Coronavirus CT: Are 200 Hospital Employees Really Furloughed?

DANBURY, CT — Danbury Hospital and six others run by Nuvance Health have plenty of beds and clinical personnel available to handle the area's outbreak of the new coronavirus, despite what you may have seen on TV.

Social media shifted into a worried overdrive on Monday night when Gov. Ned Lamont, being interviewed on MSNBC's "All In with Chris Hayes," seemed to imply that Danbury Hospital was filled to capacity, with 200 nurses on furlough. It was later clarified that the 200 number referenced all hospital employees of all hospitals run by Nuvance Health.

"I learned today 200 employees of one of the best health systems that serves our state may have come into contact with COVID-19 and they've been staying home," Lamont said after his television appearance. "@NuvanceHealth has been on the front lines since day 1 with our first case in the state and I know they’re doing the right thing for their patients and staff. Sharon, New Milford, Norwalk, and Danbury Hospitals are doing the right thing by their patients. And Danbury now has capacity to conduct alternate site testing. It’s another system responding to this growing health emergency."

Nuvance Health said they definitely have the ability to treat people who are ill at their various hospitals, including Danbury Hospital.

"We have capacity at Danbury Hospital to treat illness and injury including COVID-19," Nuvance spokeswoman Amy Forni told Patch. "We continue to take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our patients and staff."

A spokesman for the governor says that Lamont defers to Nuvance.

"The approximately 200 employees at home is across seven hospitals, not at a single hospital," Forni said. "The number of people furloughed is evolving as some early furloughs are now safely returning to work."

The employees are also a mix of both clinical and con-clinical personnel, according to Nuvance.

In fact, Danbury Hospital has just activated a mobile test site and hotline to provide remote screenings and information regarding the new coronavirus, expanding their capabilities.

The drive-through collection site located at 95 Locust Avenue, at the corner of Osborne Street and Locust Avenue, is now available only for people suspected of having the virus.

"Testing for those that meet testing criteria will continue," Forni said.

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