Corona Virus Update 4/30

Productive discussion with the Governor’s office today. We finally got an inventory of PPE from hospitals. This inventory came from the hospitals themselves. Almost all reported greater than or equal to a 15 day supply, including N95s. We asked if this is the case, why have some hospitals gone to the CDC Crisis Capacity? The Governor’s office agreed that no hospital should be at Crisis capacity and anyone caring for a Covid suspected or positive patient should have access to an N95. They will work with DPH on this.
We also pushed at an AFL-CIO press conference.

https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpatch.com%2Fconnecticut%2Facross-ct%2Fcoronavirus-essential-workers-want-voice-ct-reopen-plan&data=02%7C01%7Cjbrady%40aftct.org%7Cefc533f0f16942df8da808d7ed3c7d5a%7Cc912f9978344453ea9546829e629feb3%7C0%7C0%7C637238716385920284&sdata=OZbfbM0S%2FMGyzCAnMlRGpDHX4lUFsm%2BCnj1FsSawMZE%3D&reserved=0

We are 54 days from our first confirmed case of Covid in Connecticut
97,133 have been tested
27,700 have tested positive
1650 are currently hospitalized, down 41 today
2257 have died, 89 today

Next week is Nurses Week, Teacher’s Week and Public Employees week.
Someone shared this.  

Our nurses working at Natchaug (some of them transferred from Backus) started a letter writing campaign Tuesday to DPH to go along with an OSHA complaint that was filed. they go the following answer today. 

Good morning,

Thank you so much for your message. We have received many copies of this letter in the past couple days. They have all been directed to the Facility Licensing and Investigations Section.

Can you please provide contact information for the group coordinating this effort so we can best respond and provide any updates? Can you help us get this into the right hands of AFT Healthcare locals?


AFT has completed this plan to reopen schools

WASHINGTON—The American Federation of Teachers has released a detailed road map that, in the absence of a COVID-19 vaccine, charts a path to safely and responsibly reopen school buildings and other institutions crucial to the well-being and economic vitality of our communities. The 20-page, science-based “Plan to Safely Reopen America’s Schools and Communities” sprung from an intense collaboration of public health professionals, union leaders and frontline workers to prepare for what happens next in the period between flattening the curve and truly eradicating the virus.  It features five core pillars that inform our decision to reopen the country based on the science as well as educator and healthcare expertise—not on politics or wishful thinking. To gradually reopen, we need to:  1. Maintain physical distancing until the number of new cases declines for at least 14 consecutive days. Reducing the number of new cases is a prerequisite for transitioning to reopening plans on a community-by-community basis.  2. Put in place the infrastructure and resources to test, trace and isolate new cases. Transitioning from community-focused physical distancing and stay-in-place orders to case-specific interventions requires ramping up the capacity to test, trace and isolate each new case. 3.​ Deploy the public health tools that prevent the virus’ spread and align them with education strategies that meet the needs of students. 4. ​Involve workers, unions, parents and communities in all planning. Each workplace and community faces unique challenges related to COVID-19. To ensure that reopening plans address those challenges, broad worker and community involvement is necessary. They must be engaged, educated and empowered. 5.​ Invest in recovery: Do not abandon America’s communities or forfeit America’s future. These interventions will require more—not less—investment in public health and in our schools, universities, hospitals, and local and state governments. Strengthening communities should be a priority in the recovery. The blueprint acknowledges Americans’ eagerness to return to some semblance of “normal.” But to do so, we must meet an unprecedented challenge: figuring out how to reimagine our society and the physical places we hold dear—public schools, places of worship, workplaces, restaurants and more—in ways that put our ultimate priorities first: the safety and well-being of working families, especially frontline workers, and the economic health of society. Our schools, in addition to educating students and acting as centers of the community, enable parents to work outside the home, meaning their safe reopening is a pivotal—if not the most pivotal—factor in remaking the country. The comprehensive document addresses complexities and provides specific guidance for transitioning from lockdowns to other public health approaches. And it is the only plan we know of that marries the instructional and social-emotional needs of students and the logistics of programming in schools with the imperative to adopt public health tools that prevent viral transmission.  It shows how, in response to the crisis, we must plan and align logistics, educational strategies and public health approaches into one coherent response. And it is expected to evolve as the data, and the facts, change.  AFT President Randi Weingarten said: “America is staring down a singular challenge that will require all of us to come together and negotiate a safe path forward. By drawing on facts and science, and the expertise of educators and healthcare practitioners, we have drafted a bold five-point plan that aligns necessary public health tools, student instructional needs and logistics to gradually—but safely, equitably and intentionally—reopen our schools and communities. “Our blueprint serves as a stark contrast to the conflicting guidance, bluster and lies of the Trump administration. The input of educators and healthcare workers, as well as parents, is crucial in making any reopening plan work. They are the eyes and ears, and are indispensable in making any plan work safely and effectively. We hope this blueprint will be the start of a real discussion on reopening schools, universities and other workplaces that allows our workers and families not only to dream of a safe and welcoming future, but to realize it.” The plan can be read here.

