/connecticut-joins-states-clearing-the-way-to-refuse-opioid-prescriptions

Guess what? Connecticut lawmakers get contributions from opioid industry.
OPIOD FORUM IN WESTON TOWN HALL - EVERY SEAT TAKEN, CHANNEL 12 THERE - THANK YOU JOHN SHABAN!

Welcome from Rep.John Shaban and his outline of how the evening would progress. First everone on the panel had their story related to opioids to tell.

Weston H.S. S.R.O.; Weston Youth Services director on the panel and contributes our stories.

First Selectmen from Easton (l) and Redding present (below next to Chief Troxell); U.S. Attorney's Office, WestCOG, regional social work services in action; State Senators attend (it was literally. "SRO" as in standing room only)

Police Chiefs from Redding, Easton and Weston speak. Getting hooked on opioids (pills left over from prescriptions legally obtained brought to "pill parties" - I think I heard someone say that)...

Standing Room Only - or did I mention that already? I left early to attend a special Library Building Committee meeting.

R
X
OUR RATHER BRIEF AND VERY SIMPLE RESEARCH: http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/prescription-drugs.html

"Recreational use of prescription drugs is a serious problem with teens and young adults."
This is the understatement of the year. The link above is a really simple explanation of why kids raid their parents bathroom sink cabinet for excitement.

REPORT MARCH 22, 2017: http://c-hit.org/2017/03/20/state-ranks-high-in-opioid-related-visits-to-hospitals/

And then there is Narcan, which is something EMT's must carry, we think...report on last Session action from article above:

"...The state has passed a number of laws intended to combat the opioid epidemic, including requiring first responders to carry Narcan, limiting initial opioid prescriptions to seven-day supplies in most cases, and requiring pharmacies to enter information about controlled substances into the electronic Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System (CPMRS) by the next business day."

We note that Narcan will only work for up to 48 hours - and then addicted individual will crave more opioids.

Can a 'miracle shot' called Vivitrol break the prison-heroin cycle in Alaska?
Alaska News DISPATCH
Michelle Theriault Boots
4-15-17

Please read this story: https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2017/04/15/can-a-miracle-shot-called-vivitrol-break-the-prison-heroin-cycle-in-alaska/

We choose to include this as "health care"...along with no lifeguards, unclaimed bodies issue and others to come as budget cuts kick in.
Supreme Court strikes down Texas abortion clinic regulations
Hartford Courant
June 278, 12016

The Supreme Court struck down Texas' widely replicated regulation of abortion clinics Monday in the court's biggest abortion case in nearly a quarter century....
Story in full: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-supreme-court-texas-abortion-clinics-20160627-story.html

Remember "I feel your pain" remark by Mr. Empathy? Did not apply to Mrs. we expect.

Massachusets move related eventually to topic below?
We ask what this is really all about...https://ctmirror.org/2017/11/24/massachusetts-grabs-spotlight-by-proposing-new-twist-on-medicaid-drug-coverage/

WE SAW IT THE OTHER YEAR...COMING SOON: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/SoylentGreen

Since the latest local election we note this: http://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Agencies-seek-to-empower-people-to-make-12351137.php

And now in 2017 comes this question: Is it ethical to euthenize Alzheimer's patients?

"Cure" for Alzheimer's?

MENTAL HEALTH INCREASES COSTS FOR ELDERLY.

MERGED INTO 63 MEMBER AGENCY
Long term services report online. Mostly bureaucrats who are being relocated with the new bureaucracy (women, children and elderly merged).

MAPPING & FOCUS GROUP
Behavioral health conditions of aging. By the way, she is retiring. Senior Center Mapping.

Legislation CT AND U.S.

Transition of care.
Designated caregiver;
SB266 consumer protection/power of attorney;
nursing home closing - SB280 letter of intent on closing includes language to include rights.
"Older Americans Act" reauthorization 1965 originally.
greater good of population as a whole - but no $$ outside of nursing home from Feds.

Next meeting in September...but not so fast. My how priorities change.

Odds & ends

Johns Hopkins map link
DISASTER DECLARATION FOR CT MADE MARCH 29th
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DASHBOARD COVID-19

I TALY ON LOCK DOWN MARCH 10, 2020; SPAIN & FRANCE; GERMANY SEALS BOARDERS; NEW ZEALAND LOCK DOWN
WWHD & U.S. CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL - C.G.A. MAKES THINGS CLEAR FOR ME. And a very interesting view of COVID-19 as it related to others similar.

One might ask what the heck is going on in Hartford ? Who knows?

Department of Public Health loses leader amid COVID-19. "Re-Opening" ever ask for her opinion? Remember the vaccine forced reversal?

Acting DPH Commissioner, 2nd from left, the Commissioner of Social Services.

What's this all about? And isn't it part of the general lack of transparency?

And here's the top story from the COURANT: https://www.courant.com/coronavirus/hc-news-coronavirus-mitchell-dph-fired-20200512-ni7g5wxmx5hkzawh5v3eha6lqm-story.html

-----------------------------------

C.G.A. JOINT MEETING ON COVID-19: http://ct-n.com/ctnplayer.asp?odID=17238
CTNEWSJUNKIE: https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20200306_dph_updates_legislators_on_potential_impact_of_coronavirus/#more

THREE HOUR FORUM
Department of Public Health leads it off - 24 tested all results so far negative. Testing prioritizing. Testing capacity expands - at the community level. Flu season 11,000 have flu - 65 deaths. Still "low" - elderly, elderly, low immunity. Treated at home isolated. Community level - not quarantine. Schools, businesses - adequate food supply for 2 weeks. 211 hotline for those who are not experiencing symptoms - CDC info. Telehealth.

MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS & OTHERS ARE SHARING
Curb public hysteria. How do staff prepare?

HOSPITAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TEAM
We're prepared. Volunteer F.D. needs equipment. Hartford Health Care on the job. Must align communications. We note that COURANT didn't get that call. TELECONFERENCING. Misinformation. Emergency and pop up clinic.

QUESTIONS FROM LEGISLATORS OF DPH:

#1 - 211 HOT LINE is the place to go. #2 - DPH talks to everyone everyday.

Osten next question. 8am Monday is deadline for submitting $$ needed.

Steinberg next: Shortages?

Sen. Abrams: Self quarantined? Dr. Cartter cites errors in story...

QUESTIONS FROM LEGISLATORS OF HOSPITALS PART 2
Rep. Petit, Lavielle ask excellent questions. GO TO COMMERCIAL LABS. Who is chosen to be tested? Fever & cough and shortness of breath. If you are not sick don't test. H1N1 - appointments.
N.Y.C. gets thousands from China. Children get milder version - would you believe it is like the common cold. Besides "211" is there a website? Masks, PPE. Spring break? Long-term care? INFO?
Large scale public events coming...capacity to test - if you are not in a high-risk group should you test? When epidemic gets going it will be warm out and more obvious..."clinical" decision.

Pres. Ojakian sent Eastern Prez. Nunez...who was terrific!
President had done the pandemic research previously. Commuters? Building on campus to house quarantined 2 weeks. CHLOROX.
UCONN - China, Italy, South Korea students asked to come home - no spring break international Spring break. Cancelled travel to CDC level 3 places. Emergency Operations Management plan.

QUESTIONS FROM LEGISLATORS OF COLLEGES & SCHOOLS PART 3
Higher ed - ability to operate in the Cloud. Using C.D.C. standards. H1N1 protocol. Communications job right now...study abroad brought back, cancelled trips to obvious places. Off-campus testing? Ans. As situation evolves, once it appears, management of severe flu symptoms??? When do students get asked to not attend large gatherings? Rep. Abercrombie thanks UCONN for being there the whole time. Is UCONN prepared? "Social Distance" - dance rehearsals?

THE BEGINNING HERE. REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER - CT & WESTON NEWS ON COVID-19 REPORTS

Phase Two: How about this? FROM COURANT: https://www.courant.com/coronavirus/hc-news-coronavirus-hotels-reopening-20200524-q4vvosvtuzhbthuibsm6ve7ut4-story.html
FROM CT MIRROR: https://ctmirror.org/2020/05/24/as-nursing-home-deaths-mounted-months-passed-without-broad-testing/
SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER AS THE SONG BY ALICE COOPER GOES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B1j4Z25i7k

https://patch.com/connecticut/weston-ct/s/h3rmk/ct-schools-closed-for-rest-of-academic-year-gov-lamont?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

960
DAILY BRIEFING 7-6-20

Ready for surge. 96% reached out. Half people don't answer??? Pause because some things like bars - NOT good idea. Erring on the side of caution. FOLLOW GUIDANCE.

QUESTIONS:

1. July 8 still a go. Bars a no-no. Those who stand at a bar can't be stopped.
2. Coming in from infected states? Double # of folks did not come (cancellations)..
3. COVID TESTING AT BRADLEY? No.
4. Social Distance, opening costs? How to make kids keep on their masks in the heat? Whose responsibility is it to report COVID-infected? Gotta report it to Health District.
5. Can we say no effect from Black Lives Matter outdoor?
6. Phase Three date?
7. Benchmarking data - NYC, MA about half response.
8. Court systems didn't get $$.
9. Unable to contact??? What happens then? Next step? Follow up? No need yet.
10.Graduations? Arts & Entertainment opening??? PPP loans.
11. Unemployment? Who gets COVID? "Outreach to black and brown communities." Communities of color.
12. Increase capacity for other businesses minus bars?
13. Complaints? Gov. of Texas being sued.
14. July 4th spike? When?
15. PPE not adequate.

PSA - "If you have to ask, wear the mask"

________________________________________________________________________________________________

JULY 2, 2020 Daily Briefing in Madison CT at Hammonaset State Park
And by the way, social distance blankets maybe 12 feet apart. Numbers are excellent again for maybe 7 days in a row. Don't forget your suntan lotion!!!

"DAILY" BRIEFING JUNE 25, 2020 (FIRST 2 SLIDES)

Raw goals: Public Health Plan to assure it is safe. Education - long break. Wanted a regular schedule. Wanted "normal" plan. Wanted uniformity to equalize opportunity. Metrics. Size of classrooms. COHORT TOGETHER.

FROM COMMISSIONER (SLIDES 3-7)

ADAPT ADVANCE ACHIEVE - INNOVATE. MAXIMUM SOCIAL DISTANCING
RE-OPENING PLAN - heard from people,

DPH and "physical & emotional" damage from shutdown.
Grouping by classes.
Re-configuring space.
Face covering inside buildings.
Ramping up with improved internet teaching ("remote learning") where needed.

QUESTIONS:

1. What happens if someone reports positive case? Quarantine classrooms. Group events. Chorus?
2. 43% of teachers are not sure about going back in September - what about it? How to get Spec Ed kids wearing masks.
3. Parents not comfortable...socialize the plan locally.
4. Price tag?
5. Engagement? Distance learning OK but missed social contact. Digital divide. CT LEARNING HUB. CARES fund for this. Kids adapted if the had digital experience.
6. Who will pay?
7. We'll stand by.
8. Which staff members will do what?
9. Shifts? Yes, we'll have a plan. Hotel association and travel agents voluntary. Out-of-staters?
10. Will Fall plan work? We know more now. Most structured place. Legal protection?

Will they come back? We've tried.

