You have done an incredible job, Connecticut, in controlling the spread of COVID-19.

You’re following the rules - and supporting each other - by wearing masks, keeping a safe distance from others and making sure you’re washing your hands regularly.

I’ve been saying since the start of this pandemic that I consider all 3.5 million of our residents one big family, because we look out for each other in Connecticut. The pandemic has persisted since March, but I have finally had the chance to travel the state. I’ve been to all of our major cities, I’ve walked in neighborhoods, visited our parks and I’ve stopped in restaurants. I have been so impressed by everyone’s commitment to doing the right thing. Servers and bartenders are wearing masks at restaurants, hand sanitizer is available at the door of businesses and families are on blankets in parks enjoying the time outside - one of the safest ways to prevent outbreaks.

There’s one more thing I need more of you to do, and that’s to get tested for COVID-19. You may remember that at the beginning of this crisis testing was difficult to come by, and it was a struggle to reach our communities who were getting hit the hardest.

Things are different now, and we need your help.

We need you to get tested – likely regularly - if you’re living in some of our largest cities and towns, especially if you live in an apartment building. You may hear from your church, community health center or organizations in your community about testing events in your area – and you should go. These organizations can work to support you getting a test – even if you don’t have access to insurance.

No matter where you live, you should get tested if at any point you have felt any symptoms of COVID-19. It doesn’t matter if you have only felt the mildest bit of a cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of smell or taste, or perhaps you just physically feel a little off one day. In all of those cases - you should get a test.

You can find a test by visiting ct.gov/coronavirus, and typing in your zip code. You’ll get a list of testing sites, along with information about appointments, what languages the staff speaks, what types of testing they offer – and more. If you have any questions – it's always good to call ahead.

Why is testing so important? Because information is power, and the more information you have, the more you can protect your friends, family and coworkers from getting infected. If you test positive for COVID-19, it’s important to let your loved ones know, so they can find out for themselves if they are positive for the virus. If you test positive, you should know that you’ll receive a call from a contact tracer to help determine who else may have come into contact with you in recent days. Please, take the call, and take some time to talk to the contact tracer – your personal information will be secure and protected in this process. Contact tracers are here to help.

This has been a scary past few months for all of us in Connecticut, in our country and around the world.

Here in Connecticut, we have been one of the most successful states in the country when it has come to mitigating the spread of the virus, and that’s because of all of us working together toward a common cause of beating this pandemic, and trying to get back to normal life. If more of us follow the state’s testing guidance, we’ll be able to remove our masks, and share a handshake with new friends or a hug with old friends sooner.

Let’s beat coronavirus together. Let’s wear our masks. Let’s make sure we’re getting tested. Let’s show Connecticut Respect.