Follow AFT President Randi Weingarten: http://twitter.com/rweingarten

This is a benefit to members on estate planning.

I can be reached on my cell if you have questions.

Mary Pascale

240-676-7974

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Cashen, Jill" <jcashen@unionprivilege.org>
Date: April 29, 2020 at 3:06:58 PM EDT
To: "Mary Traeger Pascale, Office of the Secretary-Treasurer" <mtraeger@aft.org>, "Tish Olshefski, Office of the Secretary-Treasurer" <Tish.Olshefski@aft.org>
Subject: FW:  MetLife offers Estate Planning for Healthcare Workers



Another added benefit for healthcare members and their families. Here’s a shorter blurb about it.

MetLife Healthcare Heroes

Union Plus partner MetLife is offering members of healthcare organizations online estate planning services from May 4 through June 30 at no cost. These services will be available at MetLife.com/Heroes and will be provided by Willing, a MetLife company.

After answering a few questions, members will be able to create:

• Healthcare Proxy* – Make decisions about your own medical care and/or appoint someone to make decisions on your behalf. (*Not available in Oregon)
• Power of Attorney – Delegate someone you trust to manage your financial affairs. 
• Estate Planning Documents (Last Will and Testament) – Choose who should receive your assets and name beneficiaries for minor children.

If your members​, their spouse, children, extended family members, or friends work in the healthcare industry, please encourage them to take advantage of this benefit.  The benefit is open to anyone in U.S. regardless of relationship to MetLife.

 This is a study that has now been peer reviewed showing evidence of aerosolized Coronavirus News:

Aerosol Study: In Nature (here) Chinese researchers document aerosol-transmitted viral fragments found in more locations, over longer duration and in much smaller sizes than previously thought.  They express a cautionary note for gathering and changing areas for health care workers: “We found that some medical staff areas initially had high concentrations of viral RNA with aerosol size distributions showing peaks in submicrometre and/or supermicrometre regions, but these levels were reduced to undetectable levels after implementation of rigorous sanitization procedures.”

Please be well,
John

Corona Virus Update 4/29

When I heard today that we’ve lost more Americans to Covid-19 than we did in the entire Vietnam War I stopped.
Our involvement in Vietnam began in the very early 60’s and continued till 1975. I grew up with it. It was on the nightly news. We worried about our cousins who served.
And I’ve stood at the memorial in Washington and looked down that long, long wall of names.

In a few sort months we’ve lost just as many to an invisible virus and we’re not done with it yet. We failed to prepare, we’ve failed to react, we are failing to care for our caregivers, and we rush to return to “normal.”
The virus doesn’t care if we deny it’s danger.
It just doesn’t care.

We are 53 days since our first confirmed Covid case in Connecticut.
94,818 have been tested
26,767 have tested positive
1691 are currently hospitalized, down 41
2168 are dead, up 79

Press Release

Frontline Workers in Mass National OSHA Filing as Agency Fails to Protect Workers from COVID-19 Pandemic 

On Workers Memorial Day, union members file more than three dozen complaints across 10 states as infection rates and deaths skyrocket 

For Release: 

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Contact:

Andrew Crook

o: 202-393-8637 | c: 607-280-6603

acrook@aft.org 

WASHINGTON—AFT members from around the country have filed 40 Occupational Safety and Health Administration complaints as part of a “Do Your Job OSHA” National Day of Action to highlight the agency’s refusal to investigate employers placing workers at grave risk of infection and death from the coronavirus.

