By Cathy Iino, First Selectman, Killingworth.
The good news is, our COVID infection rate dropped for the last two-week period, from 25.8 per 100,000 to 21.3. The bad news is that we now have a cumulative total of 89 confirmed cases. We have been seeing three or four new confirmed cases a day for the last few weeks.
Statewide, 160 out of 169 municipalities are now in the “red zone.” The state expects infections to peak in January.
Here, at least, are three positive developments.
New COVID testing site. The Community Health Center has opened a new testing site at Hammonasset Beach State Park, 1288 Boston Post Rd, in Madison, CT. The site is open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (although the line may close early if demand exceeds CHC’s ability to test everyone in line before 4:00 p.m.). No appointment or referral is necessary, but do expect a wait. Click here for more information.
Free taxi to COVID testing. Nine-Town Transit now provides FREE accessible transportation to COVID test sites seven days per week. Trips must begin in Clinton, Chester, Durham, Essex, East Haddam, Deep River, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Madison, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, or Westbrook and may be to any testing site in those towns. At a drive-through testing site, you may remain in the taxi while you get the test. Any resident regardless of age or ability is eligible, and up to four members of a household may travel together.
Trips must be booked at least one day in advance by calling Curtin Transportation at 860-443-1655 between 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Wheelchair accessible vehicles are available upon request. Face coverings are required when riding. Full program details are available at www.estuarytransit.org.
New unemployment benefits for low-wage workers. If you were unemployed between July 26 and September 5 due to the COVID pandemic, and you were receiving less than $100 per week in unemployment benefits, you are now eligible for an additional $300+ per week for that time period. Beginning this coming week, the Connecticut Department of Labor will send information and instructions by mail and email directly to qualified residents.
Some 38,000 people in Connecticut were receiving less than $100 per week in unemployment benefits during that period. That meant they were not eligible for federal Lost Wages Assistance of $300 per week above state unemployment payments. Connecticut will now retroactively increase state unemployment benefits for those workers, thus qualifying the recipients for up to $1,800 in LWA payments for the 6-week period.
The increased state unemployment benefits are temporary; they apply only to the July 26-Sept. 5 period. The supplemental state payments and LWA benefits are taxable income.
