Order allows workers afraid to return to keep jobless benefits

Gov. Ned Lamont signed an executive order Monday night that will make it easier for people who are afraid to return to work in the coronavirus pandemic to stay home and continue receiving unemployment benefits.

The order lets the state Department of Labor consider worker claims that back to their workplaces would create “an unreasonable risk” to the health of either the worker or a member of their household. While it could be a factor in considering extending unemployment benefits, it doesn’t assure the continued state support.

“No one should have to choose between their livelihood and the life of a loved one,” said Max Reiss, Lamont’s communications director, after the office issued the evening order.

“Today’s executive order temporarily provides workers who live with someone at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19, such as an aging parent or a spouse undergoing chemotherapy, with time to search for a safe work environment or make alternative care arrangements,” Reiss said. “Existing laws allow workers to refuse offers of work that pose unreasonable risks to their health. In this public health emergency, it‘s important we protect those workers’ families as well.”

The order also requires all staff of nursing home facilities to be tested weekly for COVID-19 for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency, which currently runs into September.

The order came on a day that 20 new fatalities were reported in the coronavirus pandemic, bringing the total to 3,964. In additional, a net loss of 27 hospitalizaheading tions brings the total to 454, the fewest number of COVID-19 patients since March 29.

The 20 new deaths is the lowest one-day total since early April.

Lamont also issued new statistics on hospital admissions and discharges that indicate that of the 9,105 people who were admitted to Connecticut hospitals and are no longer being treated as inpatients, 1,981 died — about 22 percent — and 78 percent were discharged.

Hospital discharges and admissions were included as one of five key pieces of data missing from public disclosure in Connecticut, in a story in Hearst Connecticut Media newspapers and websites Sunday. State officials had said they were preparing to release the figures for more than a month since they last released it in early April.

The 454 COVID-19 patients in state hospitals was the lowest since March 29.