The complaints across 10 states—New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio, Wisconsin, Montana, Oregon, Alaska, Maryland and West Virginia—filed on Workers Memorial Day, detail a disturbing rash of events, including one instance when hospital cleaning employees were not told when a room had a COVID-19 patient, and another in which management refused to allow staff to wear protective masks.

There are currently no enforceable OSHA standards compelling employers to protect workers from the virus that has claimed more than 50,000 American lives. With casualties rising fast and grossly undercounted because of a dire lack of testing, nearly 9,300 U.S. healthcare workers have now been infected with the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. Seventy-five AFT educator members have died. And AFT members and leaders representing nurses, teachers and public employees say the toll would be far lower if OSHA would step up to protect workers on the job.

“My employer forced me to crisis ration masks and gowns, so my union had to file a complaint as an example—even though we know that OSHA is practically powerless,” said Sherri Dayton an emergency RN at Backus Hospital in Connecticut and member of the Backus Federation of Nurses, an AFT affiliate. “OSHA was established by law 50 years ago today to ensure safe and healthy conditions on the job for America’s working men and women. It’s a disgrace that, five decades later, there are still no OSHA standards that comprehensively address an employer’s responsibility to protect workers like me from infectious disease.”

Debbie White, president of Health Professionals and Allied Employees in New Jersey, an AFT affiliate, filed complaints at Hackensack Meridian Health/HMH Palisades Medical Center and the long term care facility attached to Palisades called The Harborage: “It is unconscionable that employees still have to work with defective equipment at this late date in a global pandemic. As a union, we are advocates for our workers and our patients. Health care workers need to be able to work safely without fear of contracting the virus and transmitting it to other patients, coworkers, or their families. They must have genuine N95 respirators and must be fit-tested for those respirators to ensure there’s a seal of the mask around their faces. If it’s not sealed, it’s not safe.”

Nara Owens is a nurse at Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital in Warren, Ohio, and member of the Ohio Nurses Association, an AFT affiliate. She became sick working with patients on a unit that was meant to be non-COVID-19. The hospital did not notify her of her potential exposure or communicate it to the hospital’s health service until two weeks after she was symptomatic. After Owens tested positive, she was told by the hospital’s HR department to file for unemployment.

“We deserve to be safe at work so we can do our job caring for patients, but the hospital failed me, my co-workers and the community,” Owens said. “They should be held accountable, but sadly there is no OSHA standard, nor is there any enforcement. Until that changes, cases like mine will be all too common.”

Along with labor unions and allies nationwide, the AFT has launched a petition(link is external) demanding OSHA immediately issue an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect workers from COVID-19 and future infectious agents. (Supporters can also tweet #DoYourJobOSHA(link is external).)

The petition supports the passage of H.R. 6559, the COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act of 2020, a bill introduced by Rep. Robert C. Scott (D-Va.). This bill would force OSHA to issue an ETS within seven days; mandate government tracking and investigation of work-related COVID-19 infections; and forbid retaliation against nurses and healthcare professionals for reporting infection-control problems or using non-employer-issued personal protective equipment when an adequate employer supply is not available.

“In this time of pandemic, when one in five COVID-19 cases are frontline workers, it’s immoral that OSHA is refusing to issue and enforce guidelines to protect the safety and health of employees and their patients,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “Because the virus is so contagious, workers are at risk every moment. We need to protect the protectors—that means getting them PPE but also listening to those with the frontline knowledge to tackle this disease. By ignoring workers, employers are needlessly putting more lives on the line, and for that they must be condemned.”

# # # #

The AFT represents 1.7 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.

Latest addition the the Backus Nurses Family, little Evo, born to Samantha, a Covid-19 positive nurse.

