Hi John,

Connecticut is on track to soon meet the seven criteria
necessary to begin the first phase of reopening our state's
businesses and workplaces.

This does not mean that everything will suddenly be back to
normal, but it does mean that our collective efforts to flatten
the curve are working. I hope that you and your entire family are
safe, and I want to thank you for everything you've done to help
protect your neighbors.

COVID-19 has presented our state and our country with
unprecedented challenges, and I am deeply proud of the way folks
in Connecticut have responded to this moment. This week is
National Nurses Week, and I want to take a moment to celebrate
the courage and dedication of Connecticut's nurses.

John, providing care to COVID-19 patients
is incredibly grueling. More than 9,000 patients have been
hospitalized in Connecticut to date, and more than 5,400 have
been discharged. Nurses, along with doctors and other health care
providers and staff, are working around the clock in extremely
difficult conditions to save lives.

Fueled by deep compassion and unyielding dedication, these
health care professionals are permanently impacting the lives of
thousands of families across our state. As I told nurses at Saint
Francis Hospital in Hartford this week, "each and every one of
you are called for this moment, each and every one of you is
stepping up."

I cannot thank our nurses and other health care workers enough,
and I hope that this week you will join me in expressing
gratitude to these inspiring heroes.

This week is also Teacher Appreciation Week, and I'd like to use
this opportunity to express gratitude to some other Connecticut
heroes today.

As every parent of school-age children can attest to, adapting
to remote learning has presented families and students with a
number of new challenges. Despite the logistical hurdles and
incredible difficulty of managing a virtual classroom,
Connecticut's teachers are keeping our students connected and
engaged with their education.

For many parents, including those who are newly working from
home, this crisis has been a stark reminder of exactly how much
work educators do every day for our children. Please join me in
thanking Connecticut's teachers for everything that they do.

"Essential workers" is a phrase we've heard a lot in the past
couple of months. Nurses, doctors, and teachers are widely
understood as being essential parts of any healthy modern
society.

But this crisis has revealed that many of the essential work
that we all depend on to live our lives does not receive the
recognition it deserves. Grocery store workers, delivery workers,
USPS workers, restaurant and transportation workers -- all of
these jobs and more have emerged as fundamental to the
functioning of our economy.

This month began with International Workers' Day, and it's
important that in addition to celebrating nurses and teachers, we
also honor all of the essential workers that are helping us
through this crisis.

So John, join me in saying thank you to
Connecticut's nurses, teachers, and all essential workers for
protecting our families and neighbors every day.

We must never forget the sacrifices that all of these heroes
have made, and we must commit to honoring their essential work
both today and once this crisis is behind us.

Thank you all, and please stay safe!

Governor Ned LamontPaid for by the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee, www.ctdems.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
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