By Cathy Iino.
Hello, Killingworth-
COVID-19 cases have now been confirmed in most of our neighboring towns, and a Clinton resident has died of the disease. There are over a thousand confirmed cases in the state, and several times as many unconfirmed. The numbers will continue to grow.
Several residents have pointed out that our message should be, Stay at home, period. Even if you are not sick. Especially if you are over 60. The point is to slow the spread of the disease to avoid overwhelming our medical system. That is what “flattening the curve” means–saving lives by managing the flow of patients needing intensive care.
Coronavirus indicator. Doctors have discovered that loss of the sense of taste and smell can be an indicator of coronavirus infection. If you experience this loss, self-isolate for at least fourteen days from when you notice it.
School lunches. RSD17 is offering bagged breakfast and lunch for any student under age 18. The meals may be picked up Monday through Friday, between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., at Burr Elementary School. Parents or guardians should drive behind the school, where the RSD17 Food Service Department will bring the food to the car.
Please email Food Services Director Sharon Shettleworth at sshettleworth@rsd17.org or leave a voicemail for her at 860-345-4534 to let her know each week how many days your family needs meals.
Small business assistance. To provide emergency cash flow to small businesses and nonprofits affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Connecticut has established a $25 million Emergency Bridge Loan Program. Small businesses and nonprofit organizations can apply for interest-free loans of up to $75,000. Further information is here. The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development also has a hotline for questions about the program at (860) 500-2333 or decdctrecovery@ct.gov.
The federal stimulus bill expected to be approved on Saturday will offer further assistance for businesses, unemployed workers, and self-employed workers.
Census scams. Beware of fraudulent emails, text messages, and social media posts falsely claiming that Americans must respond to the 2020 Census in order to receive a stimulus check from the federal government. In some cases, scammers urge users to visit a fake Census website and sign up to receive a check.
There is zero connection between your 2020 Census response and any economic stimulus aid. Federal law prevents the U.S. Census Bureau from sharing personally identifiable information with any other government agency, court of law, or private entity for any purpose. If you receive a message falsely claiming that there is a connection, report it immediately to State Attorney General William Tong’s office, attorney.general@ct.gov.
Also beware of scammers trying to impersonate Census workers knocking on doors or sending emails, text messages, or regular mail. The Census Bureau will never ask for a resident’s social security number, bank account or credit card numbers, or money. Nor will the bureau send unsolicited emails requesting your participation in the 2020 Census.
For questions about COVID-19, call 211. This information hotline is available 24/7.
Stay home, stay safe–
Cathy
