Fairfield Officials Publish Coronavirus Resource Page

Press release from the Town of Fairfield:

May 18, 2021

Resources

FAIRFIELD: For the latest information on Fairfield's case rate including charts and data,visit the Health Department's COVID-19 Page.

STATE OF CT: For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, residents can visit ct.gov/coronavirus. You can also subscribe to text message alerts from the state by texting the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.

LATEST GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE OF CT:

Vaccine

As of 5/14, our Health Department has administered more than 23,000 vaccinations into the arms of Connecticut residents, which included about 1,000 12-15 year old's.

All Fairfield Health Department COVID-19 Clinics are now accepting walk-ins from 11am to 4pm. Our clinics are currently scheduled for 5/20, 5/27 and 6/3, and offer the Moderna vaccine, which is for those 18 and older.

Check the Health Department’s Facebook page for updates on new clinics.

ELIGIBILITY:

ALL individuals in Connecticut over the age of 12 are eligible to schedule a vaccination appointment.

*Please note, Pfizer is currently the only vaccine that is approved for individuals 12 and older. Moderna is only approved for those over the age of 18 years.

If you fall under Phase 1a, an Educator/Staff in pre-K-12, or a Childcare Provider, you should receive information from your employer or school administrators on how to register for vaccine appointments. For those in the Phase 1b category of 12 and older, you should complete the State form below:

State Form - 12 & Older

If you are having difficulty scheduling your appointment through VAMS, here are some links that may be helpful: VAMS Navigation Instructions and How to Create your VAMS Account and Schedule Your First Appointment.

• CT Vaccine Portal for locations throughout the State
• Yale New Haven Health - If your Doctor is affiliated with Yale New Haven Health you can create an appointment through MyChart.
• Hartford HealthCare - Hartford HealthCare is taking vaccination appointments for their locations at Sacred Heart University and St. Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport. For more information, you can find it here.
• Stamford Hospital - You can check your eligibility and schedule an appointment with Stamford Hospital. For more information, please click here.
• Walgreens - There are limited Walgreens Pharmacies who are offering COVID-19 vaccinations throughout CT. For more information and a list of their locations, please see their website.
• CVS - There are limited CVS Pharmacies who are offering COVID-19 vaccinations throughout CT. For more information and a list of their locations, please see their website.
• Veteran's Affairs VA CT - Eligibility includes anyone who served in the military, spouses of veterans, and caregivers of veterans. Hosting several walk-in clinics. No appointment necessary.

Mental Health Resources

Being a parent or caregiver during COVID can be extremely stressful. It is perfectly normal to be experiencing varying emotions and feel overwhelmed. No matter what you're feeling, we're here to listen. There are free options to help you talk through your crisis--and to send help when necessary.

Fairfield Social Services is here to help. Call 203-256-3170 for more information.

Parents and caregivers can call the toll-free Talk It Out line to discuss their feelings in a judgement-free environment. Call: 1-833-258-5011 or Visit: www.talkitoutct.com

Resources for Mental Health:

If you or a loved one is struggling:

- CT Information Hotline 211 or go to www.211ct.org for mobile crisis support for individuals and/or children.
- The Hub CT is Southwest Connecticut’s Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization. Check their website for useful resources for mental health, prevention and wellness. https://www.thehubct.org/
- Mental Health Crisis Text Line - Text “SHARE” to 741741
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)
- Kids in Crisis also has a 24-hour hotline for assistance 203-661-1911.
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health):If you need to talk to someone, text NAMI to 741741 or call the NAMI Helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264).
- Alcoholics Anonymous - Click here to find a meeting.
- Bridgeport Hospital’s REACH Program is an intensive outpatient program (IOP) for children, adolescents, adults and seniors. REACH is accessible to anyone, and covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurance programs. Please click this link to learn more about the extensive range of treatment options available.

HELP FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS

The Center for Family Justice has hotline numbers to those who are in crisis and need our free and confidential services.

The hotline numbers are:

Domestic Violence: 203-384-9559
Sexual Violence: 203-333-2233

Testing

Thanks to a partnership with Yale New Haven Health, Fairfield's drive-through COVID-19 testing location at 140 Mill Plain Road opened Monday, March 1st. The location is open for testing seven days a week from 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM to all Connecticut residents and populations, including pre-procedure, asymptomatic, symptomatic, and healthcare workers. We are so excited what this testing site means for our Town in beating this virus!

You can view a compilation of COVID-19 testing locations, including 140 Mill Plain Road, by clicking the "Testing Locations" button below.

TESTING LOCATIONS

Funeral Assistance

FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. For more information: click here.

Contact Tracing

The primary purpose of contact tracing is to identify and notify direct contacts of confirmed cases as quickly as possible and to ensure those exposed are self-quarantining. The information provided in the interviews with confirmed cases helps reduce the potential spread of the virus in our community.

Any Fairfield resident who tests positive for COVID-19 and has not received a phone call from the Fairfield Health Department or the Connecticut COVID Tracing system within 24 hours of receiving their result is urged to contact the Fairfield Health Department at 203-256-3022. Calls received after hours or on weekends, will be returned by the next business day.

Businesses

Connecticut Drinks On Us:

Governor Lamont and the Connecticut Restaurant Association announced the #CTDrinksOnUs campaign, which encourages and incentivizes residents to get vaccinated. To take part in the promotion, customers simply show that they have received one or both doses of a COVID vaccine, at which point they can select from a list of pre-set drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) established by each participating restaurant.

The campaign, which runs from May 19–31, limits drinks to one per person and the purchase of food is required.

If you are the manager or owner of a bar or restaurant in Connecticut and want to participate in this program, click here to register. Please allow 1-2 business days for your name to appear on the #CTDrinksOnUs campaign page. A list of participating locations can be found at www.ctvisit.com/DrinksOnUs.

Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF):

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced key details on application requirements, eligibility, and a program guide for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RFF). The restaurant industry has been among the hardest-hit sectors during the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To help bring jobs back and revive the industry, the American Rescue Plan established the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund at the SBA. The SBA will administer the funds to the hardest-hit small restaurants.

The RRF is to help restaurants and other foodservice businesses, including food stands, food trucks, caterers, bars, lounges and snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars, as well as bakeries, brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms, breweries, microbreweries, wineries and distilleries with on-site sales to the public of at least 33% of gross receipts.

To apply click here.

SBA Extends Deferment Period for all COVID-19 EIDL and Other Disaster Loans until 2022:

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced extended deferment periods for all disaster loans, including the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, until 2022. More information here.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP):

On Monday, February 22, the White House announced targeted changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that will provide minority-owned businesses, “mom-and-pop” businesses, and very small nonprofits with access to the support they need.

Click here to read the announcement and learn more about the steps that are being taken to promote equitable access to this important program. The SBA website also includes tools to help you get matched with a lender or find lenders in your area.

Unless the federal government extends the deadline, the PPP will expire on May 31, 2021.

The Fairfield Chamber of Commerce office is also open. You can reach them at 203.255.1011 or by emailing beverly@fairfieldctchamber.com.

This press release was produced by the Town of Fairfield. The views expressed here are the author’s own.