Please be well,

John

Corona Virus Update 4/28

Today is Workers Memorial Day, the day we honor workers killed, injured, or made ill on the job or as a result of exposure on the job. It is SO relevant today during the Corona Virus Pandemic and the lack of, and rationing of, PPE. AFT locals across the country took action today by filing 40 OSHA complaints, including 2 in Connecticut. In this article, Sherri Dayton, president of Backus Nurses is quoted in this article. https://www.thedailybeast.com/osha-complaints-flood-in-from-covid-19-frontline-health-workers

This is a very nice video on Workers Memorial Day done by the CT AFL-CIO, and featuring Shellye Davis and Jan Hochadel of AFT CT. 

https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FIaqohh9TCLQ&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJBrady%40aftct.org%7C50a52234c66d4194bd4408d7eba546b1%7Cc912f9978344453ea9546829e629feb3%7C0%7C0%7C637236967393694928&amp;sdata=oPOZFB3msGhh%2F%2FRMaEZCBQgBTs33RCbNYFnNdyh7ir8%3D&amp;reserved=0

Sister Shellye Davis is co-president of the Hartford PSRP Local, a Divisional VP for AFT CT and eastern CT ALF-CIO Area Labor Fedrration  president With a message for today. 

We are 52 days since our first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Connecticut. 

92,745 have been tested

26,312 have tested positive 

1,732 are currently hospitalized, down 26 today

2089 have died, up 77

These are 2 attachments that may be of help. One is social media help for today’s action and the other is a Covid Objection of Assignment form provided by our AFT/HPAE affiliate in New Jersey. (Email me if you’d like them jbrady@aftc.org)

 Be well,

John

Corona Virus Update 4/27

Tomorrow is Workers Memorial Day, the day we remember those who have been injured or died on the job, or from exposure on the job. It is also the 50th anniversary of the formation of OSHA, who’s job it is to protect the safety of workers.

OSHA’s response in this pandemic has been disappointing. Tomorrow AFT will have a coordinated action of filing OSHA complaints. We expect to file 37 complaints in 11 states. In Connecticut we will file 3 to go along with 2 that were filed recently. There will be a social media push on keeping workers safe. Please participate and use the hashtag #DoYourJobOSHA

We are 51 days from our first diagnosed case of Covid-19 in Connecticut.

1758 are currently hospitalized, down 8 from yesterday

1998 has died, up 74

This may be of help to your members

Be well,

John

Corona Virus Update 4/26

I didn’t need to write a message today, today’s message comes from Minnesota Nurses member Emily Pierskalla: 

"If I die, I don’t want to be remembered as a hero. I want my death to make you angry too. I want you to politicize my death. I want you to use it as fuel to demand change in this industry, to demand protection, living wages, and safe working conditions for nurses and ALL workers. Use my death to mobilize others. Use my name at the bargaining table. Use my name to shame those who have profited or failed to act, leaving us to clean up the mess."

https://mnnurses.org/want-my-death-make-you-angry/

We are 50 days since our first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Connecticut 

We have tested 79,811 people

25, 269 have tested positive

1766 are currently hospitalized, down 44 today

1924 have died, 62 today

The downward trend in hospitalizations is a positive sign. So far, our peak hospitalizations statewide has been 1972, 5 days ago. It took 45 days from first diagnosed case to that peak. Whether we continue downward (and how quickly) depends on how and when we reopen businesses. More importantly, the steps we take will determine how many more people we lose. Five days ago we had already lost 1544 people.

Be safe,

John

Corona Virus Update 4/25

We have entered into the holy month of Ramadan. I wish the blessings of this Holy Month to our Muslim sisters and brothers, but also to the rest of us. May Allah bless us all. 

In Connecticut, we had another drop in hospitalized patients today. But the number of those lost to Covid is staggering. I pray that reopening the ecconomy isn’t done at the cost of more lives.

We are 49 days since our first confirmed case of Covid in Connecticut.

77,602 have been tested

24, 582 have tested positive

1810 are currently hospitalized, down 67

1862 have died, 98 today

Sherri Dayton, president of the Backus Nurses and also a member of the VNA SE CT local, was on a national call today with essential workers from around the country, Senator Warren and Speaker Pelosi. Sherri spoke about her experiences in the ER and visiting homes. Thank you Sherri for representing us.