608
DAILY BRIEFING - CLICK TO ENLARGE.

And on another related subject...MAYBE GOVERNOR CAN RELOCATE THEM TEMPORARILY TO NURSING HOMES LIKE NYC?
Or how about this - https://ctmirror.org/2020/06/25/cdc-chief-no-clear-public-health-value-to-connecticut-quarantine-of-out-of-state-visitors/

OPENING - relaxing their guard (see above)? More elsewhere. Just off VP TASK FORCE CALL.

Concentration of the positives. No time to relax. Get tested monthly in cities. 138 testing sites.

QUESTIONS:

1. It has been two weeks since protests or casinos...wearing the mask is the biggest help
2. Quarantine: Against Florida. And others. 14 day self-quarantine.
3. Fire works? Illegal?
4. Evictions? Rent relief?
5. Limit state beaches to state residents? Guidance going back to work - get back to work.
6. Phase Three? Regional quarantine? States where positivity rate high. Contact tracing - some folks don't want to cooperate.
7. Regional quarantine - how will it work? Travelers - by airports. TASKFORCE ramping up testing.
8. Nursing home visits? Yes.
9. Crowds. Outdoors. Bars. Speedway with 25% capacity. Metro North future? Still 85% down. Hunch is people are not going into the city as much. Telecommuting works!
10. Do you regret non-mandatory approach? No. No heavy hand. Any sanctions? Other than NH bar. Apple didn't close here. Campaigns? Door-to-door?
11. What about after Sept. 9th? Which of the executive orders to keep? Do you think it will become political?
12. How are we doing on PPE? Market $7 in the beginning, $1 now. Any orders cancelled? 55 million, 10 reserve. Build reserves for 2nd wave. CT scaling back.
13. Day camp guidelines - check temperatures daily?
14. Quarantine exemptions? Yes if you can show testing in the previous few days. Contact tracing - 50%???
15. Visitations at group homes? No answer.

We should feel good about CT. Thanks the public.

FYI

We're not going to comment on where any of this is going...

Now 71% - June 1, 2020: https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20200601_nursing_home_assisted_living_facilities_deaths_slowing_down/

Seventy percent (70%) of death from COVID from residents of nursing homes (60%) and Assisted Living facilities (10%): https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20200522_nursing_homes_and_assisted_living_centers_70_percent_deaths/

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS - TELEHEALTH in New Britain.

Statistics don't make one death any better. Simple things make a difference. Q&A drowned out by firetrucks at times.

The daily briefing on the road Thursday June 18, 2020

500
DAILY BRIEFING 6-16-20

Re-opening: Indoor dining; hotels, personal services. Why do we have outdoor rationale?
Gatherings: 25 indoor, 100 outdoor.
July 3rd: Graduations outdoor. Big outdoor events? 15 feet from other people. Max 500. 25% capacity.

What to project? Mid July 250 outdoors.

QUESTIONS:

1. DMV openings...is the DMV ready? Wethersfield by appointment only. Online services next week. "Knoe Before You Go"
2. "Public Health Crisis" Anwar. Hotel hazard pay? STANDARDS TO MAINTAIN. Self-certified? Protection for businesses? 211-hotline.
3. Outside firm to investigate nursing homes. Why did some have wildly different results? Plan is to eceive mid-August.
4. Social clubs? Weddings? Co-mingling different. Beaches? When will restrooms open?
5. What businesses give you most concern? Mask wearing a must, sanitizer and social distancing. Don't let your guard down. When will picnic tables be available at CT parks? Lawsuit on Exec. Orders (Sen. Sampson). State Offices reopen for in person? Working from home the 1st choice. Online.
6. Out of state travel? Self-quarantine. Potential triggers? Thousands of p;eople at protests. Gambling casino. Beaches. Highest density areas.
7. Masks laxity?
8. Special Session: Agenda to expand? After July 1, can we afford stuff? SHORT special session. Fiscal impacts?
9. Senior isolated in nursing home - FACE-TIME? Monitoring? Technology tracking still good? Masks and social distancing. Even outside.
10. Ferries - protocols? 50%.
11. Nursing home recovery data? Nursing home reporting - has to be consistent with Fed. Immunity from malpractice on nursing homes?

George Floyd: CT State Troopers.

540
GOVERNOR'S NEWS BRIEFING (S) 6-15-20

ARE WE IN THE CORRECT PEW WITH THIS PRESSER? NOPE!

PLAY-BY-PLAY

DAILY BRIEFING 6-11-20

Wearing the mask? "If you have to ask, wear the mask."

Got to get back to work. Moving everything on line. Free online job training. Labor Unions to get online.

VIRTUAL JOBS FAIR. Video interviews. Need for drivers. Custom job portal. Job search. 16-18 of June job fair. Webinar June 15. Health care a biggie. Spike in deliver and logistic workers. Main street - jobs.

WORKFORCE: Job portal overnight. 11,00 registered to courses. IT skills. "180 SKILLS" - battle tested for manufacturing. Health care online. Low cost and acceptable.

Department of Labor. 610,000 unemployment. 473,000 e-mails out to connect up with programs.

GOODWILL involved.

DECD: Tech talent fund. Workforce development. Up-skilling workforce. Leveraging resources.

QUESTIONS:

1. Coming back from other states - should they shelter in place? V-shaped? Big hit no-retail. Jobs deficit? Steep drop March April 40% less than 19. Low 30s%. May not need as many. Trickle down. Spike in cases means down. 350 companies. NY and Texas. CT has first portal.
2. Police Taskforce. Chock holds nix. Added? Governor supports taskforce. Community policing.
3. Jobs lost - graduating kids - anything for kids? Inner city kids'support 4-CT $$. Shootings report timetable? (Manchester CT). Lab work. Transgender rights? Losing $$ from feds.
4. Why can't they get a test now? Highest risk gets priority. Special Session. Police Accountability important. Absentee balloting. If a second surge before election, that's the reason. Only when consensus of 4-caucuses will there be a Special Session.
5. Remote learning? For special and life skills offered. Available to unemployed. Manufacturers. Small companies benefit. What advice to give? Go for broadening your skills. No downside.
6. Summer youth employment? Anything specific in job training (liberal arts grads would be better off). Absentee, police accountability, online gambling???
7. UCONN reopen? Thoughtful. Online. 75% back in to residence. Older profs online.
8. Workforce opportunity? How has COVID pandemic changed things? Corporate America may have changed to prefer less traditional choices. Subsidizing training future? Can CT continue.
9. Contact with Indeed? Both free. How is Indeed making money. What is the budget impact? No costs. Defund police dept. in Hartford. Need both. Pay raise? Executive Orders - 70% have relaxed laws.
10. Is CT workforce capable? Varies. Early-stage screenings. Service sector jobs now. Jobs coming back? "Contact Centers?" Personal contact important. "Chat Box" working!
11. Testing - shifting strategy? Laboratory capacity - but we want to be strategic. Testing going down? Flat over the last few weeks - testing nursing home workers. You can lead a horse to water theory. Are you going to meet the goal for Phase 2? June 17th. Will FEMA pay for it?
12. Sign ups? Who are they? Health care programs? Online - certifications challenging.

A crisis is a terrible thing to waste - Lamont says. This is a chance to re-start.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DAILY BRIEFING 6-9-20 - ACTUALLY a news briefing; DAY 100 - what's next for Phase Three?

"Bigger table" concept (New England Governors) cited. CT Partnership (money and how to welcome it) "re-boot" coming perhaps after input from Speaker of the House and Senate Minority Leader lend advice (both not running for re-election in November). And exactly how to get to reinvent - "quasi" reporting? Lottery another quasi. What are the rules of the road?

QUESTION:

Contact tracing - protest groups? Go get tested, don't visit. Can't track and trace.
STRUCTURE: Looking forward - clear rules to open. Police Accountability. Don't want to stiff-arm. PPP in future??? QUASI's good.
What will you do want to do to work with legislature? Unemployment? How does that work with Dept. of Labor. Labor negotiations? Not productive. Many can't telecommute. Put off raises. Can you withhold the raises.
Nursing homes: Private sector. Infection.
Change Executive Order on fingerprint?
Bars and nightclubs?
Campgrounds? After July 4th.
Social service public-private.
Graduation? 150 people outside - what's the difference?

Science Center re-opening. Assuring PPE, sanitizers. Filtering of air-conditioning. Manage for reduced capacity - online advanced ticketing only. Come on line at a loss.

497

DAILY NEWS BRIEFING 6-4-20

CT position of strength with large rainy day fund. Cash position good. $600 million shortfall this end of year.

GRANTS AND GIFTS
$1.4 billion: Of that, $75 million to municipalities; $125 million for nursing homes; $250 million testing; $100 PPE w/FEMA match. $65 million for cleaning, overtime; $10 million for rental relief. $650 million total so far.

Municipality share: CRF ("Corona relief fund")
$40 million costs. Match FEMA with CRF fully thru June 30th. FEMA first then CRF. Electronic. Distance learning.

QUESTIONS:

1. 43% high risk teachers.
2. Restaurant association open indoor dining June 10. June 20.
3.

More to come.

740

DAILY BRIEFING MONDAY JUNE 1, 2020

Ahead of Questions...

GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS
Governor says it was peaceful. But he worries. Waterbury. Rep. Hayes from Waterbury. Her husband is a policemen. Protests all over the country. They don't remember Martin Luther King. Open dialogue. No room for a "few bad apples." Not the only way. Go to church. Protest not the only way to make change.

QUESTIONS:
1. Badly hit by COVID as well as protests. Most were wlarge gatherings? earing masks. Hayes - 1967? Don't lose site of COVID. Other ways to get involved. Cannot have more deaths.
2. Teleconference. How to police the protests? "Mutual trust" confrontation. "Turn it into a military situation" - not the CT way. Commissioner wants to help protests. He can handle the protests. No looting yet. BUT - highways dangerous.
3. What can you do to address protestors? All voices to be heard. Legislation? State level regular discussions "People need to come to the table" Hayes - you have to go to the people and start early.
4. National Guard? Generally peaceful. What is it got like LA.?
5. Cynical? Number didn't include nursing homes etc.
6. Police Accountability? We passed a bill. "Choke hold" not taught in CT. COVID? Testing numbers? We have more capacity but will be still focusing on nursing homes.
7. Police accountability. Met once in January. Police contract to hide investigation and records. Justice delayed, justice denied. Embedding in community. Police want to show. Not hiding files- CT state Police non-sustained by him.
8. What if standoff? Pepper spray. A few arrests. Armed protestors make it tough. No empathy.
9. ACLU lawsuit assigned to mediator? Probable deaths? Manipulating? "Deaths" probable - making it look worse. Other states downplaying.
10. Widen search for minority judges. Riots. Need to do other things than listen to grievances. What can we do? Starts with education, leg up, laptops, digital divide. Minimum wage up and up.
11. COVID alerts in front of casinos? What is lacking? Wanted to protect 65 plus group.
12. Hair salons? When can restaurants indoor open? June 3?
13. Curfew in CT? COVID recovery homes? 306, 76 discharged.
14. Everyone has to say how to work together? (Hayes).

5pmish

FULL REPORT

DAILY BRIEFING Friday MAY 29, 2020

Largest drop in hospitalizations in months. Social gatherings - an art as well as a science. Casinos will not alllow anyone to stay at their on site hotels. Require masks. One casino will not allow smiking.

