On COVID-19

The communities in this region, with guidance/directives from the individual states and the Federal government, have been taking a number of steps to address concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this is an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus first detected in China and now being detected in over 100 locations internationally (including the United States). The virus has been named "SARS-CoV-2," and the disease it causes has been named "coronavirus disease 2019" (abbreviated "COVID-19").

According to CDC, on "January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concernexternal icon” (PHEIC). On January 31, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation's healthcare community in responding to COVID-19. On March 11, WHO publicly characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. On March 13, the President of the United States declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency."

CDC also reports that he complete clinical picture with regard to COVID-19 is not fully known. Reported illnesses have ranged from very mild (including some with no reported symptoms) to severe, including illness resulting in death. While information so far suggests that most COVID-19 illness is mild, a report out of China suggests serious illness occurs in 16% of cases. Older people and people of all ages with severe chronic medical conditions - like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, for example - seem to be at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness.

Different parts of the United States are seeing different levels of COVID-19 activity. According to CDC, the United States nationally "is currently in the initiation phases, but states where community spread is occurring are in the acceleration phase." The duration and severity of each phase can vary depending on the characteristics of the virus and the public health response.

As of 13 March, a total of 1,629 cases (including 41 deaths) have been reported to CDC from 46 states plus the District of Columbia. This includes both confirmed and presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 reported to CDC or tested at CDC since 21 January , with the exception of testing results for persons repatriated to the United States from Wuhan, China and Japan.

Cases reported in New England include 26 in Connecticut, 2 in Maine, 164 in Massachusetts, 13 in New Hampshire, 20 in Rhode Island, and 8 in Vermont. This includes both confirmed and presumptive positive cases of COVID-19. Other tests are pending, and several hundred persons throughout the region have been instructed to self-quarantine because of potential exposure to the disease.

In its latest guidance for for large events and mass gatherings (issued on 15 March), CDC is recommending that for the next eight weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of fifty people or more. Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing.  When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.

This recommendation does not apply to the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses. This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus.  This recommendation is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials.

Related Executive Orders from the New England governors:

State of Connecticut: Office of the Governor: Executive Order No. 7C

State of Maine: Office of the Governor: Proclamation of State of Civil Emergency to Further Protect Public Health

Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Office of the Governor: COVID-19 State of Emergency

State of New Hampshire: Office of the Governor: Executive Order 2020-04 (Declaration fo State of Emergency)

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Office of the Governor: Declaration of Disaster Emergency

State of Vermont: Office of the Governor: Executive Order No. 01-20 (Declaration of State of Emergency in Response to COVID-19)

For an overview of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), including symptoms, community resources, and other updates,, please visit:

CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

State of Connecticut: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention: Division of Disease Surveillance: Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Information on the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

State of New Hampshire: Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)

Rhode Island Department of Health: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Vermont Department of Health: 2019 Novel Coronavirus