I want to share this song from Alisha Keys. It’s a thank you to essential workers.

https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FN63tvQBwSSw&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJBrady%40aftct.org%7C0696e38571c041f4407d08d7e9794ea7%7Cc912f9978344453ea9546829e629feb3%7C0%7C0%7C637234579537213730&amp;sdata=Gb%2FAgRg531oSYerU2ZCEEafhFHqB59wRIEE4A7dUvDM%3D&amp;reserved=0

Be safe my friends,

John

Corona Virus Update 4/24

I want to lead with this FB post. This is from one of our nurses. She is 9 months pregnant and she contracted Covid at work. It speaks volumes of what this virus is doing to our healthcare professionals and other essential workers. These are young professionals at the beginning of their careers and their adult lives.

 I beg you. If you can stay home, please do. Please do not join the movement to reopen before it is medically safe. 

“Everyday is a struggle. 

I so badly just want to wake up and feel better. 

Most nights I cry myself to sleep wishing I could just feel good again. 

Still spiking mild fevers daily. 

Sometimes when I wake up, I get a false sense of hope that I’m feeling better. 

Then I get up and am winded walking to the bathroom which is 10 feet away. 

I’m completely exhausted, weak & tired. 

When I wake up, I can’t grip anything & sometimes I can’t close my hands to make a fist from such severe inflammation. 

The only way I can describe this is like aging 20-40 years overnight. 

I feel like I’m so short of breath & sometimes like I’m drowning. 

I will not let this win, I will keep swimming. 

The baby is doing well, which is the main thing driving me to fight. 

I’m still going to kick COVID-19 in the face!! I will win this fight!

I wish I could provide a cheery positive update & look forward to the day I can. 

I’m thankful I’m able to still manage at home! 

Please love yourself, your families, the air you breathe, the gift of life that you have ever single day, & pray//put some positive vibes out there for me. Back to bed rest for me 💗”

I also want to share these comments to some of our HCW who are on the front lines.

Kudos:

Lunch last weekend was donated by a very grateful family- the Joseph Grzelak Memorial Foundation and in honor of Kennedy Ann Whitmore.  Kennedy is my 4 month old daughter who passed away on February 26th. She had a heart condition and was brought to the Backus ER by ambulance that night and they tried so very hard to save her and they were so supportive. We really appreciate all they did that night and do every day! ❤️“

I just wanted to drop you a note of well deserved positivity. I came through the ER very early this morning for abdominal pain. Every single person I encountered from the front door to discharge was pleasant, caring and compassionate. Your team had me in and out in 3 hours!!! Most of all, from a patient perspective in room 13, you can't help but overhear muffled chit chat at the nurse's station. What I heard were coworkers joking with each other and laughing. I cannot begin to tell you how happy it made my heart to hear front line workers genuinely laughing and enjoying their jobs at 0400! 

Yes, our Healthcare Members are heroes.

But they do not want to be heroes.

They want to be caregivers.

I am somewhat encouraged by todays numbers. I never thought I would say that 125 deaths was encouraging, but hospitalizations seem to be plateauing and maybe beginning to head down (fingers crossed)

We are 48 days since our first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Connecticut.

74,038 have been tested

23,921 have tested positive

1877 are currently hospitalized, down 70, and the first time under 1900 since hitting that mark 9 days ago.

1764 have died, 125 today

Tomorrow, (Saturday) one of our nurses, Sheri Dayton, will be on a call with AFT president Randi Weingarten and others.

For the “worker protections” telephone town hall tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. that SEIU has organized and that six other unions are participating in (including us), we’ve got the attached link for folks to register to get on the call.  Since Sherry Dayton, one of your nurse members, is going to be one of the speakers, we thought you might want to send out the attached link tonight for your leaders and/or activists to listen in on the call which is at 1:00 p.m.  To register for the call, they’ll have to do this by 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.  

https://tthm.wufoo.com/forms/we-are-always-essential-telephone-town-hall/

BTW, Today is my birthday. I want to thank everyone who wished me well. I so wish I could have spent the day celebrating with you. But those days will come again. For now, lets continue to stay safe and continued to isolate so that our essential workers can stay as safe as possible.

I have a friend. He’s a lay minister in my church and we grew up together and played basketball together. (He was much better) He likes to say when he’s leaving, ‘Drive safe, you have precious cargo in your car.” 

On my birthday, that is my message to you.

Be safe, be well.

