Just after midnight this past Sunday, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal issued an e-mail through Newtown’s Economic & Community Development Office, assuring both residents and especially local businesses that the town remains “at work” supporting them, and asking anyone with questions or concerns to reach out for help.

“We will get through this, together,” the message stated.

The notice came on the heels of a 9:14 pm e-mail March 22 from Governor Ned Lamont, that included guidance for businesses in the state under the new “Stay Safe, Stay Home” directive issued last Friday.

Lamont’s latest Executive Order — his eleventh (7J) — provides further clarification to prior Order 7H directing all non-essential businesses and not-for-profit entities in Connecticut to prohibit all in-person functions effective Monday, March 23, at 8 pm, as part of the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest Order builds on his ongoing efforts to advance mitigation strategies that slow down transmission of the virus.

The guidance was developed in concert with the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). The governor is encouraging all businesses to employ, to the maximum extent possible, any telecommuting or work-from-home procedures that they can safely implement.

According to Order 7H, by 8 pm Monday, each non-essential business or nonprofit entity (and therefore not including or applicable to any state or local government agencies, quasi-public agencies, political subdivisions, or other entities that do not constitute businesses or nonprofits) shall reduce the in-person workforce at each business location by 100 percent from pre-state of emergency declaration employment levels.

The order excludes any business or entity providing essential services or functions, such as healthcare, food, law enforcement, and similar critical services.

Essential businesses or nonprofits designated are not subject to the in-person restriction set forth in Executive Order 7H. With respect to non-essential businesses and nonprofits, this guidance applies to each business location individually and is intended to assist businesses in determining whether they are an essential business and the steps they may take to request that designation.

The guidelines set forth apply to places of business. Non-essential businesses may continue activities that are conducted off-site (e.g. a customer’s home) and/or by telecommuting or working from home.

Pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order 7J, issued on March 22:

1) non-essential retailers may be staffed on-site, provided that they may only offer remote ordering (e.g. phone, internet, mail, dropbox) and curb-side pick-up or delivery and

2) non-essential businesses and nonprofits to allow staff or third parties on site to the minimum extent necessary to provide security, maintenance, and receipt of mail and packages.

This includes, but is not limited to, auto, boat, bicycle, recreational vehicle, and all other vehicle sales, if conducted remotely. To the extent possible, employees of essential businesses whose duties are not critical to an Essential Business function described below should telecommute or utilize any work from home procedures available to them.

‘Essential’ Businesses Defined

For purposes of Executive Order 7H, “essential business” means:

1. Essential workers in the 16 Critical Infrastructure Sectors, as defined by the federal Department of Homeland Security unless otherwise addressed in a prior or future executive order pertaining to the existing declared public health and civil preparedness emergency.

2. Healthcare and related operations including: • biotechnology therapies • consumer health products and services • doctor and dentist offices • elder care, including adult day care • health care plans and health care data • home health care workers or aides • hospitals • manufacturing, distributing, warehousing, and supplying of pharmaceuticals, including research and development • medical marijuana dispensaries and producers • medical supplies and equipment providers, including devices, diagnostics, services, and any other healthcare related supplies or services • medical wholesale and distribution • nursing homes, or residential health care facilities or congregate care facilities • pharmacies • physical therapy and chiropractic offices • research and laboratory services, including testing and treatment of COVID-19 • veterinary and animal health services • walk-in-care health facilities

3. Infrastructure including: • airports/airlines • commercial trucking • dam maintenance and support • education-related functions at the primary, secondary, or higher education level to provide support for students, including distribution of meals or faculty conducting e-learning • hotels and other places of accommodation • water and wastewater operations, systems, and businesses • telecommunications and data centers • transportation infrastructure including bus, rail, for-hire vehicles and vehicle rentals, and garages • utilities including power generation, fuel supply, and transmission

4. All manufacturing and corresponding supply chains, including aerospace, agriculture, and related support businesses

5. Retail including: • appliances, electronics, computers, and telecom equipment • big-box stores or wholesale clubs, provided they also sell groceries, consumer health products, or operate a pharmacy • convenience stores • gas stations • grocery stores including all food and beverage retailers • guns and ammunition • hardware, paint, and building material stores, including home appliance sales/repair • liquor/package stores and manufacturer permittees • pharmacies • pet and pet supply stores

6. Food and agriculture, including: • farms and farmer’s markets • food manufacturing, processing, storage, and distribution facilities • nurseries, garden centers, and agriculture supply stores • restaurants/bars (provided compliance with all applicable executive orders is maintained)

