June 19, 2020 - Coronavirus Update #30

To:        All residents
From:    Steve Dunn, First Selectman

WE HAVE LOST ONE MORE BROOKFIELD RESIDENTS LOST TO COVID-19 VIRUS

Sadly we have lost one resident to the virus this week. This was an 80 year old female who was first reported with the virus approximately six weeks ago. State reporting of confirmed cases has been moving up and down so we now are reporting 161 confirmed cases in Brookfield. However, we have had no new cases reported in the past 19 days. That is very good news.

To be accurate, we will only report cases confirmed by our Director of Public Health.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUAUTION IS TOMMOROW, SATURDAY, JUNE 20^th.

Brookfield High School seniors will have their graduation at the High School starting at 11AM. This will be a very different one from the past with all seniors in cars. They will meet at Whisconier School and then will have a parade to the high school so if you are on the parade route, please cheer them on. We are closing the High School campus-front and back- for the day in order to accommodate the graduation. Those not directly involved in the graduation will not be allowed on the grounds for safety reasons.

PHASE II BUSINESSES ARE NOW OPEN

More businesses are opening under new rules. There are many different rules for each business sector so please go to the town website for specific information. We ask that everyone continue to wear mask when out in public and if you are over 65 or have a compromised system, continue to self-isolate as much as you can.

We are watching the number of cases and reported deaths very closely and, in conjunction with the State, we are prepared to reinstitute safety measures if warranted. Much of how this happens is controlled by how well all of our residents follow the rules.

SELF CERTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR BUSINESSES TO OPEN

All businesses subject to the Phase 1 and Phase 2 reopening rules are required to self-certify prior to opening.

Please view the reopening rules, self-certification form and list of self-certified businesses on the State of Connecticut website at https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Coronavirus-Business-Recovery/Sector-Rules-and-Certification-for-Reopen

WE ARE OPENING PARKS

Our major change this week is we are planning to open our beach on June 26^th with limited number of attendees to meet the distancing rules. Details will be posted on the town website early next week. We have opened the Greenway for walking only and masks must be worn. To start there will be no running allowed along with a ban on bicycles, scooters and skateboards. This is to ensure the safety of our residents and to allow the maximum number of people on the Greenway. The Board of Selectmen has met to review the plan to reopen our parks and facilities gradually over the coming weeks, balancing our desire to enjoy them with the need to keep everyone safe. We will follow the guidance of our Director of Public Health, the State, and our Emergency Management team. Details on each facility are available on the town website also. These are subject change as we work towards fully opening the entire town. All tennis courts are now open using USTA guidelines and picnic benches are now available at our parks.  Please watch the town website for news about our other facilities.

OPENING TOWN HALL

We will be carefully returning Town Hall to normal operations over the month of June. To bring staff back and keep residents safe, we are reconfiguring our offices and installing sneeze shields in all offices that the public visits. We have started to receive in the new equipment and install it. You must make an appointment with the department you are visiting. We encourage everyone to use our online services if possible to conduct business with the town. When you visit Town Hall, you must wear a mask at all times, have your temperature checked and answer the CDC health questions. If you have any concerns about your health, please do not come to Town Hall.

PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM CHANGES

The U.S. Congress passed a bipartisan bill called the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act that makes several important changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

The new law eases some of the program’s restrictions, giving small businesses more time to use their loans and letting borrowers spend more of their loans on non-payroll expenses.

Key changes to the PPP include:

• Extends the period to use PPP funds from 8 weeks to 24 weeks
• Reduces the minimum payroll spend to 60% (from 75%)
• Borrowers can now use the 24-week period to fully restore their workforce levels and wages (December 31 instead of June 30)
• Businesses now have five years to repay the loan, instead of two

COVID-19 INFORMATION

These are important links to keep up to date on the Coronavirus:

State of Connecticut’s Coronavirus Information

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

World Health Organization (WHO)

Small Business Owners who need assistance in paying workers whose hours have been cut

GET YOUR DOG LICENSE

You can get your dog license on line. Just go to the town website and go to the Town Clerk page. We are still going to have our most popular dog contest-details also on the town web site.