Plan, Prepare, Don't Panic
It is important for all of our employers to monitor the continued Coronavirus outbreak and implement strategies to protect your workforce while ensuring continuity of operations. Please find the following links to a variety of resources provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help educate employers and employees on how to prepare for and address the impacts of the Coronavirus.
COVID-19 vaccine eligibility:
All individuals who are 12 years of age or older and live, work, or attend school in Connecticut are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
For more information on vaccinations and to learn how to get the vaccine, visit ct.gov/covidvaccine.
Mask and face covering requirements:
As of May 19, 2021, Connecticut's protocols regarding masks and face coverings were updated to align with the recently modified CDC recommendations. The protocols that are currently in effect statewide are as follows:
Outdoors
- Masks not required
Indoors
- Vaccinated not required to wear masks
- Unvaccinated must wear masks
- Masks are required to be worn by everyone in certain settings such as healthcare facilities, facilities housing vulnerable populations, public and private transit, correctional facilities, schools, and childcare
- Businesses and state and local government offices have the option to require masks to be worn by everyone in their establishments
**Download:Â Guidance document from the Connecticut Department of Public Health on the state's updated mask and face covering requirements
Business sector rules in effect:
As of May 19, 2021, all of the business sector rules that were previously enacted to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have been lifted, except for the updated mask requirements as noted in the section above. These changes are contingent upon a low incidence of COVID-19 and the Connecticut population continuing to get vaccinated.
- Connected Shared Work Program information- CT DOLÂ (Released 2/2/2021)
- SBA Guidance on Accessing Capital for Minority, Underserved, Veteran and Women-Owned Business Concerns (Released 1/6/2021)
- Interim Final Rule on Paycheck Protection Program as Amended by Economic Aid Act (Released 1/6/2021)
- Interim Final Rule on Second Draw Loans(Released 1/6/2021)
- Governor Lamont's Executive Order 9R Includes Tax Deferment Provision
- Federal Stimulus Package Includes $325B for Small Businesses
- US Department of Labor Releases FAQ's Concerning Paid Leave and the Reopening of Schools
- Travel Advisory for Visitors to Connecticut
- UPDATED: Coronavirus In Connecticut
- Latest from Governor Lamont
- About Coronavirus Disease 2019
- New App Helps Stop the Spread of COVID-19
- SBA Guidance on Accessing Capital for Minority, Underserved, Veteran and Women-Owned Business Concerns (Released 1/6/2021)
- Interim Final Rule on Paycheck Protection Program as Amended by Economic Aid Act (Released 1/6/2021)
- Interim Final Rule on Second Draw Loans(Released 1/6/2021)
- Governor Lamont's Executive Order 9R Includes Tax Deferment Provision
- Federal Stimulus Package Includes $325B for Small Businesses
- US Department of Labor Releases FAQ's Concerning Paid Leave and the Reopening of Schools
- Connecticut Small Business Development Center Business Resource
- Connecticut Department of Revenue Service - CT Filing Extension
- Guidance for Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus
- Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic
- Guidance on Preparing Workplaces fo COVID-19 (OSHA)
- Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
- Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and ADA
- Products that Kill the Corona Virus (CBC)
- Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus (SBA)
- COVID19 Business Emergency Response Unit
- Â Â 860-500-2333
- Â Â covid19.jic@ct.gov
- US Department of Labor Releases FAQ's Concerning Paid Leave and the Reopening of Schools
- Travel Advisory for Visitors to Connecticut
- UPDATED: Coronavirus In Connecticut
- Latest from Governor Lamont
- New App Helps Stop the Spread of COVID-19
- Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 for workers and employers (CTDOL)
- What to do When the Doctor Says Stay Home (Middlesex Health)
- Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19 (CDC)
- Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease (SAMHSA)
If you have questions about COVID-19, you can contact the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health by:
- calling 2-1-1
- texting "CTCOVID" to 898211
- visiting www.ct.gov/coronavirus

The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce has set up a Facebook group "SHOUT IT OUT" for residents to learn about local small businesses and how they can help during this challenging time. Please join and do what you can to #SupportLocalCT!

- May 4-Â Behavior or Technique: Which is Keeping You From Getting More Business"
- April 29-Â Legislative Leadership Series w/ Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly
- April 12- Legislative Leadership Series Event w/ House Minority Leader Vincent CandeloraÂ
- March 26- Legislative Leadership Series Event w/ Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff
- February 16- Legislative Leadership Series Ft. Speaker of the House Matt Ritter
- January 13- Rising to the Challenges of COVID-19: Panel Discussion with our Health Departments
- January 11 - Paycheck Protection Program: Round 2
- January 7- Supporting Small Businesses: Virtual Discussion with Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz
- December 4 - Dashing Through Downtown Decorated Vehicle Parade- Holiday on Main Street 2020
- October 21 - Middlesex Chamber Virtual Open House
- July 15- COVID-19: The New Normal
- June 23 - Chamber Tuesday Tips "CT is Re-Opening, are you Ready?"