7. Services including: • accounting and payroll services • animal shelters or animal care or management, including boarding, grooming, pet walking and pet sitting • auto supply, repair, towing, and service, including roadside assistance • bicycle repair and service • building cleaning and maintenance • child care services • critical operations support for financial institutions • financial advisors • financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, and check cashing services • funeral homes, crematoriums, and cemeteries • insurance companies • laundromats/dry cleaning • legal and accounting services • mail and shipping services • marinas and marine repair and service • news and media • real estate transactions and related services, including residential leasing and renting • religious services (subject to Executive Order 7D limiting gatherings to 50 people) • storage for Essential Businesses • trash and recycling collection, hauling, and processing • warehouse/distribution, shipping, and fulfillment

8. Providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations including: • food banks • homeless shelters and congregate care facilities • human services providers whose function includes the direct care of patients in state-licensed or funded voluntary programs; the care, protection, custody and oversight of individuals both in the community and in state-licensed residential facilities; those operating community shelters and other critical human services agencies providing direct care or support social service agencies

9. Construction including: • all skilled trades such as electricians, HVAC, and plumbers • general construction, both commercial and residential • other related construction firms and professionals for essential infrastructure or for emergency repair and safety purposes • planning, engineering, design, bridge inspection, and other construction support activities

10. Services necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of all residences and other buildings (including services necessary to secure and maintain non-essential workplaces): • building cleaners or janitors • building code enforcement • disinfection • doormen • emergency management and response • fire prevention and response • general maintenance whether employed by the entity directly or a vendor • home-related services, including real estate transactions, closings, appraisals, and moving services • landscaping services • law enforcement • outdoor maintenance, including pool service • pest control services • security and maintenance, including steps reasonably necessary to secure and maintain non-essential businesses • state marshals

11. Vendors that provide essential services or products, including logistics and technology support, child care, and services needed to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the public including: • billboard leasing and maintenance • child care services • essential government services • government owned or leased buildings • information technology and information security • logistics • technology support

12. Defense • defense and national security-related business and operations supporting the U.S. Government or a contractor to the US government

Designations & Latest Order

If the function of your business is not listed above, but you believe that it is essential or it is an entity providing essential services or functions, you may request designation as an Essential Business.

Requests by businesses to be designated an essential function as described above, should ONLY be made if they are NOT covered by the guidance. Any business that only has a single occupant/employee (e.g. attendant) is deemed exempt and need not submit a request to be designated as an Essential Business.

To request designation as an Essential Business, CLICK HERE

“I know this pandemic has brought disruption to all of our lives, but we need to pull together as a community and practice social distancing in order to reduce the spread of this virus and protect the well being of our neighbors and our loved ones,” Governor Lamont said. “We can’t ignore the facts, which prove that efforts like this are the best way to slow down its impact. I cannot say it enough — if you can, the best thing to do is to stay safe and stay home.”

DECD Commissioner David Lehman said his agency is also working around the clock to support our Connecticut businesses during these extremely difficult times.

“Our primary goal was to support our public health objective while balancing the important needs of our citizens and the Connecticut economy,” Lehman said. “I encourage residents and business to review the guidance carefully and apply for a waiver only if they deem necessary. DECD will also be launching more assistance for small and medium businesses who are impacted by COVID19 in the coming days.”

To help businesses in Connecticut navigate the COVID-19 crisis, DECD has established the COVID-19 Business Emergency Response Unit reachable at 860-500-2333.

Newtown’s Economic & Community Development Department reminds local businesses that the US Small Business Administration is offering low interest loans to businesses impacted by COVID-19. According to the SBA, funds may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that cannot be paid because of a disaster’s impact.

For more details, visit https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/coronavirus-covid-19.

For on-line application, go to https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Account/Login.

Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7J also enacts the following provisions:

• Clarification of Executive Order No. 7H regarding non-essential business operations: Allows non-essential retailers to take orders remotely and sell products for curbside pickup and delivery, and allows other nonessential businesses to allow the minimum staff necessary on site to handle security, maintenance, mail, and other essential services.

• Extension of time period for fire service personnel examinations: The order extends deadlines for certain fire-service examination components, so career and volunteer fire service personnel in the queue for certification testing can meet the contractual, bylaw, and probationary requirements of their employers and continue to meet critical public safety needs.

• Delivery of methadone to homebound patients by methadone maintenance clinics: The order allows delivery of at-home doses of methadone to homebound drug-dependent patients who a medical professional determines are unable to travel to the treatment facility because of COVID-19. The order does not allow patients themselves to carry methadone off site.

• Suspension of rehiring procedures and restrictions on temporary worker retirees (TWRs): To meet critical government staffing needs caused by COVID-19 with skilled and experienced employees who require little to no additional training, the order suspends previously enacted executive orders and public acts, temporarily removing the two-year limitation on TWRs and allowing employees who participated in retirement incentive programs to work during this emergency.

• Suspension of certain real property and state contracting statutes: To expedite obtaining appropriate locations for emergency operations, the order suspends certain state contracting, leasing, and procurement requirements to enter into emergency short-term leases and take other emergency measures.

To review the latest information from Newtown, visit newtown-ct.gov.

For the latest information coming from the State of Connecticut, visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

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