Mass. closes all day cares; Connecticut courts limited
Developments from around New England on the new coronavirus pandemic. For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death. The vast majority of people recover.
MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday ordered all early education centers and family child care providers to close effective March 23. Baker said the state is working to open special child care centers exempt from the closure to serve emergency workers, medical staff and other workers essential to fighting the COVID-19 outbreak.
He said vulnerable children will also receive priority access. He said the state will also work to make space for people who must go to work but aren’t necessarily emergency workers.
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Baker has signed legislation that waives the one-week waiting period for unemployment benefits. The measure was filed by Gov. Charlie Baker to aid those out of work because of steps taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Those steps include closing all bars and restaurants in the state except for take-out and delivery. The move by lawmakers comes as unemployment claims are surging.
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To maintain social distancing of officers, the Springfield Police Department is placing one officer in each cruiser, instead of two. In responding to calls, two cruisers with one officer each will be dispatched, to the scene, rather that one car with two officers.
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The Boston-area transit system is again revising schedules to ensure that employees at hospitals, government offices and food distribution facilities can easily get to work during the pandemic.
Starting Wednesday, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority added additional Blue Line service in the morning and additional Green Line E Branch capacity in response to crowding on Tuesday. That was the first day of the agency’s revised schedule.
The MBTA also added service on some key bus routes on Wednesday.
The state neared 40 cases. Republican Gov. Chris Sununu issued an emergency Wednesday allowing restaurants and bars to sell wine and beer to takeout and delivery customers. The state banned dine-it eating at such establishments on Monday.
Sununu also issued orders to allow school districts to more easily use software applications and other digital tools for remote learning, and to expand access to telehealth services.
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The state Legislature has suspended its work through April 10. A group of Democratic state senators has asked the state insurance department to help those who might lose health coverage, and the governor is seeking federal permission to create a special 60-to-90 day open enrollment period through the healthcare. gov marketplace.
*** Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and affiliated hospitals are no longer allowing visitors. Exceptions will be made for the neonatal ICU, partner or spouse of patients giving birth or those visiting patients receiving end-of-life care.
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New Hampshire’s Division of Motor Vehicles will transition to phone and online services starting Thursday and limited-appointment only services starting Monday. All driver license road exams are canceled until April 3.
*** Manchester officials are seeking donations of cleaning supplies for essential employees who continue to have contact with the public, such as garbage collectors, police officers and firefighters.
MAINE
Maine Gov. Janet Mills ordered all restaurants and bars closed to dine-in customers effective at 6 p.m. Wednesday in response to the threat from the new coronavirus. Her order also prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people covering everything from faith-based events to fitness clubs.
She also urged public-facing businesses like gyms and malls to close their doors for two weeks. Excluded would be essential services like food-processing companies, banks, auto repair and hardware stores.
The Democratic governor made her announcement as the number of positive tests for coronavirus topped 40 in the state.
Mills also signed emergency legislation to temporarily expand unemployment benefits, establish a consumer loan guarantee program and authorize the governor to direct the manner of the June primary, among other things.
All Roman Catholic Masses in the state are also suspended.
To respond to increased applications for unemployment insurance, Vermont has tripled its staff at is claims center and created an electronic form to allow people to establish an initial claim electronically, the state Labor Department said Wednesday. The department also added a supplementary phone number for establishing initial claims.
*** Vermont Gov. Phil Scott has directed child care centers in the state to close to help slow the spread of the coronavirus but is asking those serving essential workers to remain open. That includes those serving nurses, doctors and law enforcement.
All schools had been ordered to close no later than Wednesday. Late Tuesday, Scott also ordered schools to provide child care for “essential persons working in response to the crisis.”
CONNECTICUT
Connecticut police and court officials on Wednesday announced changes aimed at preventing spread of the coronavirus.
State police said they were closing offices to members of the public seeking records and permits. State police headquarters, however, will remain open to the public for certain services, including offender registration and deadly weapon offender registration.
The 11 state police troops across Connecticut will be open only for emergencies and walk-in concerns.
Judicial officials said they were closing several courthouses across the state and allowing only high-priority proceedings, including criminal and domestic violence arraignments.
*** Connecticut’s health insurance marketplace announced Wednesday that uninsured residents will be able to sign up for coverage under a special enrollment period that’s been created in light of the coronavirus.
Eligible residents can begin signing up Thursday for plans offered by Access Health CT’s two insurance carriers, Anthem and ConnectiCare. The enrollment period ends April 2, and the coverage will begin on April 1.
*** Connecticut officials want to give supermarkets and grocers a break. They have temporarily suspended any enforcement actions against retailers who fail to accept empty redeemable beverage containers.
Effective through March 31, any retailer failing to comply with the law commonly known as the “bottle bill” will not be issued a violation notice by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.