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Whereas Bradley Worldwide Airport stays open and home flights are working, the Connecticut Airport Authority, which runs Bradley, mentioned a lot of its airline companions have decreased schedules or dropped their flights fully. To assist mitigate related stoppages nationwide, the federal government launched a multi-billion greenback aid program aimed toward shoring up operations at U.S. airports impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Aer Lingus, Air Canada and Spirit Airways have quickly stopped all operations from Bradley,” mentioned the CAA’s Ryan Tenny in an electronic mail Wednesday. “Our different airline companions proceed to regulate operations every day…we’re at present experiencing over a 95% lower in passenger visitors.”
Roughly $28.5 million of the federal help package deal will go to Bradley, in keeping with a joint assertion from Connecticut’s congressional delegation. The cash can be utilized for airport capital expenditures, working bills corresponding to payroll and utilities, and debt funds.
“The impacts to our operations will possible persist for months to return,” mentioned Kevin Dillion, government director of the CAA in a press release. “This help is a vital piece of the answer.”
Along with Bradley, Tweed-New Haven will obtain roughly $1.1 million, and Igor Sikorsky Memorial Airport, which is owned by the town of Bridgeport, will get about $150,000.
UConn Well being utilizing affected person blood to battle COVID-19
As docs proceed to hunt new methods to battle the novel coronavirus, UConn Well being introduced Wednesday that a number of workers who’ve recovered from COVID-19 are actually within the means of donating their blood to assist critically sick sufferers. The trial will check if the antibodies in that blood may doubtlessly assault the virus and assist sufferers who’re sick with COVID-19 extra quickly get well.
The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration has authorised 4 healthcare methods for the research,together with the Mayo Clinic and Trinity Well being Of New England, which runs St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. UConn Well being mentioned Wednesday it’s joined the trouble utilizing a protocol developed by the Mayo Clinic.
“Using convalescent plasma is by no means new to drugs, and could be traced again to the 20th century,” mentioned Mauricio Montezuma, web site principal investigator for UConn Well being, in a press release. “Knowledge on convalescent plasma in COVID-19 is proscribed; nonetheless, two small experiences from China are promising.”
Earlier than any donor blood can be transfused to coronavirus sufferers, it is going to be examined for a number of issues, together with virus-resistant antibodies, UConn Well being mentioned.
If the blood is appropriate, the plasma shall be donated.
Donors will need to have examined optimistic for coronavirus, be asymptomatic for 14 days, and have a subsequent unfavourable check for the illness.
‘No price’ life insurance coverage supplied to frontline healthcare staff
Medical professionals in Connecticut and Massachusetts who’re risking their lives to providecare to sufferers contaminated with the novel coronavirus may quickly be eligible totally free life insurance coverage, state officers mentioned Wednesday morning.
The no-cost, three-year time period life insurance coverage coverage can be for medical staff employed at a licensed hospital, an pressing care heart, or with an emergency medical companies supplier. The employees will need to have publicity to COVID-19 sufferers.
The life insurance coverage coverage, which is obtainable via Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance coverage Firm, would offer as much as $25,000 in no-cost advantages if the employee is between the ages of 18 and 50. Staff between the ages of 51 to 60 will obtain a no-cost $10,000 dying profit. Lab technicians, custodial workers, upkeep crews, cafeteria staff and safety personnel will even be thought-about for protection, in keeping with state officers.
Extra particulars and data on enrollment availability is on the MassMutual HealthBridge webpage.
Assist requested for home violence and sexual assault victims
A bipartisan group of 39 U.S. senators, together with Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), is asking for extra federal funding to be made accessible to help packages for victims of home violence and sexual assault.
The $2 trillion coronavirus aid package deal already authorised by Congress consists of about $47 million for some home violence companies, however no funding was allotted for sexual assault and home violence help packages operated by U.S. Division of Justice.
Native police and representatives of help companies across the U.S. are reporting elevated numbers of requires assist from victims of home violence and sexual assault. The senators looking for extra funding for such packages warn that “abusers are utilizing COVID-19 to isolate their victims, withhold monetary companies and refuse medical help.”
Murphy and Blumenthal, together with their colleagues, are asking that any extra aid laws associated to the pandemic embrace cash for sexual assault service suppliers, regulation enforcement, transitional housing and different help companies.
Connecticut looking for full federal catastrophe funding for pandemic prices
Gov. Ned Lamont and the state’s congressional delegation are asking that the federal authorities reimburse Connecticut for 100% of the state’s emergency spending regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. President Donald J. Trump has issued a federal catastrophe declaration for Connecticut as requested by Lamont, however that will solely present the state 75% federal reimbursement for state prices.
“The scale and scope of this public well being emergency is unprecedented,” Lamont mentioned. “If authorised, this request would convey a lot wanted extra monetary help to the state and our municipalities.”
In his request, Lamont mentioned the state has already spent about $500 million on pandemic-related packages and companies, cash that wasn’t within the state price range. The governor mentioned present projections are that Connecticut state authorities spending on COVID-19 points “will at the very least triple to $1.5 billion.”
Reduction requested for native farmers
As states throughout America undertake social distancing mandates aimed toward combating the unfold of COVID-19, the financial wiring of many native farms has unraveled.
Conventional patrons like close by eating places or colleges have closed, and lots of farmers markets have shut down.
In response, the federal CARES Act units apart $9.5 billion, which the U.S. Division of Agriculture will use to supply help to farmers throughout the nation.
Final week, senators Blumenthal and Murphy wrote to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, advocating {that a} portion of that cash go to native meals producers.
Moreover, the senators mentioned they need the USDA to situation direct funds to certified native farmers which can be equal to 25% of annual income, as much as a most of $25,000.
“For these native meals producers who can present info concerning precise COVID income loss and added prices, extra catastrophe help must be made accessible,” the senators wrote.
CT Mirror reporter Greg Hladky contributed to this report.