John

Corona Virus Update 4/23

I can share more with you tonight on the loss of our AFT Connecticut brother to Covid. He was a Probation Officer, a husband with 2 small children, one of whom has serious health issues. He was exposed to Corona virus because as an essential worker he continued to report to work. He fought this virus for over a month. He will be deeply missed.

He was a member of Local 4200b, JPE, Judicial Professional Employees. His president, Michael Barry provided this statement for the press, “Our deepest sympathies go to Jonathan’s beautiful family. His wife and children deserve space to grieve their loss in their own way and in their own time.

“The best way to honor Jonathan is by respecting his colleagues and all frontline workers selflessly allowing so many to remain in self-isolation. Those who can must heed the call to ‘stay safe and stay home’ in order to flatten the curve and get our communities through the worst of this pandemic.”

A go fund me account has been started by those who knew him well. https://www.gofundme.com/f/vbe3b-covid19-relief?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet

We are 47 days since the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Connecticut. 

71,497 have been tested

23,100 have tested positive

1947 are currently hospitalized, down 25 today

1639 are dead, up 95

From Danbury and New Milford

We are the front line workers of Danbury and New Milford Hospital.  We have supported our communities and worked many hours outside of our normal schedules in order to provide exceptional care to all of our patients particularly those patients with the COVID 19 virus. We feel fear and concern for our own safety and the health of our families although  put that aside to honor our commitment to our patients. We come to work  terrified because we had to reuse or prolong the  limited supplies of PPE, which is normally discarded after one use. There has been poor tracking of exposures, very high patient acuity and the ever changing policy and procedures of PPE.  All the employees, no matter what their position, are dealing with the pandemic even after their shift.  The emotional toll of this work environment is just as serious as the physical toll on the front line workers.

We are more than 1800 members in 4 different Unions and all united for fair treatment.  Hazard pay is a simple way to acknowledge the dedication  and recognize front line workers during this pandemic.

COVID 19 is real and we are asking the hospital leadership to join other area hospitals to provide the care givers with the much deserved Hazard pay. Here is the link:http://chng.it/DgwbR26Drv

At the end of a tough shift in the ER, especially when we would deal with a young person’s death,  we would look at each other and say “hug your family tonight.” I kinda feel this way tonight.

Please take care of yourselves and be well,                                                           John

Corona Virus Update 4/22

I come to you with some sad news tonight. AFT Connecticut has lost our first member to Covid-19. He was a young man with a family. I know the members of AFT and the Labor Community send our love and support to his family. I will share more in future updates.

I was on a call with an epidemiologist from the DPH today. I had questions about their PPE guidance, because I feel what they publish can be unclear. 

She said that they follow the current CDC guidance, which I also find unclear. We do agree that PPE, including N95s should be used when dealing with Covid positive or PUI patients when supplies are adequate and that N95s should be reserved for aerosol producing procedures when N95s are in short supply. 

So the question remains, as it has since the beginning, what is the current hospital supply, how fast is it being used up (the burn rate), and what does the resupply look like.

DPH does not have the answers to these questions because the hospitals have not provided this information. We must continue to push.

A new piece of information from yesterday’s call is that Hartford Healthcare has been sending N95s to Boston for decontamination in a Battelle facility (another facility is being set up in New Haven now) these facilities can decontaminate N95s up to 20 times. So, there should be no reason for N95s to be withheld unless someone knows something they are not sharing. Finding out that HHC was sending N95s to Boston raised another question, how come our members don’t know about this and if they are doing so, why are they restricting use?

We talk with the Governor’s office and DPH again tomorrow.

I was on a weekly call with the members of the political subcommittee of the 4 L&M locals today. This is a weekly call with state representatives and senators. Today 4 of the local representatives were able to join us. The legislators have the opportunity to discuss their constituent’s concerns with healthcare executives. Since the last call a couple of issues have been cleared up. Members have moved from having to use a mask fro a week to having to use one for a day, and plexiglass has been installed in the registration area as per OSHA guidelines. This is an example of members becoming activists. No one can tell a story quite like those going through it.

