Here Is What State Needs To Improve For May 20 Reopening

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut continues to see a drop in coronavirus hospitalizations and remains on target to start the reopening process on May 20.

The state saw 79 more coronavirus-related deaths and 789 cases out of 4,727 tests. Hospitalizations dropped by 60 patients between Wednesday and Thursday.

The total confirmed coronavirus positive cases is at 31,784 and there have been 2,797 deaths.

To date 9,389 people have been hospitalized for COVID-19 in Connecticut, 5,413 people have been discharged and 1,385 are still hospitalized.

Lamont laid out the seven reopening criteria and the state’s status on each front. The state won’t have an A+ in each category by May 20, but will be in the A range, he said.

Lamont’s office is working on an executive order that will clarify local zoning authority for restaurants. Lamont’s goal is to see more flexible local rules such as allowing dining tables on sidewalks and in parking lots.

Hospitalizations

The state has seen a 16-day downward trend in hospitalizations and is down 30 percent from the peak of hospitalizations. There have also been no regional outbreaks during the time period, Lamont said.

Testing capacity

The state still needs to improve testing capacity with a goal of 42,000 tests per week by May 20. The state also wants a turnaround time of 48 hours or less for results, Lamont said.

Increased testing capacity would also allow the testing of asymptomatic people to better help gauge the overall transmission rate, Lamont said. In addition, anyone with possible coronavirus symptoms should be tested.

“I think you are going to see real progress on our testing capacity and implementation over the next two weeks and over the next six weeks,” Lamont said.

As of Thursday around 17 percent of all tests come back positive said Dr. Albert Ko, co-chair of the reopening CT advisory group and department chair of epidemiology for Yale School of Medicine.

The goal is to get to around 10 percent, Ko said. Increased testing should bring the state to that figure.

Contact Tracing

The state will launch its Microsoft contact tracing program later Thursday and will begin to pilot contact tracing with 20 local health departments next week. The state continues to recruit and train volunteers.

Screening vulnerable and high risk populations (nursing homes, direct care workers, first responders, at-risk urban communities and corrections staff.)

Lamont said the state needs to do a better job of encouraging testing in urban communities. The state now has three mobile testing vans.

Lamont said he would issue an executive order later Thursday that will change the requirement to get a doctor’s permission to obtain a test.

Hospital capacity

Hospital’s have adequate capacity, Lamont said.

Hospitals will be able to resume select procedures that were delayed during the peak of coronavirus hospitalizations.

PPE Supply

The goal is to have a 30-day supply of personal protective equipment for major healthcare systems. The state’s stockpile is in good shape except for gowns at this point, Lamont said. The state is also expecting a very large shipment of PPE by Saturday.

To date the state has received around 50 percent of its PPE orders since the pandemic started and another 30 percent of orders are expected to be fulfilled in the next week and a half, said state COO Josh Geballe.

Reopening regulations

More standards and regulations for business reopening will be released Friday. Each particular business will get its own set of regulations to help limit the spread of the virus.