Stay healthy Connecticut, stay put

While being the “Land of Steady Habits” sometimes gets Connecticut a bad rap, our steadfast resolve, the ingenuity of our people and the care we show for each other in turbulent times, have been a beacon of hope during some of our nation’s toughest times, and today is no different.

Over the course of our state’s history, but especially within the last two decades, Connecticut has been called to rally together and overcome exceptionally difficult times. Each and every time we have risen to the occasion. There are two instances in particular that give me great hope for our state and our nation as we work to flatten the curve and prevent more lives from being lost by COVID-19.

In the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11th, Connecticut did our part to recover, respond and support those lost and impacted. Connecticut’s first responders were there in the immediate aftermath to provide critical services, our residents showed up at blood banks, prayer vigils and worked within our affected communities. In the weeks, months and years that followed, our communities continue to honor and support the families of those lost and the first responders who risked everything.

The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School took our breath away. Time stopped when we learned what happened to the 26 innocent lives, ripped from their parents, siblings, families, and friends and the Newtown community on Dec. 14, 2012. And again we came together. Lifting the families up in prayer, supporting the first responders and trying to find solutions together.

The COVID-19 pandemic before us today is certainly different, and presents its own complex set of challenges in the near and long term, but what you and I know is that Connecticut can tackle these challenges and grow stronger.

At a time when most of us feel helpless in solving the global pandemic that arrived on Connecticut’s front door last month, there are things we can do now, and in the weeks and months ahead, that ensure we all come through this crisis, better, stronger and together.

The single most important thing we can do right now is to take the advice of medical experts and public health officials. This pandemic is highly contagious and the only way we can prevent it from spreading is by avoiding contact with other people. So before we can start to recover, we need this pandemic to stop, and that starts with each and every one of us having the resolve to stay home unless it’s absolutely necessary to leave, and if it is necessary, practice safe social distancing of at least 6 feet with people outside of our households.

Secondly, how do we continue to provide critical services to those in need, educate our students, support our economy? We’re seeing parents and educators work together crowdsourcing home-schooling solutions, food pantries and shelters are benefiting from community support, local resources are being shared far and wide so people in need can make it through this challenging time. We’re checking in on neighbors and friends, reading books over streaming services and connecting with those who are home-bound to help where we can. We’re supporting local businesses ordering curbside pick-up, and buying gift cards to use when we can visit our favorite stores again.

Connecticut, you’re doing what you always do when times are tough.

I commend our first responders, healthcare providers and essential workers who are showing up every day in the most difficult circumstances to take this pandemic head on. We owe you more than we can ever put into words. We will do what we can to support you now, and work with you to do better in the future.

The pressing issues of the day at the Capitol are no less pressing than they were a few weeks ago, but they pale in comparison to what we’re doing together in this moment. We will get back to the work of policy making, and the way we do that will forever be changed by what we’re facing now. I will continue working with the Governor and my colleagues in the legislature, advocating to breathe life back into our state’s economy, from the bottom up, starting with our local and small businesses.

But for now, we need everyone in Connecticut to stay put so we can stay healthy.