reLAUNCH - Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce

The reLAUNCH campaign serves as a catalyst to assist the Middlesex Chamber community with recovering and emerging from COVID 19 through innovation, communication and collaboration.

Latest News

Check out the Latest News Vaccinations CTSBDC Upcoming Webinars Personal Services Events & Activities Offices Restaurants Retail & Malls Miscellaneous Archive Recorded Webinars

Check out the Latest News

Check back regularly for the latest news and updates!

Earned Income Tax Credit and Economic Impact Payments- IRS

Connecticut Shared Work Program information- CT DOL

Helping businesses for more than 20 years, Shared Work is a Department of Labor program that helps employers weather business downturns by providing an alternative to layoffs. Shared Work helps businesses in the state prevent layoffs by allowing them to temporarily reduce employee hours and use partial unemployment benefits to supplement lost wages.

ONLINE COVID-19 VACCINE ENROLLMENT FORM

Please Note: This form is optional and is only for registering with the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS). VAMS will verify your registration and then follow up with important scheduling information. You do not need to register with VAMS if you have other options for getting the vaccine (i.e. - through your current medical provider).

Governor Lamont's Executive Order 9R Includes Tax Deferment Provision

Please contact your municipal tax collector for applications and guidance as each town will determine the process independently.

Read the Executive Order here.

US Department of Labor Releases FAQ's Concerning Paid Leave and the Reopening of Schools

UPDATED: Coronavirus In Connecticut

CT Virtual Coronavirus Assistant-(833) 250-7633

Vaccinations

Current Phases of COVID-19 Vaccination

Phase 1a

COVID-19 Vaccine Phases

Healthcare Personnel: All paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients of infectious materials. Healthcare personnel should contact their Employer Coordinator, who has been designated to ensure access to the vaccine. Vaccine administration for healthcare workers will be available at hospitals, outpatient clinics, and local health departments.

Long-Term Care Facility Residents: Adults who reside in facilities that provide a range of services, including medical and personal care, to persons who are unable to live independently. Residents of long-term care facilities should ask facility leadership about reviewing vaccine. All vaccine clinics in long-term care facilities will be administered by CVS and Walgreens.

Medical First Responders: High risk of exposure to COVID-19 through their response to medical emergencies such as Emergency Medical Technicians, Police, and Fire.

Phase 1b

Vaccine access with be phased in for the following groups in Phase 1b:

Currently Scheduling:

Individuals 75 years of and older

Scheduling Soon:

Front line essential workers (please see additional info below)
Individuals between the ages of 65 and 74
Individuals between the ages of 16 and 64 with comorbidities
Individuals and staff in congregate settings (please see additional info below)

Details on congregate settings:

Congregate settings include individuals and staff in halfway homes, inpatient mental health facilities, corrections facilities, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, substance use and residential treatment facilities along with others. More information about congregate settings will be available soon. Vaccination programs for congregate settings will be coordinated by State and local health.

Details on Phase 1b Essential Workers:

Frontline essential workers face work-related exposure to COVID-19 because work-related duties must be performed on-site, in proximity (<6 feet) to the public or to coworkers AND are in one of the following sectors:

Healthcare personnel not included in Phase 1a
First responders
Agricultural workers, including farmworkers
Food service and restaurants
S. Postal Service workers
Manufacturing workers
Grocery store & pharmacy workers
Food banks and meal delivery services for the elderly
Education and child-care workers
Solid waste and wastewater workers
Inspectors working on site in the above locations
Frontline public and social services

If you fall into one of these eligibility categories due to your job, and have not yet heard from your employer about yet – please be patient. Your employer will be coordinating your COVID-19 vaccination process and more information should be coming soon.

The State of CT Department of Public Health has released a formal list of those groups eligible to receive vaccine under Phase 1b. Individuals who are 75 years of age or older can register in VAMS. Primary care providers across the state may be conducting Telephone: Those without internet access can call Connecticut’s COVID Vaccine Appointment Assistance Line at 877-918-2224. The phone system was created in partnership with the Department of Public Health and United Way of Connecticut and is specifically targeted to provide support for eligible vaccine recipients who have limited technology access, or who have language, disability, or other barriers that could prevent them from using existing self-scheduling options successfully. The line will take calls on Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will offer a call-back option when all contact specialists are busy serving other callers. The team will aim to return calls as soon as possible, with the goal of same-day response. direct outreach to their patients as part of this effort as well.

Seniors 75+ may also register on mychartplus.org You can choose to sign up for an account, https://mychartplus.org/mychart/signup then if you qualify you can easily schedule an appointment. While appointments may not be available immediately at this time, please know that the State is continuing to enroll providers and staff, and we expect that access to appointments will grow, particularly for priority populations in the coming weeks.

ONLINE COVID-19 VACCINE ENROLLMENT FORM

CTSBDC Upcoming Webinars

February 9^th @ noon

We will be offering this webinar specifically for self-employed individuals, independent contractors and sole proprietors with no employees.

Registration information is available here >> https://ctsbdc.com/federal-relief-funding-updates-multiple-dates/

February 11 @ noon

We will be offering this webinar specifically for self-employed individuals, independent contractors and sole proprietors with no employees.

Registration information is available here >> https://ctsbdc.com/federal-relief-funding-updates-multiple-dates/

Personal Services

Events & Activities

Phase 2.1 Updates

Outdoor Event Venues (e.g. Amphitheaters, Race Tracks)- Up to 25% with social distancing and masks required

Indoor Performing Arts Theaters- Up to 50% capacity with 6 ft spacing between parties, capped at 100 people

Indoor Recreation- Up to 50% with social distancing and masks required, movie theaters and similar entertainment venues capped at 100 people

Private, Social and Recreational Gathering Sizes – Commercial Venue- Indoor= Cap of 25 people; Outdoor= Cap of 50 people

Private, Social and Recreational Gathering Sizes – Private Residences- Indoor= Cap of 10 people; Outdoor= Cap of 10 people

Graduations- Indoor= Up to 50% capacity, capped at 100 with masks and social distancing required; Outdoor= Up to 50% capacity or 6 ft spacing, no capacity limit with masks and social distancing required

Religious Gatherings- Indoor= Up to 50% capacity, capped at 100 with masks and social distancing required; Outdoor= Up to 50% capacity or 6 ft spacing, no capacity limit with masks and social distancing required

UPDATED- Amusement Parks

UPDATED- Hotels & Lodging

UPDATED- Indoor Events/ Performing Arts Venues

UPDATED- Indoor Recreation

UPDATED- Museums, Zoos & Aquariums

UPDATED- Outdoor Events

Offices

UPDATED- Offices

Non-essential businesses have the right to refuse service to anyone not wearing a mask.

In the event an employee tests positive for COVID-19, it is recommended the business implement a 24-hour passive decontamination and follow CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting.

For bathrooms, the posting of signage encouraging reduced capacity and reminding individuals to wash their hands and wear masks is suggested.

Restaurants

Retail & Malls

UPDATED- Retail & Malls

Non-essential businesses have the right to refuse service to anyone not wearing a mask.

In the event an employee tests positive for COVID-19, it is recommended the business implement a 24-hour passive decontamination and follow CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting.

For bathrooms, the posting of signage encouraging reduced capacity and reminding individuals to wash their hands and wear masks is suggested.

Miscellaneous