Houses of worship. 25% capacity of up to less than 100 - outdoor 150.

From the CT MIRROR: https://ctmirror.org/2020/05/29/lamont-says-connecticuts-covid-19-hospitalizations-dropped-dramatically/

800
DAILY BRIEFING from Governor Lamont

Greenwich (Camillo) and Cantor (West Hartford) - to tell how things are going with Phase one.
Re-imaging restaurants. New Rochelle just 15 minutes away from Greenwich. Whatever we do will help going forward. A new Greenwich.

QUESTIONS:

Where do casinos rank? Dangerous like nursing homes, meatpacking plants. Tribes still June 1st. DPH, Opening folks checking it out. N850 onsite inspections at nursing homes.

Anythings we don't know about Re-Opening full report? Beaches? Greenwich one way walking paths at Greenwich point. Plan for use at beaches - Parks&Rec etc. to check compliance.

Any warning to anyone not obeying the rules in West Hartford? Family of six together. Churches never closed. 50 top, outdoof better.

How is compliance going? No Ozarks. Outdoor graduations? Too early. Maybe July, August.

$1.4 billion - to pay for COVID expenses. Protect themselves? How to educate & enforce? PPE to nursing homes. 250 nursing homes.

FOXWOODS? MOHEGAN SUN- review casino plans.

Tourism? June 20. Tourism campaign?

Compact give us leverage? No drinks?

Revoking liquor permits?

Contact Tracing: Great progress. Stamp out outbrakes.

Liability under opening? Following protocols is a defense. Phase 2? - all lines going in the wrong direction. Nursing homes being tested including staff. Congregate care elsewhere?

Rhode Island not opening casinos. Antibody testing. To DPH? The challenge is that data is not scientifically collected.

Local restaurants with no outdoor dining. Take out, parking lots, closing streets. Greenwich looking to be creative and waivers.

Indoor dining? A lot of traffic. Lots of New Yorkers. Greenwich seeing tons of New Yorkers. Camps & summer camps June 20, mid July. Sleep-away camps.

Telecommute. Each agency is different. State Offices after July 20? Fingerprints? Budget estimates: $300 million less deficits. Special Session mid June?

Enforcement? Local municipalities in charge. Testing under served better.

Governor: "No Ozarks here"

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Parking lots closed by 12 noon in some cases. Once parking lots filled to COVID-19 capacity.

1000
DAILY BRIEFING MAY 20, 2020
Daily Briefing (on opening day Phase One)

Final report coming this week. Governors want to know why chains are not opening. Hodge-podge of rules. Small business is best and that's us! Flare up in October???

DEEP Commissioner's message prior ro Memorial Day: Beaches open, parks all open. All inland State swimming venues closed this summer.
PHASE TWO mid - June.

Hospital
Testing tracing
5 criteria
COVID sample badge on the wall.
Enforcement of protocols dial 211. local health, police and Selectmen
EDUCATION: Non-residential comes first, then residence in graduates. K-12 July 6.

PHASE THREE at least 4 weeks.

INDRA NOOYI (above) thanks folks. And for the opportunity.

QUESTIONS:

1. What about violators? Enforcement.
2. Casino on June 1st? Risky. "Perfect Storm" - indoors, bad air, workers especially. Risk is enormous.
3. Changing rooms? Gyms? Risky behavior. Face to face no-no. Surfaces not so bad. Reduce time indoor gym, distance, clean surface.
4. Youth sports? Sharing a ball? Tailored instructions.
5. What if customers don't wear a mask? No PPP no service. 211 or Corona virus hotline. Regional casino approach. Second surge? Not going to go away. Winter is going to be bad.
6. What can you do? "Part of the family" Unions, stop people before they go into casino. Magnet. Diabetics (tribes) might be exposing themselves.
7. Unemployment?
8. Blanket immunity? CT protocols give protection.
9. Inevitable transmission. Increased testing and contact tracing. Most vulnerable. Check and balance. Fail safe method. Absentee ballots? Primaries and absentee ballot.
10. Contact tracing? Going forward. Benchmarks? Hospitalization increases.
11. Computer glitch? Friday for summaries. Legislature have a role?
12. Adult recreation? Leagues? Regulated by?

Daily Briefing 5-19-20 - watched after dinner.

Staged reopening. What to look forward to? Petition to open dance studios on June 1st.:

Case based intervention.
Self isolate. Symptomatic as well as A-symp.
Universal flue vaccine. Individual acts do the most.
Outdoors better than indoors.
Summer should not be as bad - off-set risk of re-opening
Testing capacity in CT; high risk neighborhood has passed the threshold
Protecting vulnerable.
Thoughtful ways to re-open. Look at public health and economic impact scaled.
Casino is an example to too great a risk.
Summer will probably be good - in the Fall, expect it to come back.
4 or 5 vaccines; large trials. Side-effects? Will have multiple vaccines.
More therapeutics by the Fall. Moderna shows we should be able to produce a vaccine. Better toolbox by the Fall.

QUESTIONS:

1. Food supply? Food handlers need protection. Fall: 100 FDA options. Antibodies.
2. Quantify the difference between June 1 and May 20? You have to convince the public. Balance.
3. Hydroxichloraquin? Wasn't causing harm.
4. Not enforcing the rules? Cromwell? State Police?
5. What do you say about isolating most vulnerable? High density? Closure of schools? Camps?
6. Disbanding - why? They put the metrics in place, turn the page. What about responsibility to the people of the state? A lot of new technology coming.
7. How do you feel on the eve of Phase 1?
8. Capacity to test all in nursing homes?
9. Is CT contact tracing capacity ok? # of volunteers? Up to 700 people soon.
10. Every worker every week.
11. Co-infection makes it worse, differentiating? 3 health districts working on contact tracing.

Breaking news: Hair salons and barber shops to NOT open May 20 after all...need more time to get set (June sometime).

1900 max.

DAILY BRIEFING AT 2:30pm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z01EcoaR1kk&feature=youtu.be

May 20th run up power point
Weekly outlook and Small Business - and the reopening guideline achievement levels. PLEXIGLASS!!!

RE-OPEN ADVISORY GROUP (part)
Public health Commissioner Gifford, DECD folks; no infection rise...

QUESTIONS:

1. How are you going to manage opening up in June (June 1st)? Hair salons and barber shops - needed more time.
2. Some salons are not happy. Can't reach D.O.Labor. Governor apologized. Why did you wait? R.I. changed and Massachusetts did too so we want to be in sync.
3. How many small businesses out (for good)? Lack of consumer confidence? Polling in CT - indicates confidence should build.
4. "Winding down" Re-Open group but will continue to ask Dr. Ko day to day. Focus internally as many of those involved getting the re-opening plan in shape are CT employees..
5. What might trigger not-reopening? D.O.C.prison - Osborn - a-symtomatics? (The more they dig the more they find - my observation)
6. June 1st deadline? Black and brown businesses? Underserved have bank problems. Loan program for minority business increased $2 million out and more to come to $5 million. Tribes? How long was the meeting - online didn't come up. Regional govs.
7. 1500 child care centers open: How are they being tested? DPH thanks childcare workers. Guidance. NOT large # of COVID cases in daycare. Are kids carriers? Hasn't been large-scale. What happens if someone reopens earlier? Can stylist go to homes? No.
8. Upping testing where? Protect most vulnerable poor neighborhoods first. Word is going out to get tested. If contact tracing reaches you, get tested. Benchmarks for rolling back?
9 Expecting uptick? Doesn't it follow? As case numbers fall it all is good. No mask no service. Guidance to those who are getting unemployment even is they have been called back. Testing at nursing homes - point prevalence every resident. Co-horting. Union issue.
10. Crowds of people too close upon reopening?
11. How did you come up with 42k tests per week? Team. 9000 on Saturday? Lumpiness trend line. How will the public know what when Boston Consulting Group is advising. Consultants hired all the time. Be quick. CRISIS SPEED. BCG doesn't make decisions.
12. Enforcement enforcement - how to get compliance? Locally in each municipality. Why hair salons regionally? State lines. And Eastern portion of the state protected.

CT MIRROR and CTNEWSJUNKIE, 5-15-20
Assisted Living and Nursing Homes make up for as we can count (1,927 of 3,219) cases, or @60% of the deaths from COVID-19 in CT:
https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20200515_nursing_home_deaths_climb_as_staff_scramble_for_ppe/
https://ctmirror.org/2020/05/14/coronavirus-claims-276-lives-in-ct-assisted-living-facilities/

And we tuned in late...

DAILY BRIEFING MAY 15, 2020 (watching re-run around 12 noon) at 10am (Gov. Lamont notes this was a different time than usual)

Hospitalizations 40% less than weeks ago. Jobless report. Until July 31st. PPP loans until another month. No layoff at state or local level. Service sector slammed. Which is why he wants to start re-open. Testing to most at risk communities.

CVS drive thru testing. Rolling out more. New Haven first - expanding access. Re-open economy. Underserved. Health care workers and partners in mental health available. Free home delivery. CVS AETNA online for access.

QUESTION:
1. Homeless? Testing at shelters. Alternative location at hotels. May 20th? New version with kids COVID? Women and people of color.
2. A-symptomatic? Those in vulnerable only now. Symptoms get tested. But then those at risk. Traced folks. Woried well not encouraged. Phase 2 - indoor downing? Learned from Georgia - good news. Let us think. Outdoor - rest rooms open? Nothing in guidelines to prevent it.
3. CVS Abbot test? "Swab and send." Percentage of positives high. FDA advice. Where is $$ - insurance (CARES ACT). Rapid roll out effect on industry. Tracking quality pre and post COVID. Safety first. Business model? Tom Moriarty, lawyer from CVS.
4. Drive-thru? Not for anyone in N.H. Need to wait for contact tracing. Disadvantaged businesses?
5. Re-opening bridal shop - no fitting rooms, one at a time? Gotta be by appointment only. Everyone who is opening May 20 register with state. Send e-mail to Max. Research remote. Grad students. Outdoor recreation: Summer camps June 21st. Who will enforce it? Hot line. Municipal level.
6. Total housing homeless in hotels cost? We'll get back to you. Equity on payments to unemployed v. employed. Retail sales nationally down. In CT? Slow way back. Percentage of segments of unemployed on DOL site.
7. Deaths? If not declining, will you push it back? No. Beaches - how to enforce? Local municipalities to enforce. DEEP will be there next week (Memorial Day)
8. Boston Consulting Group? Ramping up the implementation.
9. "Horns" - comment. We are all god's children. Funding? "4-CT" is looking at it.
10. Advisory Group to stand by the phone. Dr. Ko for sure. Contact tracing for health districts. Are they working on it! Live in three. Texting, e-mail - also phone but rare. Summer school guidelines?
11. CDC guidelines - pretty vague.
12. Restraining order in Orange on churches? Up to 50 people can go to church. Older folks stay home.
13. Unemployment for people have to stay home for schooling? It is going slowly. Nursing homes? Results available. Testing accelerating. Over the summer - outdoor visits from family?
14. Nursing home deaths and A.L. - flexibility if nursing home COVID sites 267, 43 discharged, in recovery...stats?
15. Boston Consulting Group: Keep the health and safety get back to work - fully reimbursed. You couldn't have done it yourself? Best practices with experience. Dental PPE? Democrat Senators letter?

