Connecticut Lodging Association
12/21/2021
Federal Appeals Court Reinstates OSHA’s Vaccine Mandate-or-Test ETS: An Employers’ 5-Step Compliance Plan
In one of the more shocking developments in a year full of surprises, a federal appeals court breathed new life into the Biden administration’s mandate-or-test emergency vaccine rule with a stunning Friday afternoon decision. A three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals – which had been widely expected to keep the ETS on ice pending resolution of the many legal challenges against it – overturned the stay blocking the rule from taking effect. The upshot? Employers now have a January 10 deadline to work toward, which means the time to take action is now. This Insight will present a five-step game plan for employers, followed by a deeper dive analysis of the court ruling. If you want more information, you can attend a complimentary and interactive webinar hosted by leaders of our firm’s Workplace Safety and Vaccine teams to be held Tuesday, December 21 at 1:00 PM ET by registering here.
CT WiZ: Access My Immunization Record
Get your immunization record through the secure CT WiZ Public Portal, a free service provided by the Connecticut Department of Public Health Immunization Program.

Patients and legal guardians can access official immunization records for themselves and their children using the CT WiZ Public Portal.

The CT WiZ Public Portal allows individuals to access their own immunization records, while parents and guardians can also access their child’s records. You have the option of getting a PDF copy of your full immunization record, just your COVID-19 vaccine record, or your SMART Health card, which is a digital copy of your COVID-19 vaccine record that can be stored on your phone as a QR code. If you cannot access your record electronically click here to request your record be mailed or faxed to you. Read more.
Coronavirus (COVID19) in Connecticut
Connecticut Update: as of Dec. 20, 2021 4:00 p.m. portal.ct.gov/coronavirus
Overall Summary Total**; Change Since Yesterday
COVID-19 Cases 461,775; +6,209
COVID-19 Tests Reported; 13,082,876; +90,689
Daily Test Positivity; 6.85%
Patients Currently Hospitalized with COVID-19; 837; +101
**Includes confirmed plus probable cases
U.S. - COVID19: What is the current situation?
Cases & Latest Updates 12/20/21 Cases in U.S.
Total cases: 50,791,012 +88,379
Total deaths: 803,379 +138
Global
World Health Organization Situation Report who.int
273,900,334; cases; +4,210,729
5,351,812; deaths; +45,158

Connecticut News

New COVID-19 testing options made available for CT residents wtnh.com

Long Waits At COVID-19 Testing Sites Return
National News

Omicron 'is going to take over' this winter, and Fauci says Americans should brace for a 'tough few weeks to months' cnn.com

Omicron variant accounts for 73 percent of new Covid cases in U.S. nbcnews.com
Hotel News
CBRE Forecasts RevPAR to Recover by Mid-2023

U.S. Travel & Tourism Saw Labor Shortfall of Almost 700,000 in 2021 hotel-online.com

Four Insights on Traveler Behavior Trends for 2022

STR: U.S. hotel performance for November 2021
Additional H-2B Visas to be Released
AHLA, along with the H-2B Workforce Coalition, which AHLA co-chairs, has been lobbying the Biden Administration, DHS and DOL to provide much needed cap relief under the H-2B visa program. Those efforts paid off earlier today, when the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor announced plans to release an additional 20,000 H-2B visas for the 1st half cap for fiscal year 2022. 
  
As the Administration’s announcement indicates, 13,500 visas will be for “returning workers” and the other 6,500 will be set aside for petitions from Haiti and northern triangle countries (Honduras, Guatemala & El Salvador). These additional visas will provide crucial help to winter seasonal resorts and are a very positive indicator that the Biden Administration recognizes the acute workforce shortage our industry is facing.  
  
Filling open jobs is the hotel industry’s top priority, and the H-2B visa program helps hotels and other industries with strong seasonal business and workforce needs to do just that. AHLA will continue to push for critical H-2B cap relief for the second half of FY2022.  
DCF Human Trafficking Prevention Course for Lodging
Join us Thursday, January 13th for CLA's virtual training course on Human Trafficking Prevention from the CT Department of Children and Families. This course is open to any and all lodging employees. Please register each employee who will attend the course separately.

Please send any questions in advance to info@ctlodging.org, with subject line 1/13 HTP Question. 

When: Thursday, January 13, 2021 | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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