Insurance Department Commissioner, Andrew N. Mais urges consumers to research their health plan options as we enter the Open Enrollment period beginning November 1. Consumers are strongly encouraged to take the time to fully understand what their health plan options, premiums and out-of-pocket costs are, and to also understand how they work before purchasing a Health Insurance Plan.
“Consumers should research if the plan comes with protections required by Connecticut and/or federal law and is marketed by a licensed insurance carrier or licensed broker in Connecticut,” Commissioner Mais said. “As Open Enrollment is now upon us, this is the best time to shop around and find a product that is right for you and your family.”
Open enrollment for 2021 health insurance coverage through Marketplaces and individual plans is right around the corner. Consumers looking to purchase a plan through the exchange can start browsing online at AccessHealthCT.com. Open Enrollment begins November 1 and runs to December 15 for coverage starting January 1, 2021.
There are several different ways to get health insurance. Some people buy coverage on their own. Many people get coverage through their employer or a family member’s employer. Others are covered through public programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
On Friday, October 30 at 12 PM at Hartford City Hall, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) will join elected officials and community leaders to call for a peaceful Election Day and post-election as communities work to finalize the vote count. With increased absentee ballot use this year as a result of the ongoing pandemic, reported results may be later than past elections.
Bridgeport, CT – Health Director Lisa Morrissey announced the temporary closure of the Communicable Disease Clinic until November 10, 2020. Officials have been notified that two city employees have tested positive for COVID-19. The closure follows quarantine and isolation protocols with precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the offices and among personnel. Contact tracing has begun and is extended to visitors of the clinic that may have been affected.
The following actions are in place to ensure the continuity of care for patients as well as the notification of potential exposure:
• Tuberculosis (TB) operations have been transferred to the state. The State Department of Public Health (CTDPH) will be taking over continuity of care for TB patients for the next 14 days.
Arrangements have been made through CTDPH and neighboring health departments for patients seeking sexually transmitted disease treatment. Patients will be referred to local health departments in the surrounding towns for the next 14 days.
The State Department of Public Health, Office of Public Health Preparedness & Response isproviding mutual aid and has begun to assist with contact tracing in Bridgeport.
Bridgeport Health Department has activated the Medical Reserve Corps through Bridgeport EOC, Director Scott Appleby as well as support from the regional MRC through the Town of Stratford. The MRC request is for nurses to carry out influenza vaccine clinics and support for the community health care providers conducting COVID-19 testing.
Director Morrissey states, “We are finding that COVID-19 is spreading through small gatherings of family and friends and this is having a significant impact on the increase in cases. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of wearing your mask, social distancing, minimizing gatherings, staying home if you are sick, and getting tested. This is time to come together and take care of our community by following the protocols.”
HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut has been awarded a five-year grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to enhance a range of suicide prevention activities coordinated among several state agencies. The grant, awarded to the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), will run through August 31, 2025 and will be a joint effort between DPH, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), and UConn Health.
While the grant will work to prevent suicide across all age ranges, it will focus on several populations in Connecticut that are being disproportionately impacted by suicide or attempted suicide, including middle-aged adults (ages 35-65), in particular men, with serious mental illness or substance use disorder; and adolescents and young adults (ages 10-24).
“This grant will enable us to enhance our suicide prevention efforts and link those impacted to appropriate treatment,” Governor Lamont said. “Mental health issues continue to be a growing concern across our country, impacting people of all backgrounds, and we have strong partnerships in Connecticut among many organizations to connect people to adequate support. I strongly encourage anyone in need of help to call 2-1-1 any time and speak to trained staff for assistance.”
“Many of our fellow Americans are struggling with depression as a result of job loss, social isolation, and a disruption in normalcy that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused,” the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation – including Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and Representatives John Larson, Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, Jim Himes, and Jahana Hayes – said in a joint statement. “This grant will help those who are in a suicidal crisis or emotional distress receive appropriate services. As a delegation, we will continue to fight to ensure Connecticut agencies are provided with the financial assistance to help those in need throughout this pandemic.”