Shave and a hair cut, two bits?

708

DAILY BRIEFING MAY 14, 2020 at 2pm.

This was Thursday for Re-Open and Senate Dems complaints: https://www.courant.com/coronavirus/hc-news-coronavirus-daily-updates-

QUESTIONS:

1. Letters from legislators. Is the state is ready? We have it ready - contract tracing? Concern from CBIA. Statewide standards? .
2. DECD standards stiff enough? Confidence level. Indoors is problematic - Dr. Ko. Playgrounds - social distance, masks, disinfected swings, slides.
3. Eastern CT unemployment: Foxwoods layoffs. Online gaming and sports betting by Executive Order? Now is a good time.
4. Dept of Labor out to lunch. Labor Department used Cobol - had to get it upgraded. Send him the names.
5. SE delegation - online gaming to help the region??? Regional approach to casinos. Bail out?
6. Contact tracing? "6 ft for 19 minutes" is contact. Voluntary. How do you figure out where everyone came from. Dentist/hygenists?
7. What about other states? Intervention to protect the vulnerable. Highest risk cities. California closing schools - not yet decided in CT.
8. How are you doing to communicate? Community Committee involved non-profits. 24 hr turnaround.
9. "Adjust along the way" meaning? Maybe you can adjust. Childhood inflamatory syndrome? Why did it happen? Herd immunity? New virus.
10. Push back from both left and right. Why no politicians on the Re-Open Committee? 25 questions from Senate Democrats. Modifications made.
11. Partnership Prez put on leave?
12. More versions of the questions above and over at 3:05pm.

DAILY BRIEFING 4:30pm - got on 20 minutes late. Stress test of 50 states.

Sens. Cohen and Formica. They own restaurants
Business under new model.

What is the date for Phase 2? June 20. Plastic bag tax? Yes.
Business liability before May 20? Yes. Indoor dining? Low revenues anyway. Public Health primary. June 3rd maybe? Food trucks allowed. Outside drinking must have food too.
50% capacity by June 3? Caution.
$2 million for consultants? Yes. Same company that works for the states in the NE. Paid for by Federal gov't. Did his yest come back OK? Yes.
Real challenge to get tested. How many tests per day? We can handle 42k. How much more evidence needed?
Nursing home deaths? Tomorrow. Who's going to be tested (in restaurants)? "Surge safety" coordinator.
If protocols not followed, call in to CT.
Casinos? Not now. Out of state and elderly. Sovereign nation. Should be regional and in sync with neighboring States. Pediatric tracked?
42k target? Sample collection needs beefing up.
How sure are you about indoor dining? Restaurant owners work there themselves. Not large crowds.
First question on schools.
Biggest restaurant challenges? Getting PPE, plexiglass, touch-less payment. Picnic tables. Management by walkin' around. How many are going to open? May 20 not a light switch.
Ramping up for September opening for schools.
Short-term summer vacations? Short-term rentals? Not phase one.
Dental hygienists. Influx from NYC? Just outside dining.
Preview of Phase 2?
False negatives.
Sen. Cohen does fish. When does Governor do take out? Nursing homes still protesting???

Governor: Go to drive thru in New Haven.

5:30.

MAY 12, 2020 - 4pm
1100+

Productivity up in big companies.

PPE and testing. Surgical gown, other stuff. Review. Seems to be going in the right direction.

Yale New Haven Pres. & Jackson Labs. 42k test per week next week. 1000,000 per week in June. Symptomatic and a-symtomatic. New Britain Armory.

Hospital cases going down. 20% of surgery. Jackson Lab.

QUESTIONS:

1. What if you are a-symptomatic testing? Spit test?
2. Is Fauci right? We are following the guidelines.
3. Nursing home employees - twice a week?
4. Dental hygienist?
5. How long will nursing homes not have visitors?
6. Why was DPH Commissioner fired? Not related to job performance.
7. Distribution of PPE?
8. Why compare flu and COVID-19. Beaches? Fauci? We support guidelines.
9. Contact tracing by May 20th? Follow up with infected people to find their contacts. Microsoft platform. Public Health Depts. up this week. How many colunteers? 300 peopel on platform. Then the volunteers.
10. Declining COVID? For re-opening. Manageable. Sustaioned demand? Not zero but less than now.
11. Value of PPE - Chinese Construction Bank? $10 million. Nursing home schedule? Prioritized by DPH. Into A.L.? Weekly tests for health workers.
12. How are things sharing up? $1 billion deficit. Relapse in the Fall?
13. What about test turnaround? Importance of turnaround in 24 hrs. to get into contact tracing. Scaling up via automation. How many received RFP applicants? RFP's?
14. Dr. Birks says don't do beauty parlors - CT operators being really careful. Has the Reopen hired a consultant? CT did from Boston.
15. Contact tracing workforce? How many by when? End of June. Nursing home tests and A.L.? National Guard. What is the final plan? Not ad hoc. What about the next phases? After May 20.
16. Have you been tested? Gov. just got tested today. Public Officials?

5:07pm over

May 11, 2020

Governor's DAILY BRIEFING:

Trends all good. May 20th looks good. Tomorrow PPE reports and testing capability.
Germany opened schools, South Korea opened nightclubs...flare up.
Track and trace is like the fire department.

WHITE HOUSE TASK FORCE REPORT

Social distancing more strictly employed ay White House.
Receiving Remdesivire shipment.
Antigen cheaper (the new test announced by the President)
Remdesivir delivered!!!

FROM THE THE TASK FORCE: A reprise of earlier.

Number of deaths: 3000 - shame on us for not acting faster.

QUESTIONS:

No real answers to any of them. Including one from CTNEWSJUNKIE asking why some non-members of the Re-Opening Task Force were participating - more members needed? Ans. They're winding down...

EDUCATION REOPENING TASK FORCE
At a May 11, 2020 11am one-hour briefing or "round-table" questions were posed that had been submitted:

REOPENING "ROUND TABLE" MAY 11, 2020
EDUCATION: Re-Opening to expand equity and access (connectivity plus disabilities), risk tolerance. Like a weather forecast.

SCHOOLS

DPH - Need to be flexible.

CIAC - want to get back

LEFT TO RIGHT K-12 Conversation.

CEA: Do we have the protocol? Physical distancing, masks - school bus - social distancing.
Teachers (AFT?): Online technology doesn't work for parents who can't understand it. Equity. Hybrid.
Bds of ED (CABE): Social emotional distance learning; pay for technology. Budgets up 1 1/2%. Immunity from liability (Bd of Eds)
Superintendents: Reach and engage every child - a problem with disabilities kids, mental health, not able to do distance learning. Summer scenario.
Bye: Summer camp June 29th - strict public health guideline. DPH - small size (10) or 30 plus if the space is there - waiver. 100 temp, enhanced cleaning. Child care for hospitals.
Commissioner: Public Health Issue comes first. SAFETY FIRST.

LEFT TO RIGHT Colleges & universities - underline items answer to question about equity.

UCONN President first. Investment in COVID testing. The campus interaction makes it challenging. Research shows disproportional need for financial aid. Free WIFI already.
Trinity learned a lot from the whole discussion. Faculty and students protection. Remote learning for those who can't come back. Remote learning. Independent colleges should put endowments to financial aid Federal aid important.
Former Yale Levin - use the summer is to use already sophisticated online courses. End first semester at Thanksgiving - online exams? Standards should not be uniform - non-residential quicker!!!
Ojakian - refunds. $$. His students are those who are working (lower paying jobs).
Fran - COVID opportunity gap enlarged. Philanthropy Dalio, online for every child. Innovation.
Bye: Brain development without structure? Disabilities especially. Call 211 info line.
Cardona: Make it better than before.

Finished by 12 noon.

1450plus

May 8, 2020 Daily Briefing - Governor, LT GOV and DECD

Re-Open strategy. Metrics on opening. Behavior. A third of the store did not feel comfortable. Young people came back and spikes. Car traffic down 30-40%. Speeding. CDC metrics: Old people should not go to church. Masks. No choirs.

Industry sectors:
CTNEWSJUNKIE 5-9-20: https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20200509_state_offers_guidance_on_first_phase_of_reopening_glimpse_of_the/#more

Restaurants outside dining only. Offices no more than 50%. Retail. Personal services - salons. Strict parameters. Barbershops, hair salons. Regional openings.

ECONOMY - SAFETY FIRST MAY 20th.

Retail same as others. No blow dry. Dentists?

QUESTIONS:

Yada yada yada, what's the penalty. Employee safety? Comfort of workers? Unemployment to older workers? CDC backs it up - don't go back to work. Design of new facilities? Restrictions? Capacity will be lower for a while. Less crowded places. Hard on margins. Nature

Enable indoor restaurant can go outdoor. P&Z to do it. Local decisions.

5:02pm

1228

May 7, 2020 Daily Briefing

Back on track - criteria for reopening.

QUESTIONS:

1. Waiving local zoning for outdoor restaurant.
2. PPE? Some say they haven't gotten theirs. 50% filled already. Contact state agency. Downward trajectory? Best metric is hospitalization. 17% tested is the goal.
3. Zoning override? Executive Order coming. Are state employees getting their full salaries? Teleworking employees going back to the office? Commissioners doing their own analysis?
4. Grade schools, colleges...backup plan for opening in the fall? Online learning if outbreak. Both plans side by side.
5. Unemployment benefits? Call centers? Overwhelmed? Self-employed now getting $$. Doctor's note?
6. Will tuition increase? Yes.
7. How are we going to get green everywhere? Hospital capacity OK?
8. How many test? 300-400 CVS testing daily. Other sites being developed.
9. Better job on education. Restaurants? "Come back." Suburban area slow, downtown crowded. Baby steps to get consumers comfortable. Testing testing testing.
10.Which are you most concerned about? PPE. But better now. Hospitalization, labs, capacity should increase. Hair salons? Appointment only. Hygiene very important.
11.Unemployment - coming back? Governor is optimistic
12.Nursing homes testing? Teams going in to test every one.
13.Testing 42,000 per week. If you don't get the number it isn't that important - workers and residents of nursing homes. How we use the tests. Nordstram- retail and shopping malls? Malls? Going to a mall is all about an experience. Social distancing.
14.Religious observances? 509 people limit. Do it outside. 60-65 yr olds stay home. Gyms? May 20 too early.
15.Non-profits? PPE still not there. More $$. Direct relief in the cards? 4-CT. Looking into PPP for not-for-profits.
16.Health care aids. PPE only if symptomatic. Numbers of seats at restaurants?
17. What about of asymptomatic? Vulnerable must be protected.

We're out of here...

1084

May 6, 2020 3pm Daily Briefing. Don't hold your breath until schools reopen...we got on a few minutes into it...

Higher Education - dorms a no-no. Reduce size of classes. Non-residential first. They don't know what the heck their doing - JMO. WON"T START UP UNLESS IT IS SAFE - Ojackian.

