From our State Senator, Norm Needleman. 
In recent weeks, it has become clear COVID-19 is not strictly a Connecticut problem, but a regional problem.
The governors of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Delaware announced they are creating a multi-state council to restore the economy and get people back to work, building on the ongoing regional response to battling the virus.
The six governors will each select a health expert and economic development expert from their states to develop a framework and gradually lift stay-at-home orders while working to minimize the risk of further spread of the virus. They intend to ease social isolation while mitigating further viral spread through testing, contact tracing, treatment and social distancing and will regularly review a variety of information to make decisions.
Connecticut has designated the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group to examine these issues to reopen the economy while ensuring public health remains protected. The advisory group will be co-chaired by Indra Nooyi, current board co-chair of nonprofit AdvanceCT and former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, and Albert Ko MD, a professor of epidemiology and medicine and department chair at the Yale School of Public Health.
Additional senior advisors will include University of Pennsylvania Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy chair and Vice Provost of Global Initiatives Ezekiel Emanuel and former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb. More members will be announced in coming days.
Employment Legal Information Call
Connecticut Legal Services, Greater Hartford Legal Aid and New Haven Legal Assistance Association representatives will on Thursday hold a conference call for individuals seeking legal information on unemployment compensation, paid leave and workplace safety. Questions will include applying for unemployment compensation, eligibility for federal paid sick leave, what self-employed or “gig” workers are eligible to receive, what to do if a workplace is unsafe, and other current issues impacting employment.
The call will be held Thursday, April 16 at 12 p.m. RSVP by sending an email to employmentbriefing@ghla.org to send questions in advance. The call’s dial-in number is 978-990-5000 with access code 219660#.
Infusion of Funding for Emergency Food Assistance
The state Department of Social Services announced it is allocating more than $3.8 million in federal assistance to two of the state’s largest food banks. The Connecticut Food Bank will receive $1.9 million for food and another $650,000 for administrative costs.
Foodshare will receive nearly $1 million for food and $300,000 for administrative costs. This funding comes from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 and The Emergency Food Assistance Program, which will allow the food banks to increase their orders of canned, frozen and fresh fruits and vegetables; eggs, meat, poultry and fish; nuts; milk; cheese; and grains including rice, cereal and pasta. It will also help meet increased demand in the community through food pantries, soup kitchens and distribution sites.
The funding will further assist with trucking, delivery costs, warehousing, refrigerating and staffing costs.
Ways To Disconnect and Destress
While we are socially distancing and staying at home, digital entertainment is valuable to keep us connected with friends and family. However, many of us likely are looking to relax without technology. Here are some ideas of things you can do that don’t directly focus on the Internet or technology.
- Cooking — Whether you’re digging out an old cookbook to try something new or you want to find a new way to use the ingredients in your cupboard, cooking is a fun and useful activity that can keep you offline. You can teach yourself new tricks or experiment with an old favorite recipe – and at the end, you’ll have a delicious reward!
- Writing — If you have a notebook, writing can be a great way to clear your mind. You could simply take a certain amount of time to write in a journal to capture your thoughts and talk about what you’re going through, or you could write a letter to a loved one. You could even find a penpal, which would be a great way to make a new friend in the age of social distancing!
- Meditation — Take a few moments to clear your mind and concentrate on your breathing. Whether you simply try to focus on yourself or use an app (with headphones on and the screen off!), this is a valuable way to calm your nerves and regain perspective.
- Call A Loved One — Video chatting is great, but a regular phone call is just as valuable. Call your friends and family, listen to their stories and make sure to say “I love you.” Those are important words to hear during difficult times.
- Listen to Music — Whether it’s through a record player, a CD or a streaming service, music can be a great way to destress and focus on something other than a screen. Why not put on a favorite album and let it play through, focusing on the music? Here’s a fun idea: if you ever went to a legendary concert, try to find it on Youtube, close your eyes and relive the experience! We’ll be able to return to live performances eventually; until then, that could be a fun alternative!
