By City of Stamford | Posted by Canaiden Staff March 25, 2020 coronavirus
CDC/ Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAM
This newsletter is compiled into five sections. Each section is generally divided into two parts 1) Recent updates, new information posted in the past 24 hours and 2) Ongoing Information, information previously shared in this newsletter that continues to be relevant:
†Major: Developments impacting all sectors
†Community: Developments impacting Stamford residents.
†Business: Developments impacting Stamford businesses and business owners.
†Services: Developments and closures impacting services provided to Stamford residents including: City services, utility services, nonprofit services, etc.
†School: Developments impacting students, teachers, staff, or residents who rely on services provided by Stamford Public Schools.
† Denotes today's newsletter has recent updates posted in this section.
All of this information and more — including situation updates from previous days, contact information for health officials, etc. — can be found on the City of Stamford's website at http://www.stamfordct.gov/covid19. Residents can also follow the City of Stamford's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for periodic updates. At the bottom of this newsletter is a comprehensive list of contact information for frequently asked questions.
Recent updates:
The City announced Stamford Together, a citywide volunteer program to help support emergency response efforts related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. This program is the result of a collaboration between Board of Representative President Matthew Quinones and Mayor David Martin. Volunteers can contribute to five major initiatives (click each title to sign up):
Senior Outreach Program: establish contact with Stamford's senior population and provide basic needs including food, medicine, and medical support.
Stamford Public Schools Grab and Go Program: This program provides meals for anyone under the age of 18 at sites throughout the city and needs 50+ adult volunteers to handout prepared meals. Signup through the form or contact Malena Loucks at mloucks@spefct.org.
Ongoing information:
A list of services, businesses, and organizations affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency is available under the "Services" section of this newsletter.
The City of Stamford would like to remind residents of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines for protecting yourself from potential infection:
COVID-19 is most commonly spread person-to-person. Residents should limit gatherings of 10 people or more. We ask Stamford residents to advocate to their friends, family, and neighbors to follow social distancing guidelines and limit contact with others.
Grocery stores and pharmacies taking measures to limit the number of individuals inside their business should be mindful they do not indirectly create a large crowd of waiting customers outside their business. Waiting customers can space out to limit close contact with one another.
Mayor Martin said the City's testing capacity demand could reach up to 10,000 tests per week. Currently, the three sites recommended sites (see: Community, Ongoing Information) have a combined testing capacity of approximately 2,500 per week.
Mayor Martin announced the City was pursuing streamlining the testing process so residents only had to call a single number to receive instructions on how to get tested and where.
The State of Connecticut has advised residents to be wary of false rumors, such as:
Connecticut's Judicial Branch explicitly said all evictions and foreclosures are on hold until May 1, 2020.
The City of Stamford maintains a dedicated webpage for updates on the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Please note some information previously listed in this section (Community Updates, Ongoing Information) has been moved to "Services Update, Ongoing information."
Access Health Connecticut — the state's official healthcare marketplace — is now enrolling residents for healthcare coverage. This special enrollment period ends April 2nd. Connecticut residents can call 855.365.2428 to sign up for healthcare coverage.
Available testing for COVID-19 (all sites require an appointment):
Stamford Hospital on Bennett Medical Center Campus. Operated by Stamford Health. Open Monday through Friday, 8a.m. to 4 p.m. Schedule an appointment by calling 203.276.4111.
2001 West Main Street. Operated by DOCS Urgent Care. Opening by the end of next week (March 27th). Schedule an appointment online or call 203.298.4600.
Symptoms include: fever, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Access Health CT: 855.365.2428. Only available through Thursday, April 2nd.
The City is actively pursuing more testing options for Stamford residents:
Independent testing sites may be available throughout Stamford. Connecticut's Department of Public Health provides licenses to medical practitioners to conduct testing. These practitioners are not required to notify — or "register" — with the City of Stamford to operate testing sites.
Stamford Health announced Stamford Hospital is no longer allowing visitors to "protect the health and wellbeing of patients, staff, and community."
Pediatric and NICU patients will be allowed 2 parent/guardian visitors. Labor & Delivery patients will be allowed 1 designated support person.
Legal actions enforcing evictions or foreclosures have effectively been put on hold until May 1, 2020.
Stamford's Board of Finance has delayed all budget hearings for the next two weeks, including all Fiscal Committee budget hearings.
The City of Stamford has used web conferencing for internal meetings since last week and may utilize online web conferencing for board, commission, and public hearing meetings when appropriate.
Inventory at local food retail stores may have been depleted due to higher demand, but at this time store owners anticipate restocks of their inventory in the coming days.
Residents using toilet paper alternatives: DO NOT FLUSH THESE ALTERNATIVES. Paper towels and wet wipes will clog plumbing. Widespread flushing of these products will create severe blockage of sewage infrastructure.
There have not been any reports of supply chain shortages of toilet paper in the country. Whereas previous emergencies have caused shortages — such as in 2012 when there was a gasoline shortage due to gasoline refineries damaged by Hurricane Sandy — toilet paper continues to be produced and delivered to stores.
Additionally, a website called "How Much Toilet Paper" allows residents to calculate how long their supply of toilet paper would last.
Stamford residents and businesses are reminded Mayor David Martin has suspended Stamford's plastic bag ordinance. Grocery stores are free to provide disposable plastic bags or forgo the 10-cent charge for paper bags (however, businesses are not required to provide plastic bags or forgo the 10-cent charge for paper pages)
Governor Ned Lamont announced a Recovery Bridge Loan Program — a program to help small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19. The program will be administered by Connecticut's Department of Economic Development and Community Development.
