Schools. Work. Home life. Childcare. Eating and drinking. Healthcare. Entertainment.
It became clear this weekend that virtually no aspect of American life will go unaltered as state and national officials try to slow the progress of the aggressively expanding Coronavirus.
On Sunday, officials in Connecticut and the rest of the U.S. accelerated closures, postponements and suspension of events.
The state Department of Public Health now reports 26 known cases in Connecticut (Fairfield County 16, Litchfield County 4, Hartford County 3, New Haven County 3).
Restaurants remain open in Connecticut, but other states and major cities are starting to prohibit traditional dine-in service. New York City, Los Angeles and the state of Massachusetts have ordered the closure of all restaurants, except for takeout and delivery.
Below is a partial list of the latest government-issued changes and closures, as of Sunday night.
CONNECTICUT
EXECUTIVE ORDER: PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLOSED-- Tues., March 17 through at least Tues., March 31.
SCHOOL MEALS AVAILABLE-- Gov. Ned Lamont writes, "Students who receive meals through the school lunch/breakfast program will be able to continue receiving meals while classes are canceled. Similar to how summer meals operate, we received a waiver from the feds that will enable students to take the meals and consume them at home."
HAND SANITIZER MEASURE-- The state today is allowing pharmacies to produce and sell hand sanitizer (shelves of standard shipments have been quickly sold out where available).
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SERVICES (DRS) EXTENDING SOME BUSINESS FILING DEADLINES-- DRS writes, "Effective immediately, the filing deadlines for certain annual tax returns due on or after March 15, 2020, and before June 1, 2020, are extended by at least 30 days. In addition, the payments associated with these returns are also extended to the corresponding due date in June."
STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS LIMITING OCCUPANCY-- Only 15 customers in the building at a time at HQ in Middletown. Applies to services including fingerprints and permits.
HARTFORD CITY OFFICES CLOSED MONDAY 3/16 AND TUESDAY 3/17-- In a statement, Mayor Luke Bronin says, "When we reopen on Wednesday, we will be offering modified, limited services to the public, though all public safety services and basic public works functions will continue. We will use the next two days to ensure employees are fully set up to work remotely, and we will have an update with details about the modified, limited functions we will continue to offer by Tuesday.”
WEST HARTFORD DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY -- Mayor Shari Cantor writes, “This additional step is intended to reinforce the seriousness of the public health crisis, and to make sure Town government has maximum flexibility and the authority to quickly respond as conditions change.” In a statement, the town says that restauarants "should cut their occupancy rate by 50% to create adequate spacing between seating, in accordance with CDC recommendations."
FEDERAL (information via AP)
FAUCI WANTS 14-DAY NATIONAL SHUTDOWN-- Dr. Anthony Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told reporters at the White House, “The worst is yet ahead for us. It is how we respond to that challenge that is going to determine what the ultimate endpoint is going to be.”
CDC RECOMMENDS THAT GATHERINGS OF 50+ PEOPLE BE CANCELLED OR POSTPONED THROUGH MID-MAY-- Asked if restaurants and bars around the nation should close for the time being, Fauci said, “That could be.”
PRESIDENT CALLS ON SHOPPERS TO STOP HOARDING GROCERIES, SUPPLIES-- At Sunday's packed White House briefing, President Trump said, "You don't have to buy so much. Take it easy. Just relax."
FEDERAL RESERVE CUTS BENCHMARK INTEREST RATE TO 0.25%-- It's a move intended to help the economy withstand the coronavirus. Saturday, Trump once again publicly threatened to fire or demote Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.
TESTS MAY BECOME WIDELY AVAILABLE SOON-- The Trump administration said millions of new coronavirus tests would be made available in the coming weeks. Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House virus response team cautions there will be a “spike” in positive results as more people gain access to tests. Vice President Pence said that he and the president would brief the nation's governors on Monday “specifically about our expanding testing to the American people."