Connecticut has one of the lowest rates of suicide in the United States at 10.5 deaths per 100,000 people, and is ranked 45th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. On average, 403 Connecticut residents died annually of suicide between 2015 and 2019, which is a 14 percent increase from the annual average of 351 residents between 2010 and 2014. In 2018, the CDC reported that more than 48,000 people died by suicide in the United States. The unique stigma and shame associated with suicide keeps people from getting the support they need to prevent it or address their grief when they have experienced a loss. Additionally, the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic both have significantly increased individuals’ risk of suicide due to the exacerbation of shared risk factors.
“Many people are having tough times right now due to the pandemic which is not only a public health crisis, but has disrupted nearly all areas of our pre-COVID lives,” Acting DPH Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford said. “Many have been forced to work at home, many have lost their jobs causing financial distress, and the pandemic itself has increased anxiety about health in general. Thousands of children are trying their best to learn remotely, and the loss of the daily school structure and routine causes stress and anxiety both for children and parents. The awarding of this grant could not have come at a better time for Connecticut, and we will make sure to put it to good use with our partners in state government.”
The grant will also provide linkage to the Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board, the statewide suicide prevention coalition tri-chaired by DMHAS, DCF, and the Connecticut Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The board is a statewide coalition comprised of multiple state and community providers, schools, researchers, and survivors of suicide focused on preventing suicide and providing support to survivors of suicide death and attempts statewide. It serves as the state’s coordinating body for suicide prevention efforts and recently released its Suicide Prevention Plan 2025 (PLAN 2025), which serves as the blueprint for the state’s suicide prevention efforts for the next five years. The plan is available at www.preventsuicidect.org/preventionplan.
DMHAS Commissioner Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., said, “This grant award and our new Suicide Prevention Plan will provide Connecticut with additional tools to prevent suicide in our state. It is critical that we extend additional supports to those impacted by suicide or suicide attempts. Our goal should be to link people to treatment, increasing the likelihood of recovery.”
DCF Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes, LMSW, said, “It’s never been more important than now, with the widespread feeling of isolation caused by COVID-19, to pay close attention to ourselves, our neighbors, and even strangers to be sure they are okay and coping well.”
Outcomes associated with the grant will be evaluated by UConn Health.
For more information regarding suicide prevention or if you or someone you know is in crisis, call 2-1-1 or visit www.preventsuicidect.org
2020-10-29@6:34pm–#Bridgeport CT– A viewer sent in a photo of police investigating an incident of shots fired on Orchard Street at the intersection of Boston Avenue. No word on any injuries.
See something, post something. The city is trying to keep the breaking news a secret. If you see something post it right on our wall, or, message us on Faceook!
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) considers traditional trick-or-treating to be a high-risk activity and should be avoided. Rather, it recommends alternatives for celebrating the holiday with lower risk activities and small events that allow for reduced exposure and ease of contact tracing. For the health and safety of the public, please remember that the State has capped the number of attendees at all private indoor gatherings at 25.
In an effort to protect the health and safety of all Westport residents and to keep our schools open, Compo Beach and the Soundview Parking Lot will be closed to parking at 3 PM on Halloween this Saturday as part of the effort to discourage crowds in the Compo Beach neighborhood. Parking at Compo Beach after 3 PM will only be made available for Compo Marina slip holders.
Westport Museum of History and Culture Cemetery Lantern Tour:The Museum will do online tours of the town’s three cemeteries and with more “ghosts.” The ticket fee is a donation to the museum. It’s safe, fun, family appropriate and includes a goodie bag. For more information, go to: https://virtualhistorywestport.org/event/11th-annual-lantern-tour/
Election Day is this Tuesday, November 3. If you have not already done so, please remember to vote. For those participating in the Absentee Ballot process, return your ballot by mail (allowing 2-5 days for local delivery) or use the Official Ballot Drop Box located at the rear entrance of Town Hall (110 Myrtle Avenue).