Below is a letter from the Connecticut AFL-CIO pushing the governor to establish that if you are working and become positive for Covid-19, it would be presumed that your illness was work related.  Currently, you would have to prove that you did not contract the virus in the community. I would ask that you help by clicking on the link and sending an email. Thanks. 

I wrote a letter for the Action Network letter campaign: Urge Gov. Lamont to Establish Workers’ Comp Presumption During COVID-19 Pandemic

Courageous essential workers are serving their communities and keeping our state running during this public health emergency, often without adequate protective equipment and jeopardizing their own health in the process. With hundreds of corrections officers, doctors, nurses, police, fire fighters, grocery store workers, public transit workers, and other essential workers already having been exposed and potentially infected with the novel coronavirus, Gov. Lamont must order a workers’ compensation presumption so these critical workers can receive important healthcare and wage replacement benefits through the workers’ compensation system.

By issuing an executive order, Governor Lamont could create an irrebuttable presumption that the worker contracted the illness on the job. This would allow workers’ compensation claims to be processed in a timely manner and prevent these essential employees from having to go through a protracted appeals process with employers and/or insurance companies who will undoubtedly challenge their claims.

Since Gov. Lamont’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order (7H) and adherence to social distancing, these essential workers have no other exposure to COVID-19 except on the job. Creating a presumption will streamline their access to vital benefits.

Can you join me and write a letter? Click here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/workers-comp-presumption?source=email&

Thanks!

We are 46 days since our first confirmed case of Covid in Connecticut

69,918 have been tested

22,469 have tested positive 

1972 are currently hospitalized, up 23 today

1544 have died, up 121 today

Please be safe my friends,

John

Corona Virus Update 4/20

Today the DPH put out a new guidance of healthcare workers. I say guidance but it left me with more questions than answers. I asked today when we were on our Tuesday call with the Governor’s office and the DPH. My question was simple, what is the DPH guidance on N95 use?

They had hoped to have Dr Vivian Leung, a DPH infectious disease specialist but she couldn’t make the call. they promised to help set that up for us. The Governor's office did admit that the guidance could be confusing and the Commissioner did say that the DPH believes N95s are needed when treated Covid patients. I’ve attached the new guidance below. We are also discussing getting hospital inventories, workers. compensation, temporary lodging, and protections against retaliation. Discussions are going slow, but at least they are happening, and we’re not going to stop pushing.

We have some info from AFT tonight.

We also have some info on testing.

We are 45 days from our first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Connecticut.

64,192 have been tested

20,360 have tested positive

1949 are currently hospitalized, up 30 today

1423 have died, 92 today Good evening, leaders!

I hope this email finds you well. The purpose of this note, is to share some information and resources that our Health Issues team thought might be helpful to you.  

From AFT:

1. Temporary isolation rooms and patient care areas. Below and attached are resources that provide detailed information you can share with management on how to create temporary airborne infectious isolation rooms and patient care areas.  The attached report from the Minnesota Department of Health can be used by facility engineering and maintenance to create temporary negative pressure rooms.  The links from NIOSH explain how to use a ventilated headboard which effectively removes 99% of viral particles around the patient.  It includes instructions on how hospitals can build these with ordinary building materials or can purchase the NIOSH-designed aluminum version from a vendor.  

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/healthcare/engcontrolsolutions/ventilated-headboard.html

https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2020/04/14/ventilated-headboard/

2. HC Affiliate Samples Google Folder.  To see examples of other affiliate works, here is a link

3. AFT HC leaders on Healthcare Voter events. Today at WFNHP President Jeff Weber joined the Healthcare Voter coalition to share stories from the frontlines about the impact of the ACA in the fight against COVID-19. You can view the recorded livestream here.  Today’s town hall [is/was] part of a series put on by Healthcare Voter and the Lower Drug Prices Now Coalitions, both of which we are a member. Another town hall focused on New Jersey will take place this Thursday the 23^rd at 3pm eastern time and Debbie White, President of HPAE will be speaking. RSVP to that town hall here.  

Thank you for all you do!  