QUESTIONS:

1. So how?
2. Attendance? Decline. Gap year. How soon to have plans ready? As soon as they are ready. Technical schools? Social spacing. Community colleges have technical colleges using distancing already.
3. Long term effects? Lost in switch to virtual learning. Support services needed to help everyone thrive. Best online support services - not just the coursework. Academic or social tougher? UCONN says kids have no problem online work.
4. 200-300k tests? Prioritize college kids.
5. Not allowed? Plan on being online as well as redesign everything low density (UCONN). Unemployment insurance for self-employed? Very soon. 418k claims 8% processed.
6. Permanent change - speed up what might have happened anyway? YES!!! How important what goes on outside are also important.
7. Exec expires Sept. 9th. We'll do the exec order in June to solve voting remotely. No, but who knows.
8. Testing before they come in from outside to live in - screening vital. Isolated those who test positive and a second round, random screening thru the year. What 14 day metric. Hospital entrance; Testing. Face masks
9. Parties? UCONN had to keep dorms for foreign students - no positive tests so far. Charettes brainstorming cool life.
10.Bars & restaurants? Take out now, next outdoor eateries.
11.Cancellations? State Colleges, no. Waiting...reduction scenarios. Trinity on track. But may need $$. UCONN deposits 7% up!!! 400 international students.

4pm. And below, what the Courant has to say...in brief.

MAY 5, 2020 Daily Briefing
1282

No classes until the fall - summer school/camp. Virtual. Most kids like it! A place to gather. Colleges and Universities Wednesday.

Schools are not "out" and distance learning ongoing.
And new stuff in July. camps.

QUESTIONS:

1. Guideline by CEA very expensive. Next month or 2 - lots of notice.
2. Graduation? Statewide? Districts will be making their own decisions. Virtual - Governor.
3. Daycare - what to do if back to work and kids are not in school. Supplies. Front line workers more $$ 211-childcaere.
4. Online learning? One graduation for all not going to happen.
5. Hospitalizations? Reopening? Rolling average. May 20th guidelines for salons and restaurants. End of the week.
6. Unemployment - still coming
7. Closing schools? No WIFI? Distance learning webinars. Equity and access up front. Level playing field.
8. Special Ed to start sooner? ReOpen Task Force in lead. Summer school not yet in focus. 10 people? Room size 10.
9. Why now? We had to.
10.How many openings in day care. There was supply and depends on parent choice.
11.Local budgets - guidance for future funding? Phase in includes distance learning. Should funds still be level from the state? More teachers needed? Camps as well as summer school. Standards needed. Building must be made available.
12.Distance learning city-suburb? Teachers to be in contact with parents. Online modules. Limit learning loss.
13.Bi-lingual communities? Laptop not enough. Meeting needs of children - a tough thing because it is a problem anyway.
14.Social distancing need $$ and facilities? (My comment: How about the way we used to do it in the old days?)
15.Summer school will start when ReOpening says so - July? Class size? Double session - half in am, other half, pm.
16.When will decision for Fall? Report cards? Projections soon. Health trend over the summer will depend. Grades sure.
17.Cardiac arrests? Right now we have more testing and hospital capacity that is in demand. Public health.

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER
https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20200505_lamont_closed_school_buildings_for_rest_of_school_year/

May 4, 2020
1492

Update - good news. Tomorrow summer camps, universities. PPE to nursing homes from national stock pile. 70,000 testing. Joint Purchasing cooperative. Collective of 7 states. Who knows this Fall...
Good news for small business from feds. $2.5 billion. May 20 opening. Optimistic on vaccines. Stay out of crowds. Go to grocery store once a week.

Doctors in Legislature:

Sen. Anwar - we are putting things together. Remdesivir. Plasma. Anxiety. Fear of resurgence. In the midst of a disaster. May 20 concerned - too early. Nursing homes.
Rep. Petit - they want to know soon what they need to do to protect their businesses. Health Director says push basics. Specific guidelines. Governor says rules wil be in a week.

QUESTIONS:

1. DPH regulations needed. When to sanitize, etc

2. Weather? Outside safer. Phase in.

3. Daily hospitalization...why May 20th too early. Nursing homes. Wild fire. Resurgence inevitable.

4. How strong is our medical system? Better than most.

5. Tattoo parlors? Restaurant? Families together but social distance who are not in your home. Both docs agree. Dental hygene complete outfit of PPE (saliva).

6. Cuomo's list? CT similar. Ramping up testing? Volumes nasal swabs coming in soon. Saliva coming along.

7. Positive in deaths as well as testing ramping up? Who's on the Committee. Number of test going up?

8. Special Session - online gaming for Tribes?

9. Veterans Home numbers? Executive Orders being questioned by some Legislators.

10.Sec'y of the State asked for saftye poll workers. Absentee ballot to help them to avoid COVID - 'til November. People are afraid to vote. Special Session. Primary? Ask legislature?

We're out of here.

BAD NEWS: We're on our own. Or not? Governor's Friday morning Daily Briefing/Press Conference May 1st.

Sales tax worse than income tax. $900 million deficit (worst case). Rainy Day fund to stretch out. July 1, 2021 deficit $2.4 billion. Clarity and certainty - we'll keep you informed.

FY20 $570 million short fall. FY21 $2.15+ shortfall. 5% reduction in growth rate. Timing - spending delay. $1.9 billion left at end of FY20. 2022 up tick.

QUESTIONS:

1. Tax refunds? New requirement - contributed to it. Reduction in economy? No just a variance.
2. Wall Street money? Pass-thru might affect next year. Real Estate market? FY21 reduces it. Amount of interest in move-ins.
3. Is the medicaid volume up? Yes. Telemedicine - reimbursement rate up all users. Nursing Home - A-L? Others. Deaths to come on A-L.
4. Tolls? Ready to work with people. Gas tax increase?
5. Where will people find employment? Public Health growth. Track & trace now with volunteers. "Bridge recovery." New demand for jobs.
6. Rainy Day Fund. Be specific on deficit mitigation. One example - tax relief for business tax - no new tax. May 20 - concerns: How do you relieve people's fears?
7. Safety. Consumer confidence. Fear. Lead with public health. Any fines to nursing homes? Yes.
8. Reopening. Geographic peak (eastern CT) - how will casinos reopen? Tribes? They should stay closed to keep outsiders outside.
9. Any Federal dollars available? FNAP. Corona virus $$. Nursing home relief. Line by line. Maximize use of Corona $$. $1.4 billion. No "supplanting." Cash flow.
10.Rebound July 1, 2021. "Friends in labor." All the stakeholders will have to share. Self-employed? New software.
11.What do you need the Legislature for? Special Session in June. Minimum - deficiencies. Prisons back to normal?
12.Budget: Debt limit? No problem. Labor contract - voluntary?
13.Immunity for health facilities. Early point in crisis. Nursing homes - Commissioner has power to make changed. Schools? Good ideas. Immigrant workers? Working hard.

Public interfaces continue - give briefings just like this to Legislative leaders.

1219 watching on YouTube

"...When asked earlier this week about the panel’s secret deliberations, Gov. Lamont assured the media that the group would appear alongside him every Thursday to answer questions. That may pass in the private sector for transparency, but it doesn’t come close in the public sector."

Editorial 4-29-20: https://www.courant.com/opinion/editorials/hc-ed-coronavirus-lamont-secret-0429-20200429-2lu6hbiwgvalxomvv6r3nfccoi-story.html

GOVERNOR LAMONT'S DAILY COVID - 19 BRIEFING APRIL 30, 2020 AT 4PM. I'll be this is really brief. Nursing home.

14 day, increased testing, contact tracing, protect high risk populations (urban, African-American), health care capacity, adequate supply, appropriate physical distancing by industry:

They scared the shit out of people, who believed that COVID-19 was DEATH, so why should we be surprised that they don't believe government?

QUESTIONS:
1. Restrictions by age? Self-policing.
2. What % of unemployed back? Consumer demand.
3. Can you give people an idea of social distancing length? It will be with us forever - 1 1/2 years. Decrease length of time connections. PROTOCOLS detailed.
4. Phasing...Casinos, larger venues. Don't hold your breath. We will learn in Phase One - too early to talk about high volume and in-out of state. Taxes? How fast the consumer comes back. Tomorrow news...
5. Transmission rate - driver of risk. Face masks. Health Education very important. Will there be regulations put in place? Best Practice. Mall owners are working nationally.
6. Virus hasn't peaked in South East. Make sure of source of infections are under control. All counties must be all safe. Old Lyme closure-beaches. How to control migration from one place to another. Grocery stores have public county. Tracking staff illnesses?
7. Concerts only in future? Voting by absentee? August Primary we should have it. How safe to use bathrooms. Droplets on surface? Regulations to clear it disinfecting regularly. Hydroxychloroquine?
8. Old person w/o access to information online? What are you doing to be sure they are not overlooked. "211" on telephone. United Way. Local governments might be able to have local latitude. Bar stools.
9. Outdoor restaurants table distances - use roads as space for restaurants. Zoning. Anti-body treatment?
10.Absentee ballots for everyone? Mail out absentee ballot applications to older folks.
11. We're out of here...5:04pm

April 29, 2020

924 peak on YouTube

GOVERNOR LAMONT DAILY BRIEFING WEDNESDAY APRIL 29, 2020 at 4PM -
Report: peak this week - https://www.courant.com/coronavirus/hc-news-coronavirus-daily-updates-0429-20200429-zh6c3qrjlfeetphqz2xc6jpwuq-story.html

"Advertised" that two politicians who have had COVID-19 will be available virtually to report on their experiences.

Relatively good news.

PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING - Ridgefield Press report.

RUDY MARCONI went through it at home. Had virus positive test. On oxygen, hydrochloroquin. Nausia. Severe. His wife caught it.
Rep. Garibay - March 18 - 2 1/2 weeks, had temperature. Couldn't eat. Has risk factiors.

QUESTIONS:

1. Who is catching it now? Geography. Dense neighborhood. Testing in dense places. Is State liability - support for business Sen. McConnell now looking at aid for States.
2. CTNEWSJUNKIE asks about PPE. Gowns still a challenge. Nasal swabs. Is volunteer contact tracing paid? Graduate students. Nursing and Assisted Living tomorrow. 242 inspections done.
3. How was hospital? Never admitted. Got to move. Breathing exercises. Doctor thought he would get better care at home.
4. What kind of contact tracing done? Rudy limited contacted - contact tracing immediately. Jane - CDC time line, self-quarantine in House, made her own outreach, also local health department. Contact tracing - how is anonymity being done. Microsoft? They handled CT in the Cloud.
5. Small business open? Task Force tomorrow. Main Street business - masks, social distancing. Summer guidance? Summer camps? Too soon for July-August.

OVER 4:45pm

April 28, 20

821 present online...could have been more because we went back to CT-N from YouTube.
Tuesday April 28, 2020 Governor's Daily Briefing: Today starting at 4pm. Unemployment north of 20%. Short term. Safe work place rules. Stockpile growing.

TRACK AND TRACE FOLKS - tried and true method of tracking disease. With Microsoft 6 months free tracing maybe something else?
Definition of contact (traditional) - 10 minutes within 5 feet of each other. "CONTACT" alert system by DPH and local health districts. Won't it take that long to get it working?

QUESTIONS:

1. How is it going? 216 facilities visited, number of tracers - 300 from health districts plus 400 academic volunteers. Length of immunity?
2. What percentage of the population?
3. Who is left out? Don't know. Any Assisted Living 350 total 215 done.
4. Who's handling the data? Do you have to have it?
5. Contact tracing starts when?
6. How many tests should we do? Increase to 50,000 per week. Ramping up testing: Speed up turnaround. Track and trace works with quick turnaround. Go to find testees by what they are doing. Bloomberg. Westchester-CT relationship.
7. We're out of here at 4:54pm...report above from COURANT on Microsoft input.