- June 17 - Middlesex Chamber Dialogue with the Delegation-Legislative Event
- June 9 - Chamber Tuesday Tips "How Bankruptcy Can be Used to Rehabilitate Your Business"
- May 29 - CT Small Business Development Center Discussion
- May 26 - Chamber Tuesday Tips- " Positioning Your Business For Success When Connecticut Re-Opens"
- May 21 - "Are You Ready to Re-open in This New World?"
- May 20 - Chamber Webinar with CT. Department of Labor Deputy Commissioner  (Password: 3o=!8$T8)
- May 19 - Chamber Tuesday Tips: "Paycheck Protection Program: Where are We Now? An Up to Date Guide"
- April 28 - Chamber Tuesday Tips "Positioning Your Business For Success When Connecticut Re-Opens"
- April 24 - Congressman John Larson
- April 17 - Matt Pugliese, Associate Director, CTSBDC
- April 14 - Chamber Tuesdays Tips "Looking Ahead - Getting Back to Business" - Updike, Kelley & Spellacy (Access Password: B5@r4.qZ)
- April 7 - Chamber Tuesday Tips "The CARES ACT in bite sized portions"- Pullman & Comley
- April 6 - Conversation with Congressman Joe Courtney and Middlesex Chamber Leadership
- April 3 - Conversation with Jim Jackson, Counselor, CT Small Business Development Center
- June 22- Member Breakfast Meeting featuring Cameron Smith, PGA Tour Pro
- April 27- Virtual Luncheon featuring Michael Roth, President, Wesleyan University
- March 15-Â Virtual Breakfast ft. Geno Auriemma, UConn Women's Head Basketball Coach
- March 8- Virtual Luncheon ft. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro Luncheon
- January 29- Annual Legislative Breakfast
- December 16- Virtual Luncheon featuring Governor Ned Lamont
- November 4 - 19th Annual Support the Troops & Honor the Veterans Breakfast
- October 14 - Virtual Luncheon featuring Dan Hurley, UConn Men's Head Basketball Coach
- September 29 - Virtual Luncheon featuring Tom Katsouleas, UConn President
- July 15 - Virtual Luncheon featuring Edison Liu, President & CEO, The Jackson Laboratory
- June 23- Annual Travelers Championship Breakfast featuring Tony Finau
- June 11 - Governor Lamont & Commissioner Lehman Virtual Luncheon
- May 11-Â KeyBank Workshop Series "Best HR Practices in Hiring, Disciplining and Firing Employees"
- April 5- Keybank Workshop Series "The Skilled Communicator"
- March 9- "Time Management"
- February 9- "The Basics of Web Design"
- December 8 - "Protect and Detect Cyber Threats"
- November 10 - "It's Not Just a Logo- The Basics of Branding"
- June 16 - "Developing a Digital Content Calendar" (Password: 1f+6^&&#)
- May 12 - "Strategic Planning Demystified" (Password: 9s?6+3p#)
- April 27 - "The Ultimate Guide to Hosting an Online Webinar" (Access Password: 9h&@08S6)
- April 13 - âPPP & More â What is Best for Your Business or Non-Profitâ
- May 26-Â "Don't Overlook Your Potential Refund from the Employee Retention Tax Credit"
- November 16 - CTFMLA & Paid FMLA - What you Need to Know
- September 1 - Human Resource Council Seminar Series "Family First Coronavirus Response Act & Paid Medical Leave"
- July 15 - The Impacts of COVID-19 on Contracts & Insurance
- July 8 - The New HR During COVID-19
- March 10-Â Learning to Live in Recovery- presented by REP & MCSAAC
- December 4 - Facing the Holidays- Opioid Workshop
- September 23 - "Opioid Epidemic within the Pandemic" Seminar
- May 26-Â Beyond Recycling- Zero Waste Swap Ideas at Home, presented by WLCN
- March 23- Anatomy of a Healthy Boundary- presented by the Women's Leadership Collaborative Network
- January 26- Starting your Next Chapter in 2021 - presented by the Women's Leadership Collaborative Network
- December 8 - "Women's Virtual Holiday Merry Meet" presented by the Women's Leadership Collaborative Network
- November 18 - "Am I Really Hungry?" - presented by the Women's Leadership Collaborative Network
- October 29 - Ghosts and Legends of the CT River Valley - presented by the Women's Leadership Collaborative Network
- September 29 - Content Creation with Canva- presented by the Women's Leadership Collaborative Network
- August 19 - How to Own the Room with Zoom Part 2- presented by the Women's Leadership Collaborative
- August 11 - "Excellence Under Pressure" Learn to Lead Through Uncertainty Series
- July 30 - How to Own the Room with Zoom Part 1- presented by the Women's Leadership Collaborative
- July 28 - "Resilience, Laughter and Adapting to Change" Learn to Lead Through Uncertainty Series
- July 14 - "Shake it Out... Not Off" Learn to Lead Through Uncertainty Series