COVID-19 Updates: CVS Testing, Thermometers for Small Businesses, & More

May 27, 2020

To help you and our neighbors stay up-to-date on the ever-evolving stream of information related to the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic, my office and I are working to provide news as it develops over social media and by email. This is a recap of some of this week’s highlights.

For more information about the state's response efforts visit ct.gov/coronavirus. To receive text message notifications, sign up for CTAlert, the state’s emergency alert system. To subscribe, text "COVIDCT" to 888-777.

For daily updates and information from me, please visit and "like" my official Facebook page.


CVS Drive-Thru Testing Sites

In order to track the spread of COVID-19, we need to make sure we're testing as many people for the disease as possible.

To help boost the state's testing numbers, CVS has announced 12 new drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites in Connecticut, including one in Glastonbury (CVS Pharmacy, 2639 Main Street).

Governor Lamont's Office released the following details on the new testing sites:

  • Sites will utilize self-swab tests and will be available to individuals meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, in addition to age guidelines.
  • Patients will be required to stay in their cars and directed to the pharmacy drive-thru window where they will be provided with a test kit and given instructions.
  • CVS Pharmacy team member will observe the self-swab process to ensure it is done properly.
  • Tests will be sent to an independent, third-party lab for processing and the results will be available in approximately three days.
  • Patients must register in advance at CVS.com to schedule an appointment.

CTCares for Family Child Care

The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood today announced that it has launched “CTCARES for Family Child Care” to provide support to licensed family child care providers during the COVID-19 public health emergency and beyond. The initiative is made possible with approximately $830,000 in support from nonprofit organizations, including the Connecticut Early Childhood Funder Collaborative, 4-CT, and other philanthropic groups – and financial support continues to grow.

CTCARES for Family Child Care connects licensed family child care providers with a Family Child Care Network to provide grant funding and other supports to help small, home-based providers keep their business running during this challenging time. Licensed family child care plays a critical role in Connecticut’s economy by providing needed child care so parents can go to work to financially support their family. During the COVID-19 emergency, 61 percent of family child care programs continue to support essential workers.

The initiative offers the following services:

  1. Connecting to a Family Child Care Network: Family Child Care Networks are community entities with expertise working with family child care providers. They offer ongoing support services and resources, which may include professional development, coaching and consultation, business development training, and administrative support to increase the quality and sustainability of the family child care business. Current Networks are All Our Kin, CERCLE, EdAdvance, TEAM, Inc., and the United Way of Western Connecticut, all supported in part or whole by the OEC and private philanthropy. CTCARES for Family Child Care funding will support up to six additional Family Child Care Networks across the state.
  2. Phone consultations with behavioral health experts: The Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (ECCP) will provide telephone and/or online opportunities to answer questions regarding social-emotional and behavioral concerns for children ages 0-5. ECCP can also help providers with managing self-care and dealing with stress.
  3. Access to health consultation: The Connecticut Nurses Association will deliver webinars on health and safety topics related to the COVID-19 emergency in both English and Spanish.
  4. Access to the Connecticut “Talk It Out Help” Line: A dedicated line for parents and caregivers offers help with the stress and increased needs resulting from caring for children during the COVID-19 emergency.
  5. Grants to support operational expenses: Providers who choose to participate with one of the Family Child Care Networks will be eligible to apply for funding to support maintaining smaller group sizes, purchasing additional program supplies, and paying for expenses to enable the program to remain open.

Information on CTCARES for Family Child Care can be found online.


Infrared Thermometers Secured for Small Businesses, More

Connecticut has secured 50,000 infrared thermometers for small businesses, nonprofits, and places of worship to support safe reopening activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The infrared thermometers will serve as a sufficient as well as an efficient step in keeping people safe.

Small businesses, nonprofits, and places of worship that would like to request equipment from the state’s supply of infrared thermometers can fill out a form online at ct.gov/coronavirus in the “Access to Personal Protective Equipment” section, or through the links provided below:

  • Small businesses: Any small business in the state that has between 2 and 100 employees are eligible to receive one thermometer per physical address. Eligible businesses seeking to request thermometers should click here.
  • Nonprofits: Nonprofits located within Connecticut are eligible to receive one thermometer per physical address. To request thermometers for nonprofits, click here. Social services and direct care nonprofits may request a thermometer through the process outlined in this memo.
  • Places of worship: Places of worship are eligible to receive one thermometer per physical address. To request thermometers for places of worship, click here.

The state is partnering with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and its affiliate CONNSTEP to distribute the thermometers. They will be delivered to the municipalities in which the organizations are located, and then the municipalities will contact the recipient entities to inform them of a time and location they can pick up their requested equipment.


Grants for Arts Organizations

The Connecticut Office of the Arts will re-grant a total of $400,000 to Connecticut arts organizations in need. Grant awards will range from $1,500 to $3,000. Due to limited funds and anticipated high volume of applications, grantees will be randomly selected from the pool of eligible applicants with attention to geographic distribution.

Funds may be used for: 

  • Salary support, full or partial, for positions that are critical to an organization’s mission
  • Fees for artists and/or contractual personnel to maintain or expand the period during which such persons would be engaged
  • Facility / occupancy costs, such as rent and utilities
  • Costs directly associated with an organization’s ability to continue operations now and in the future 

The Connecticut Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

The Connecticut Long Term Care Ombudsman Program will host regular live interactive discussions on Facebook Live. Please join Mairead Painter every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 5:30 pm to review the current state of affairs and guidance as it pertains to skilled nursing facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to listen on Facebook.