April 27, 2020

GOVERNOR LAMONT'S DAILY BRIEFING AT 4:15pm.

From the re-run: Governor Lamont sets the table for the week - more data Tuesday, those who recovered (First Selectman and State Rep) Wednesday, Thursday "Re-opening" panel report.

FREE DELIVERIES IN MAY
Departments of AG & Social Services reports. SNAP benefits extended. 350k before - now?

Daily Report

Hospitalization is key indicator.

QUESTIONS:

1. Shortages? Long haul social distancing? Trajectory? Slowing of rate of new cases??? Increased testing will increase positives.
2. Food shortages and when will we see it?   SNAP max? It is according...
3. How many tests per day target? Scaling it up RFP. SNAP online? Opening in a week to 10 days if we keep decline of hospital admissions.
4. Graduation in cars? More food?
5. Re-agent swaps for 2% daily; re-opening schools??? Lots of ideas.   Online working. Tourist industry?
6. Meat and dairy shortages? Farmers markets up. School districts not paying bus drivers???
7. FOI? Thursdays is report from Reopening Committee. And COURANT has dandy report below about inspections - lead story Tuesday!
8. National Guard and CDC helping in the nursing home facilities and Assisted Living. Also using others in uniform. CT ramping up. Presidential Primary alongside CT votes.
9. Parks to be open, beaches open. With traffic down - make streets available (close streets). 30% savings in roads fixes.
10.How many meetings of Re-Opening open? Website coming. Assisted Living data on Thursday. CCM lobbying $$. Loss of revenue.

Great report from COURANT)

April 26, 2020

Why Connecticut may never "open"
How many people have a hand in making the decision? Almost as many as in the C.G.A. but none were elected - they are only "the elected" (i.e. smarter than you).

April 25, 2020

HOT NEWS!!! So that's what happened...and what's happening...
PUBLIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO TOWN HALL AND FIREHOUSE NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Sgt. Miceli gives full explanation about "Trout Brook closing" previously reported: Parking on both sides of narrow road blocked fire trucks and ambulances ("no parking" signs posted).
Parking lot 100% filled up with above noted overflow - now entrance to Trout Brook to be closed on weekends only.
First Selectman discusses safe driving tips all around Weston's narrow and winding roads to avoid hitting pedestrians!!! And dogs. And bicycle riders.

NOW TO INCLUDE RESPIRATORY DEATHS AFTER TRUE IMPACT SHOWN.
Reporting late Friday evening that 43% of CT deaths at nursing homes COVID-19. But CT MIRROR says 50%

WAS IT A TYPO FOR REDDING? NOPE. IS ANYONE INFECTED AT THE LARGER ASSISTED LIVING COMPLEX? DON'T KNOW BUT "YES" IN NURSING HOME.
With "2/3 of nursing homes" inspected there still is the issue of why Assisted Living is not included. Answer: They don't have to report...yet.

Read more about nursing home news here:
https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20200424_state_official_says_wearing_a_garbage_bag_was_a_preference_for/

1061 plus watching...

GOVERNOR'S DAILY BRIEFING FRIDAY
There were other meetings during the day - report: https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20200424_state_official_says_wearing_a_garbage_bag_was_a_preference_for/

Comparison with other states (he reported).

"Flare ups" in congested places.
Big delivery of more PPE.
Two-thirds of nursing homes inspected.
Food processing plants.
we're going to get food to poor. Farm to table. SNAP expansions.
4-CT helping farmers.
Restaurants - CT to help to get meals to shut ins.

We're "tier one" because we never closed. Monday at 10:30am new $$ for small businesses. Saliva test? Support for local government??? Sales tax loss. How fast will it come back?

Connecticut update on collaboration - Stamford Hospital and National Guard

old part now re-vitalized - transitioning patients.
Plasma therapy.
Postponing needed elective procedures.
Cooperation.
Rapid testing - public-private partnership
warehouse management to DEMAS
Governor's Horse Guard!!!

QUESTIONS:

Extending ban to nursing homes? In a week or so we are in the "first tier" - May 20 small retail.
Nursing home workers preferred using trash bags. Private entities. 2 reports of garbage bags. Gowns were available.
Small businesses - reopening group. They want equity. Restaurants did not close. Waiting to June 1st will be a hardship. We had to cut out...

COURANT story: https://www.courant.com/coronavirus/hc-news-coronavirus-daily-updates-0424-20200424-evosqd4vcfaspegh654ws7auzq-story.html

CT MIRROR story: https://ctmirror.org/2020/04/24/covid-19-deaths-among-ct-nursing-home-residents-doubles-since-mid-april/

Only Governor and C.O.O./D.A.S. Geballe at table today...130 online.

CT never closed stuff as much as others. Non-essensials?

REOPENING DISCUSSION BEGINS

How do we do it? How about vulnerable. Scenarios. Consequences. Sequencing.

QUESTIONS:

Are we on track? Yes.
Testing and PPE? Got a shipment.
Undocumented? We've done it.
Hydroxychloriquine? Yale doesn't like it. It is personal.
Reopening approach? We'll get back to you.
Anti-body testing - what does it tell you. Testing tracing. How much? Regular? THEY DON' T KNOW? Representative snapshot.
State employee raises due in July? Is it under your discretion? Or do you need to talk to SEBAC.
May 20 is the date to present the plan? Testing time frame? Not a test for everyone. Just a sample. How will we use it. Open in June? Learning what not to do. Inter-connectedness.
Health care and emergency employees. Positives are tracked by the state. Majority of infections do not have symptoms. Must screen workers in nursing homes. Nursing home data??? 115 site visits. 700 beds in pipeline. Assisted-living facilities will now have to send data. Two week sick time - call Labor Dept.
Abbot Labs inaccurate? The process requires putting it in deeply. Jackson Labs is evaluating tests. "Best Practices" necessary. Saliva test might be better for widespread interventions. Beginning of June??? Layer in, can we control people if we reopen?
Does the State have enough money? All money to be used from CARES Act. 1000 people let out of jail - older prisoners. 344 infected 162 recovered. BLOOMBERG FOUNDATION?
Hotels to reopen? Later. "Stay at Home"

Governor closes it. Maybe pandemics are related to climate change.

HOW ARE NURSING HOMES & ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES LIKE PRISONS? ANOTHER OOPS MOMENT?
Big "turnout" to listen to CT says not so fast on regional contact tracing. Like 4 times as many folks! Reaching out to minorities, others in cities.
We refer you to this article in the CT MIRROR: https://ctmirror.org/2020/04/23/connecticut-has-a-big-gap-in-its-efforts-to-track-covid-19-among-seniors-assisted-living-centers/

GOVERNOR LAMONT'S COVID-19 DAILY BRIEFING, APRIL 21, 2020. 4pm+

Looks like the Governor and two new faces...awaiting others no doubt coming on line remotely.

Quest Diagnostics (r.) and Hartford Health (l). Testing to ramp up 80%. Accessible.

Are you affected or not?
26,000 so far. Anti-bodies/serology.

QUESTIONS/ANSWERS:

How is hospital capacity? Capacity in Hartford fine. Details above from doctor.
Schools? Before May 20th on schools. Mass. and NH are remote.
PPE at nursing homes? 2600 tests per day enough? Will be enlarged...info coming.
Coordination not good. Unified command. Fee for service programs? Non-profits? 4th quarter payment out the door.
Anti-body tests...how long does the blood last? Do we have to test everyone? Yes or no test now. Anti-body test (serology).
Nursing Home losses? Inspection protocols? Relates to quarantine.
Can Quest handle the increase? By mid-may 1.5 million per week. Under-served testing? Access?
Are we past the peak? How much longer? Will some open earlier than others? Yes. Safely - not close. Bars and rock concerts take longer.
Is there a plan for expanding testing? Employers? Any relapses? Infrequent. Don't know how long immunity lasts.
Anti-body tests: What's the protocol? Basic safety, blood test - blood test like lab tests. How long immunity? Re-Open what are the limits? Ans. How many have antibodies. Broader decisions. Not certain how long. 6mos.
CCSU beds - recovery. SCSU, WCSU, Stamford Hospital.
Undocumented can get tests? Call in.
Mobile testing - how many? Making them more accessible.
Renters? Non-residential tenants not included. We'll take a look.

5:06pm over.

April 20, 2020

Great info! Daily briefing: http://www.ctn.state.ct.us/ctnplayer.asp?odID=17318

Governor sounds up-beat, which is good.
Deputy head of DPH Epidemiology Dr. Sosa (r) reports.
Changes to the classification guidelines were made about 10 days ago and state officials realized Monday that not all data was updated to reflect the new guidelines.
Fairfield County a week behind NYC.
"Reopen CT" May 20th:
Self-reporting app. - take temperature morning and evening.

Developer of a testing app.

April 19, 2020

ARE YOU COMPLYING WITH THE LATEST PRONOUNCEMENTS?
Nice face mask for those leaning left. Tri-State Governors are looking out for boat owners!

April 17,2020

Who is on the Governor's task force on re-opening CT: https://www.courant.com/coronavirus/hc-pol-lamont-names-reopening-task-force-20200417-e6h42dwsonfqxkmbkk5c36tmuy-story.html

SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS - THANK YOU GOVERNOR LAMONT!
Admissions lower rate. CVS test. Isolation.

IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS
Mental Health & Addiction Commissioner, DCF Commissioner.

Questions at Friday Daily Briefing: http://www.ctn.state.ct.us/ctnplayer.asp?odID=17316

Laboratories ramping up testing: http://ct-n.com/CTNplayer.asp?livestream=0
Jobless claims? Can the Federal Government said they could support states?
African-Americans? New Haven testing will get at this. CVS testing. In cities.
Seniors? What were obstacles? Nursing Homes - days lost? PPE funding provided to nursing homes. 40% of fatalities at nursing homes. First COVID-19 nursing home open. And we resume here...
Undocumented $$? Everybody covered in testing. How about rent $$? Under COVID-19 rules.
Competition between states? Gov. Lamont says he does not respond to tweets.
Sharon nursing home - PPE? Well stocked (Geballe). Northbridge (BPT), Torrington Monday, Merriden mid-week.
School reopening? Regionally? "Re-Opening Group" on it.
Why re-opening not under F.O.I.? Advisory group. What role has the Legislature had? Fasano re-opening plan. Mounds handles this. (Answer is they only talk to Majority ["Chairs. of Committees").

We wonder whether anyone in the press asked why the Connecticut mortality number in one measure (IHME) dropped from 5426 to 2732? We are now listening to the whole briefing Saturday via re-run.

Answer: No, they did not. But they did ask about as we reported above "tweets" and lots of Cuomo-related matters. And of the nine (9) questions asked, many were corrected for factual (rumors) errors - #7, for example.

April 16, 2020

"In times of crisis we must all work together" said Congressman Larson.
https://ctmirror.org/2020/04/16/larson-accepts-trump-offer-to-join-white-house-coronavirus-task-force/

COVID-19 special interview on Weston Today and second article.
Left & center - First Selectman & Congressman; State Senator, right (file graphic).