More details are expected by tomorrow morning.
President Donald Trump signed The Emergency Families First Coronavirus Response Act R. 6201 into law on Wednesday, March 18th. The bill will go into effect within 15 days.
The bill would — among many other things — provide reimbursements for small businesses (50 or fewer employees) who provide 14 days of additional paid sick leave to employees during a public health emergency. This benefit can be applied retroactively to sick leave taken before the bill was signed into law.
The City of Stamford maintains a dedicated page for resources assisting businesses affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Resources includes: financial assistance, disaster loans, unemployment benefits, etc.
Deadlines extended as a result of COVID-19:
The State of Connecticut has extended tax filing deadlines by "at least 30 days." Businesses with taxes due on June 1st 2020 have had the deadline extended to July 1st
Stamford's COVID-19 webpage for businesses now includes details about federal laws that may impact local businesses, including:
Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act: Providing employees 12 workweeks of leave if they are unable to work due to a need for leave to care for the son or daughter under 18 years of age of such employee if the school or place has been closed, or the child care provider of such son or daughter is unavailable, due to COVID-19.
Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act: Full-time employees will be entitled to 80 hours of paid sick leave for certain qualifying reasons.
Various proposed bills being discussed.
Financial assistance available to businesses.
In response to homeowners concerned about their building permit expiring during the COVID-19 public health emergency, Stamford's Building Department published emergency protocols for plan review and inspections.
List of closed organizations, institutions, and businesses (below) has been updated to reflect new dates and additional closures.
The City of Stamford maintains a dedicated page for closures and services affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The following businesses are STILL OPEN:
The following businesses have been closed until further notice:
All non-essential businesses as a result of Governor Ned Lamont's Executive Order No.7H.
All restaurants and bars. Takeout and delivery options still available.
The following City services have be affected by COVID-19:
Vital departments will continue operations, including: Public Safety (Police, Fire), 911 Communications, Highways Department, and Recycling & Sanitation Department.
Building Department: Emergency protocol available on the department's webpage.
Engineering Department: All permit applications and payments must be submitted online.
Land Use Department: General information available on the department's webpage.
Household textiles in pink bags program is suspended until further notice.
Activities of 10 or more people at City parks and fields are prohibited. City staff will post clear signage at parks and fields.
Residents must take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by reducing contact with other individuals. This includes canceling sports, group activities, and avoiding any event or outing with 10 or more people.
Stamford's Town Clerk's Office is providing free internet access to land records data for the duration of the public health emergency.
Stamford's Tax Assessor's Office's Elderly and Totally Disabled Homeowner programs will not require appointments for the duration of this public health emergency.
The following State services have been affected by COVID-19:
The following utilities have been affected by COVID-19:
The following is an alphabetical list of organizations, institutions, and businesses impacted by COVID-19:
Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy: Closed until Monday, March 30th.
Chelsea Piers: Closed Friday, March 13 through at least Tuesday, March 31.
Children's Learning Center: Closed Monday, March 16 through at least Friday, March 27.
Ferguson Library: Closed Friday, March 13 to Monday March 30.
King School: Closed until March 29th.
New Covenant Center: Effective March 17th, Contingency meal service protocols in place. Café temporarily closed to the public.
Schoke Jewish Family Services: Closed as of March 17th. Freedberg Kosher Food Pantry will remain open, providing pre-packaged bags available for pickup outside the building. Counseling services provided through telephone sessions.
Stamford Jewish Community Center: Closed through Friday, March 27th.
Stamford Recreation: Closed until further notice.
Stamford Senior Center: All Senior Center programs and activities suspended as of March 12th.
Laroccas Supermarket will reserve 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. for customers 60 and older.
The following is a list of services available for low-income residents:
Help Stamford's community:
Connecticut's American Red Cross has requested residents consider donating blood. A map of American Red Cross chapters in Connecticut is available here.
Volunteers are needed locally for the Medical Reserve Corps — a national network of medical and public health professionals who assist communities with public health and emergency response.
Governor Ned Lamont signed an executive order extending the date classes are canceled at all public schools to April 20th.
The City of Stamford maintains a dedicated webpage for updates about Stamford Public Schools.
All Stamford Public Schools are closed until Friday, April 10th (but may be extended to April 20th)
Stamford Public Schools will continue to provide grab-and-go meals from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to anyone under the age of 18. Residents can pick up their meal from any of the following locations:
All locations serving Grab-and-Go meals will switch to a three-day schedule beginning on Monday, March 30th:
Davenport Ridge, 1300 Newfield Avenue.
Cloonan, 11 West North Street. (Until March 27th)
Rippowam, 381High Ridge Road.
Stamford High School, 55 Strawberry Hill Avenue. (Until March 27th)
Stamford Public Schools Anchor at Harbor Landing, 68 Southfield Avenue.
Faith Tabernacle Church, 29 Grove Street.
On Friday, March 27th the following locations will no longer serve Grab-and-Go meals, families can pick up meals at any other school:
Stamford High School, 55 Strawberry Hill Avenue.
Cloonan Middle School, 11 West North Street
Governor Ned Lamont announced he would sign an executive order extending the cancellation of classes at schools statewide to at least April 20th.