In Solidarity, 

Kelly

Kelly D. Trautner

Director | Health Issues

(Pronouns: she/hers)

T: 202-393-7991 |  F: 202-783-2014 |  E: ktrautne@aft.org

American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO

555 New Jersey Ave. N.W. | Washington, DC 20001 | 202-879-4597

http://www.aft.org| http://www.facebook.com/AFTunion| www.twitter.com/AFTunion

Find our latest COVID-19 Resources and Information at AFT’s Resource Page

Drive Thru Rapid COVID-19 Testing Information

from the State of Connecticut

The State of Connecticut has formed a partnership with CVS Health in an initiative that makes free, rapid COVID-19 tests available to eligible Connecticut residents. The state’s first rapid testing site opened on Friday, April 17th at Gateway Community College in New Haven.

Using the new Abbott ID NOW™ COVID-19 test, CVS Health is conducting up to 750 tests per day, seven days a week. Unlike the state’s other COVID-19 testing facilities, patients do not need to be referred by a doctor, however they are required to make an appointment in advance. The general public will be directed to a CVS website https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing to register for testing. 

Reserved Spots for Healthcare workers 

The State of Connecticut is reserving a limited number of spots per day for healthcare workers. These spots will be available each day, six days a week (Monday through Saturday), from Noon to 4 pm for these workers.

Initially, the demand for testing is expected to exceed the capacity. Every effort will be made to prioritize requests based on the criteria listed below, recognizing that not every potential test recipient may be able to immediately take advantage of this opportunity. (Healthcare workers and their family members can be directed to the CVS website for CVS testing independent of these reserved spots, too.)

Criteria for Testing

Priority should be given to persons with one or more of these symptoms: 

• Fever of 100 degrees or higher;

• New cough within last 14 days;

• Shortness of breath

Second priority should be given to persons with one or more of the following risk factors:

• Exposure to or contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days;

• Immunosuppressed;

• Pregnant

Reserving a Testing Slot

Please register your employees in need of testing through the following link

(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdC12caJ-2eUuLWf-z-4_nnytMREZQWj96xabjG53JxLWiJlA/viewform)

Testing is available Monday through Saturday. You must register the number of your prioritized workers by 5 PM for testing the following day. You will be notified by 10 AM the following day if slots are available for your facility that day. If slots are available for staff in your facility, please advise your staff to arrive between 12 and 4 pm to receive a test. Requests for testing can be sent daily. 

Location and On-Site Procedure

• The testing location is:

60 Sargent Drive 

Long Wharf Drive

New Haven, CT

• When you arrive, see the officer at the tent at Long Wharf Drive. Produce your personal ID and facility badge or work identification credentials. Further instructions will follow after check-in. 

• Access is by vehicle only. No vehicle may be larger than a passenger SUV. There may be no more than 2 people in each vehicle. It is recommended that each vehicle contain only one person. 

• When healthcare workers arrive, they are required to stay in their vehicle. Team members will check their registration and direct them through the testing process. Health care providers, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants from MinuteClinic will be on-site to oversee the testing.

• The process takes approximately 30 minutes from the collection of the swab to the delivery of the results.

• Testing is available at no charge.

General Public Registration

Anyone experiencing certain COVID-19 related symptoms and risk factors as defined by CDC guidelines, as well as those who meet certain requirements including state residency and age guidelines are eligible to be tested. Healthcare workers may also register through CVS’ online system for the general public for assignment to the non-reserved slots. Anyone who does not have an appointment will not be tested. Tests can be scheduled for the same day or up to two days in advance. To register, visit www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing.

Reminder:

I am reaching our to leaders to see if you would be comfortable in doing any or all of the following. We currently have a request from Connecticut legislative friends for healthcare leaders to speak out against reopening our state too quickly and what that might mean for a rebound of cases, but we also get other requests.

1. 30 second video for FB/Twitter/Press

2. Letters to the editor

3. Speaking to reporters (either on or off the record)

4. Sending internal messages to your members (many already doing this)

Just email or text me to let me know, or if any of your members are up to it.

Please give me as much info as you can about what the different hospital systems are doing as far as Workers Comp on these points:

1. Are members being put on Paid Administrative Leave if they are Covid positive/out sick?

2. Are member’s medical bills being covered by the hospital?

3. Are members having problems with the healthcare systems trying to say an illness was not acquired at work?

I need to get these answers to the Governor’s office ASAP. Thank you to those who have responded.

Be well,

John