Bravo Ted! Watch it here.

COVID-19 interview with First Selectman Spaulding, Congressman Himes and State Senator Haskell.

April 14, 2020

DAILY BRIEFING April 14, 2020
Rainy Day fund has really helped provide the cushion. CT is doing better - cash cushion will be squeezed. 15% unemployed and going up.

Report in the CTNEWSJUNKIE: https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20200414_state_suspends_contracting_requirements_to_get_ppe/

SO IT HAS FINALLY ARRIVED - #7 "Z" - THE END OF THE ALPHABET FOR EXECUTIVE ORDERS IN CT. WHAT NEXT?
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Office-of-the-Governor/Executive-Orders/Lamont-Executive-Orders/Executive-Order-No-7Z.pdf?la=en

Commissioner of Early Childhood Beth Bye, Mayor Mark Boughton of Danbury, Mayor Harry Rilling of Norwalk.

April 13, 2020

Hmmm...when will Executive Order "Z" come? Then what?

MONDAY 4-13-20 PRESSER: http://www.ctn.state.ct.us/ctnplayer.asp?odID=17306
TESTING TESTING TESTING...GOVERNOR LAMONT ANSWERS OR PASSES THEM ON...

TO C.O.O. GEBALLE - SAMPLE COLLECTION KITS AND NEW TESTS QUESTIONS.

And locally...

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM FIRST SELECTMAN HERE: https://westontoday.news/articles/200409-spaulding
A virtual bird chirps, more confusion abounding as modern science has no cure for what ails us. Whatever that may be.

April 10, 2020

Governor Lamont's daily press briefing on Good Friday:

Statement - against "winning a war" type words.
The virus doesn't just give up, like at Yorktown. (British fife&drum corps, it is said, played "The World Turned Upside-down")
But what if it doesn't go away, inquiring minds at the NYTIMES suggest?

CTNEWSJUNKIE asks best questions: http://www.ctn.state.ct.us/ctnplayer.asp?odID=17303
Presidential Primary date change? (Answer - maybe July.) Nursing Home question (workers work at more than one facility - does this pose a problem).

April 9, 2020

L - R.: Gov. Lamont, Education Commissioner Cardona & Chief Operating Officer Geballe

COVID-19 Report Thursday April 9th - lookin' good, maybe: http://ct-n.com/CTNplayer.asp?livestream=0

COVID-19 Report Thursday April 9th - lookin' good, maybe: http://ct-n.com/CTNplayer.asp?livestream=0

Governor announced this at 4pm, with Commissioner Cardona on Skype.

We assume the COVID-19 projection influenced this decision.
And the Governor says it could be extended.
Education Commissioner says kid and teacher safety first.

April 8, 2020

Commissioner of Labor via Skype.

DENSITY IS DESTINY DEPARTMENT: Governor apologizes for Bond Commission fiasco.

Pre-existing conditions. As discussed by Vice-President's Task Force the day before...

Federal LOANS to be requested - make them grants???

Prisons, nursing homes, COVID-19 nursing homes.

April 6, 2020

Governor's Press conference - we watched it live. A daily event at 4pm.

APRIL 1st

http://www.ctn.state.ct.us/ctnplayer.asp?odID=17287

From Yale School of Medicine, March 31, 2020 CT POST (see graphic above)

"...For every one person who catches coronavirus in Connecticut, the virus will spread to three more.

"To be more specific, the reproduction number (or 'R naught' as epidemiologists say) in Connecticut is 2.91, according to a tool developed by Ted Cohen of the Yale School of Medicine...

“'You would need to distribute the vaccine to at least 67 percent of the population and have it be 100 percent effective at interrupting transmission, or distribute the vaccine to 100 percent of the population and have it be 67 percent effective at interrupting transmission, or somewhere in the middle if you really want to meet that herd immunity threshold that will allow you to eliminate the disease,' she said."

MARCH 29, 2020...

COVID-19 IMPACT: BOARD OF FINANCE GETTING THE LAST WORD THIS YEAR? Click above right.
Below, in chronological order, our "heard it in the ether" reports...q&a

HOW ABOUT REFERENDUM? WHAT'S THE PLAN? COULD A SECURE REFERENDUM BE ACCOMPLISHED ONLINE? JMO - not in the cards.
DOES GOV. LAMONT'S EARLIER ORDER COVER THE ACTS OF TOWN MEETING AND REFERENDUM? No - but this one does.
Weston-Today, not any official source - the Town of Weston website - (yet) reports two new cases in Weston

THE PLACE TO GO FOR NECESSITIES, IN WESTON, LIKE FOOD...ETC...

Weston Center, a modified Noah's Ark, had 1 of each kind needed:

General food store;
Take-out & pizza - now closed- Lunch Box
Liquor, beer and wine;
Coffee in #1...
As you recall, Weston Pharmacy closed its doors not that long ago...as well as hardware store, previously. Bank, real estate office, Post Office and gas station remaining tenants.

NATIONAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS WORKING IN SYNC...

TOWN OF WESTON NOW REQUIRED TO DO WHAT IT HAS ALREADY DONE...AND MORE.

HOW ABOUT THE TOWN HALL-FIRE HOUSE RENOVATION? No activity that we could see from the outside on Friday March 20th...
Does this latest emergency action mean that A.T.B.M., which required 130 voters to make a quorum, is likely to be cancelled? YES

SCHOOLS NOW CLOSED, re-opening T.B.D., TOWN HALL not open to the public, LIBRARY closed...TRANSFER STATION OPEN but PUBLIC WORKS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Click below to C.O.S.T. website

"OPEN-GOVERNMENT" DURING A PANDEMIC? Forget about it as we knew it. Now "Home Rule" as well.

Is there a backup plan for the Board of Finance Public Hearing (March 24th)? Yes, it is being formulated now and we'll hear about it soon...
How about voting in Presidential PRIMARY in April? Now put off until June 2nd...

AND THE ABOVE HAS COME TO PASS, MARCH 18th:

WHAT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOING, AND LOCALS?

LATEST NEW ADVISORY: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/therapeutic-options.html

CT Epidemiologist Dr. Cartter and CT Education Commissioner; breaking news from the Grey Lady just today...ends up with nothing - President test negative.

News: https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20200311_epidemiologist_3rd_covid19_case_had_no_recent_travel_outside_ct/

More: https://www.courant.com/coronavirus/hc-news-coronavirus-schools-closing-20200312-rxdxke63dbbhlkufsznn744nru-story.html

...The state epidemiologist and director of infectious diseases for the Department of Public Health, said COVID-19 is likely to impact CT into the summer...when, by the way, we later found out it might be easier to identify when symptoms present!
“'It will feel a lot like a really bad flu season,' he said. 'And it will last for 3-4 months in any one place. We don’t really know for sure.'”

From the C.D.C.: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
Would you rather believe Connecticut or the CDC? "Social distancing" the word. Online, remember to check the source of info.

Gov. Lamont executive orders...waiving the mandate that schools be in session for at least 180 days...State Epidemiologist on developing immunity...

COVID -19
ABOUT TOWN has now subscribed to the CDC website information service...

THE VERY BEGINNING - PLEASE SCAN UP FOR PROGRESSION OF THE PANDEMIC IN WESTON AND CT the Legislature thought they had a place, but...

9-26-18 NEWS ON FLOODED WELLS - WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
https://aspetuck.news/lead-news/weston-residents-with-flooded-wells-urged-to-test-water-before-use-110322

WHOA!!! POST-ELECTION AND NEW TICK-BOARD DISEASES IN NEW TICKS EMERGING IN CT 2019 PERHAPS?
http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/ccm_pans_proposal_to_consolidate_health_districts_requests_more_study/

This just in:
GRANT - HALF-A-MILLION DOLLAR WILL GET YOU: FIFTY-MILLION PETRI DISHES; WHOA!!! MAKE THAT 100-MILLION (EXTRA GRANT ANNOUNCED TUESDAY).

CONNECTICUT TESTING PROTOCOL 2016
Weston-Westport Health District warning on seasonal mosquito threat...also the agency to review subdivisions for Weston.

DEEP probes old, unpermitted landfill in Cheshire
By Luther Turmelle, New Haven Register
Posted: 05/22/16, 10:42 PM EDT | Updated: 4 hrs ago

CHESHIRE >> Investigators with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection are investigating the location of an unpermitted landfill that was started on a local farm during the 1960s and was never fully resolved...

”Questions regarding this dump site were repeatedly asked by residents at the public hearings, but were not addressed by the developer’s representatives. We do not believe that the (South Central Connecticut) Regional Water Authority, Chesprocott Health District or the Inland Wetland and Watercourses Commission were informed of the dump’s existence or the potentially toxic contents before approving this subdivision.”

...State environmental officials “would have concerns about any development that might result in result in the contamination of soil and groundwater in the surrounding area.”

“Given some of the material that was disposed of, there is some potential that could happen and that any contamination that exists might spread onto one or more of the building lots...”

Story in full: http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20160522/deep-probes-old-unpermitted-landfill-in-cheshire

DPH announces 1st case of Zika in Connecticut acquired in US
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CT_ZIKA_CASE_CONNECTICUT_CTOL-?SITE=CTNHR&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-09-28-19-13-55

Weston FORUM news of 2 town (WWHD) project
http://www.thewestonforum.com/65633/task-force-forming-to-address-zika-virus-and-tickborne-diseases/

LATEST ON ZIKA FROM NYTIMES
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/health/what-is-zika-virus.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

CT MIRROR:
http://ctmirror.org/2016/03/18/ct-confirms-its-first-case-of-zika-virus/

Any potential problems here?

Legionella bacteria found in GHS cooling tower; no risk found
By Paul Schott, Greenwich TIME
Published 6:51 pm, Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Legionella bacteria were found in recent tests of the cooling tower at Greenwich High School, but students and staff did not face a health risk, according to school and health officials...story in full:

http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Legionella-bacteria-found-in-GHS-cooling-tower-6554616.php

More emergency
http://ctmirror.org/2016/03/16/malloy-orders-more-cuts-as-lawmakers-vow-to-close-deficit-by-april-1/

Emergency
http://ctmirror.org/2016/03/16/hospitals-say-state-puts-them-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place/

Malloy Tries To Help 6 Hospitals, But Legislative Leaders Aren’t Impressed
CTNEWSJUNKIE
by Christine Stuart
Oct 9, 2015 3:21pm

...House Speaker Brendan Sharkey echoed his remarks.

“Simply reshuffling already overdue payments for the first quarter toward smaller hospitals is not an adequate resolution and amounts to randomly picking winners and losers,” Sharkey said. “Democrats will soon be recommending serious alternatives for the governor to consider, and it’s time for minority Republicans, who voted against the state budget but are now also opposing the governor’s cuts, to step up to the plate with some real ideas.”