Same day voting registration, polling places and additional information can be found on the Town Clerk’s webpage:
The town will be working to secure the safety of all voters, volunteers and poll workers this year by following CDC/COVID-19 guidelines. Please be safe and considerate of others – wear a face covering when entering any public building. Voters will be provided with a mask and gloves at the polls. Voters may wear their own mask if preferred. The Westport Police Department recognizes that everyone should be comfortable and feel safe when voting at polling sites and has taken appropriate security measures.
UPDATE: Possible fatal crash. Updated to between exit 13 and 12. Expect delays for the investigation.
2020-10-29@5:05pm–#Shelton CT–#cttraffic– A report of a crash on Route 8 southbound between exits 11 and 10. One of the cars are on fire, the victim did get out but a trauma alert has been called.
The Stratford Library will present four special sessions of its popular “Sunday Afternoon Talks” series of informative and entertaining talks featuring prominent local guest speakers, on Sunday, November 1-22 at 2 pm. The four talks will be presented on consecutive Sundays on the Zoom platform. They are free and open to the public.
American Revolutionary War historian, Eric Chandler, will return to the Library with his talk, “In the Beginning and the Wars before the Revolution: We’re all Englishmen, Right?” on Sunday, November 1. Chandler explores the series of bloody confrontations between Native Americans, as well as in the North American theaters of European wars as the Great Powers maneuvered to extend their empires abroad and how they helped fan the flames leading to the War for Independence. Chandler is currently serving his third term as a member of the Norwalk Historical Commission, sits on the Norwalk Historical Society Board of Directors as well as the Board of Directors for the recreated Sheldon’s Horse, 2nd Regiment Continental Light Dragoons for which he also serves as lieutenant and adjutant. To register online for the Zoom talk visit: https://stratfordlibrary.libcal.com/event/7120734.
The remaining programs for November are: “Hell on Wheels: The Wild West” with Professor Hamish Lutris on November 8, “New England at 400: From Plymouth Rock to the Present Day” with Professor Eric D. Lehman on November 15 and “Sodbusters and Colleges: The Winning of the West” with Professor Lutris on November 22. The series, hosted by Charles Lautier of Stratford, will be held from 2-3:30 pm on the Zoom format. For further information call the Stratford Library at: 203.385-4162.
HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced the release of a strategic plan on workforce development, which was created by the Governor’s Workforce Council and generates a set of recommendations focused on setting a coordinated, statewide strategy for building an equitable, inclusive, and innovative workforce that meets the needs of the current economic environment and has the ability to adapt to the needs of the future.
“From the very beginning of my administration, I have emphasized how critical a strong workforce is for the success of Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “This pandemic has made this more relevant than ever. This effort, led by the Governor’s Workforce Council, is laying the foundation for not only a robust workforce, but the long-term success of Connecticut as a whole.”
While the Governor’s Workforce Council has led this effort, lasting partnerships have been created to help inform the recommendations within the plan. By speaking with industry representatives, educators, state agencies, local and national policymakers, community-based organizations, and other key stakeholder groups, the Governor’s Workforce Council was able to draft a list of recommendations that encapsulates the needs of a wide variety of critical stakeholders across the state.
“The development of this plan is a prime example of how we can convene stakeholders from all across the state, with a wide variety of perspectives, to contribute in a meaningful way to crafting recommendations that will help create a workforce that is inclusive, modern, and high-performing,” Kelli Vallieres, executive director of the Office of Workforce Strategy in the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, said.
This strategic plan focuses on four key areas:
1. Developing a workforce agenda that reflects the talent needs of business and industry;
2. Building an educational system that is agile and able to meet these needs;
3. Ensuring students and job seekers have the support they need to maintain participation in the workforce; and
4. Crafting a data system infrastructure that tracks outcomes and progress of the workforce over time.
“The strategic plan is a critical first step in developing a nation-leading workforce in Connecticut, but there is more work to be done,” Garrett Moran, chair of the Governor’s Workforce Council, said. “This charter lays out the workforce goals and strategies for the state, and I have the utmost confidence in our industry partners, educators, state agencies, and other key stakeholders to effectively implement these recommendations over the coming years.”