Malloy, who has been beating back bipartisan criticism of the mid-year hospital cuts, repeated his previous statements on Thursday that hospital profits were in excess of $916.4 million in 2014...story in full: http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/malloy_tries_to_help_6_hospitals_but_lawmakers_arent_impressed/

Standoff Between Malloy And Hospitals Intensifies As Hartford HealthCare Calls Off A Merger Deal
Hartford Courant
Mara Lee
Oct. 5, 2015

The standoff between Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the state's hospitals intensified Monday as Hartford HealthCare backed away from a takeover of a troubled hospital in Putnam, blaming the governor's latest round of cuts...story in full: http://www.courant.com/business/hc-hartford-hospital-day-kimball-medicaid-cuts-20151005-story.html

Specialty drug prices threaten health care affordability
CT MIRROR
By: Arielle Levin Becker | September 29, 2015

Reining in health care costs for state employees sometimes feels like shoveling water from a flooded basement while the water is still pouring in, state Comptroller Kevin Lembo said...story in full at CT MIRROR - http://ctmirror.org/2015/09/29/specialty-drug-prices-threaten-health-care-affordability/

WHERE MONEY FITS IN - CHENA ADVISES ALL NOT TO GET SICK
http://ctmirror.org/2015/09/25/hospital-ceo-pay-red-herring-or-key-to-state-funding-debate/

Who knew? CT MIRROR explains how high executive pay at not-for-profit hospitals equates with income redistribution. We quote from CT MIRROR:

"...As hospital leaders warn of potential job and service reductions in response to state funding cuts, the six- and seven-figure pay packages of Connecticut hospital executives have emerged as a point of contention.
To some, the focus on CEO pay is a red herring meant to distract from years of underfunding Medicaid while increasing taxes on hospitals. Others see it as a way to point out misplaced priorities at nonprofit hospitals that rely heavily on government money, at a time when executive pay and income disparities have become a rallying cry in national politics..."

WESTON-WESTPORT HEALTH DISTRICT (l)
AT "SPEAK UP" EVERY YEAR TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND LISTEN
https://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Westport-Health-Director-said-he-didn-t-13245137.php

MEDICAL MARIJUANA OFFICIAL LIST
https://portal.ct.gov/DCP/Medical-Marijuana-Program/Qualification-Requirements

Medical marijuana news...full story at the CTNEWSJUNKIE

"...The conditions added for treatment under the program, which now has more than 33,000 patients and 1,111 prescribing physicians, are:

"Interstitial cystitis (for adults only);
"Intractable Neuropathic pain that is unresponsive to standard patients (for adults and patients under 18);
"Medial arcuate ligament syndrome (recommended for adults);
"Tourette syndrome (recommended for adults and for patients under 18 who have failed standard medical treatment); and,
"Vulvodynia and vulvar burning (recommended for adults).

"The five conditions will be added to the Medical Marijuana Program’s regulations, and are ultimately subject to approval by the Regulations Review Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly."

--From the CTNEWJUNKIE June 14, 2019.

ANSWER: NOT IN THE LONG SESSION OF 2019...

LEGALIZING POT ON DECK?
https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Marijuana-advocates-hope-for-growing-support-13400114.php

DOUBLING OF DISPENSARIES BECAUSE OF EXPANSION OF DEFINITIONS
https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20181211_state_doubles_medical_marijuana_dispensaries_to_meet_need/

OPINION PIECE FROM CT MIRROR: https://ctviewpoints.org/2018/08/30/why-synthetic-marijuana-is-so-risky/

SUMMER OF 2018 - 8 more items added to legalized pot list based on staff recommendation : http://www.ctn.state.ct.us/ctnplayer.asp?odID=15567

DE-CRIMINALIZATION OF POT AND DEMOCRAT STATE SENATOR SUGGESTS BRINGS IT IS BACK IN 2017...
http://www.nhregister.com/government-and-politics/20161026/new-havens-looney-connecticut-should-explore-legalizing-recreational-marijuana-school-regionalization

The movie "Soylent Green" addressed this...

Oh, Canada department: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/15/world/americas/canadian-prime-minister-seeks-to-legalize-physician-assistedsuicide.html

Sustinet, solvent, soylent: pretty close to State of CT motto...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_of_Connecticut

Who knew CT old case an inspiration for future program to keep A.C.A. solvent? http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/supreme_court_finds_records_of_arsenic_murderess_should_be_confidential/

H E A L T H C A R E

LWVCT FALL CONFERENCE: HEALTHCARE 2009 (COMPTROLLER WYMAN SPEAKING)

We asked "Why not medicare for everyone 55 yrs old plus?" Which was answered by the hospital representative.

Ans. That wouldn't be affordable/workable. Later it was suggested by one of the speakers that Obamacare was designed to fail, and be rewritten.

To be fair, the other side of the argument: https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/12/obamacare-program-paul-krugman-sabotage-claim/

The New London DAY borrows from the Washington POST
https://www.theday.com/nationworld-news/20181214/federal-judge-in-texas-rules-obama-health-care-law-unconstitutional

OBAMACARE OVERTURNED BY JUDGE - THE WHOLE LAW
https://nypost.com/2018/12/14/federal-judge-in-texas-rules-obamacare-is-unconstitutional/

"THE LEFT HAND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT HAND WILL DO" DEPT.
In case you missed this one - https://ctmirror.org/2018/09/27/advisory-council-stunned-learn-parallel-health-information-exchange-efforts/

An honest man, if not in step with desires of A.C.A. agency.

Latest on discussions in CT - earlier...

WHY NOT JUST MAKE THE AGE FOR MEDICARE 55? ELECTION 2020 IDEA???

Déjà vu: We asked expert (l) from Bridgeport Hospital.
She said it wouldn't be economically viable...she also said "Obamacare" was intended to fail - "we'd fix it later."

More recent news: http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/connecticut_exchange_grapples_with_losing_brokers/

Recent news: http://www.ctpost.com/news/medical/article/In-nod-to-Sanders-Clinton-offers-new-health-care-8349618.php

Story in full here
Sweeping plan put forward to control rising health care costs
CT MIRROR
By: Kyle Constable | July 13, 2016

"...These meetings, he said, could be considered a pilot program for the benefits that could arise from additional collaboration and could serve as an alternative to a complete restructuring of the state’s agencies. And most members seemed skeptical that restructuring the agencies would be the best approach..."

S T O R Y O F I N S U R A N C E C O M P A N I E S ' M E R G E R...P U B L I C H E A R I N G S B E G I N A U G U S T 4 TH...NEWS;
"WHAT WAIT" ON THE MARK: http://jonathanpelto.com/2016/06/27/malloy-destroys-connecticuts-regional-hospitals-jepsen-democrats-fail-act/

INSURANCE ETHICS DEBATE?

What do you call 10,000 lawyers chained together at the bottom of the sea?

And then there is choice...

ConnectiCare millions in red during rate case
http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/20161107/PRINTEDITION/311039908/1002

FIRST REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND THEN MORE BAD NEWS DEPT.:
Hartford Courant: http://www.courant.com/business/dan-haar/hc-haar-hospitals-in-trouble-20170628-story.html

------

WATERBURY:
For profit hospital an oxymoron? Read more "Third Time A Charm...":
http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/third_time_could_be_the_charm_for_waterbury_hospital_purchase/

RATES GOING UP, UP, UP
http://ctmirror.org/2016/06/06/major-health-insurers-seek-sharply-higher-rates-in-connecticut/

CONFLICT OF INTEREST?
http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/national_group_calls_for_connecticut_insurance_commissioner_to_step_aside/

OBAMACARE STRIKE ONE...
http://ctmirror.org/2016/03/01/u-s-supreme-court-deals-blow-to-ct-health-data-collection-effort/

CAUTION: Grand Junction Colorado and Bridgeport, CT used as examples...and we refer you to the NYTIMES stroy for neat maps that supposedly show the variance from assumptions that low costs for government health care do not actually appear to parallel private health care costs. 306 "counties" used in study - "Bridgeport" is the Stamford-Bridgeport MSA, based upon carefully studying the NYTIMES graphic.

Read about Health Care costs and get a headache.

"The Price Ain't Right..." a link from from NYTIMES story: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/12/15/upshot/the-best-places-for-better-cheaper-health-care-arent-what-experts-thought.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

The "Price" study: http://www.healthcarepricingproject.org/sites/default/files/pricing_variation_manuscript_0.pdf

Remember, CT is the the poster child for A.C.A.
2,200 Connecticut Residents Could Lose Their Healthcare Subsidies
CTNEWSJUNKIE
by Christine Stuart | Dec 14, 2015 5:30am

An estimated 2,200 customers who purchase their insurance through Access Health CT will be losing their subsidy because they failed to file their 2014 federal taxes.

Access Health CEO James Wadleigh said last week that he received information from the Internal Revenue Service alerting him that 2,200 Connecticut customers have not filed their 2014 tax returns. It’s the first time state exchanges received this type of information...story in full: http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/2200_connecticut_residents_could_lose_their_healthcare_subsidies/

ALTERNATIVES AND CHANGES AHEAD FOR A.C.A.?

Who's got it, how much does it cost, and who is going to pay for it down the road?

CT Exchange guy now in charge of national exchange. Which, by the way, the Supreme Court has spoken on, again.

Link to LWVCT Education Fund 2009 Fall Conference: http://www.lwvweston.org/FALLCONF09healthcare.html

THE UNCOMPENSATED CARE NUMBERS 2009-2014 FISCAL YEARS (OCT - SEPT):
With the break-in of ACA in CT, which hospitals are more in demand? Since the data is massaged by more than once entity, we will take license to do our own analysis. Which comes down to this: "If you could go to Yale New Haven or Greenwich Hospital on someone else's dime, wouldn't you?"

AS THE SCREWS TIGHTEN - FIVE YEARS IN
Latest data drop, FWIW, from CT MIRROR: http://ctmirror.org/2015/09/02/obamacare-and-hospital-finances-in-nine-charts/

A solution "progressive" in nature?
Study Finds $15 Minimum Wage Isn’t Enough in Connecticut
CTNEWSJUNKIE
by Elizabeth Regan | Oct 15, 2015 5:30am

A progressive advocacy group released a report Tuesday that said a $15 minimum wage isn’t sufficient in a state where adult employees need to make $19.03 per hour to cover basic needs...story in full: http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/study_finds_15_minimum_wage_isnt_enough_in_connecticut/

Another study: http://cahs.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/issueBriefCT6.pdf

HEALTH CARE INCLUDES BASIC IMPROVEMENTS

Composting toilet on Whidbey Island;WA. We think one is still in use also at Bisceglie Park in Weston, CT. and we know for sure it was used in some houses built in Weston in the early '80's or late ''70's.

In Alaska, rural living includes outhouses as well as other methods of sewage disposal: http://www.adn.com/article/20150907/new-sanitation-system-tested-arctic-village-kivalina

Scientists discover another giant ancient virus in Arctic permafrost
Anchorage Daily News
Yereth Rosen
September 10, 2015

Scientists have found a previously unknown giant virus in the permafrost of Siberia, a discovery they say is worrying at a time when such frozen soils are rapidly thawing.

The newly discovered virus is called Mollivirus sibericum -- meaning “soft virus from Siberia” -- and was found in 30,000-year-old permafrost in Russia’s Chukotka region. It is described in a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It is the fourth ancient giant virus discovered since 2003, one of which was discovered by the same team in the same Chukotka permafrost.

“The fact that two different viruses could be easily revived from prehistoric permafrost should be of concern in a context of global warming,” says the study by the team of mostly French scientists...story in full: http://www.adn.com/article/20150909/scientists-discover-another-giant-ancient-virus-arctic-permafrost