Coronavirus CT: Cases Hit 68; Virus 'Accelerating'

HARTFORD, CT — The number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus hit 68 in Connecticut on Tuesday. But Gov. Ned Lamont and state health officials said that's a fraction of the actual number of infected people.

Lamont said the spread of the virus is "accelerating" and the confirmed cases are low because many people haven't been tested.

State Epidemiologist Matthew Cartter said the state should assume that 100 people have the virus for every person that has tested positive, which would mean there are likely at least 6,000 people who have the virus in Connecticut. And he added that number is likely very low. Officials also revealed Tuesday that 26 people are currently hospitalized due to the virus.

Lamont said Fairfield County has the bulk of the cases but Hartford, New Haven and Litchfield counties all have cases. The southeastern part of the state have been spared so far, he said, but not for long given the community spread of the disease.

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Shelter-in-place order for Connecticut?

Lamont was asked whether Connecticut is considering a strict "shelter-in-place order" that some big cities have enacted or are considering, including New York City. Lamont said he's not considering such a drastic response because he is "proud" of how Connecticut residents stepped up and listened to the expert's advice to stay home and practice social distancing when in public.

A shelter-in-place order means people must remain in their homes except for essential things like buying food or supplies, getting medications, seeing a doctor, or caring for sick family. But when people do go out and are around other people, they need to be at least 6 feet away.

But Lamont again stressed that people over the age of 60 should remain at home, as should young people.

100,000 hospitality workers impacted by coronavirus

Monday, Connecticut joined New York and New Jersey in closing bars, restaurants, casinos, movie theaters and gyms in an effort to blunt the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19. Takeout and delivery orders are still allowed. Govs. Lamont, Andrew Cuomo and Phil Murphy agreed that a regional approach was necessary.

Lamont said Tuesday that 100,000 restaurant, bar and hospitality employees will be impacted. The business closures are in effect until further notice or at least until April 30, the executive order reads.

Supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations will remain open. Though some are limiting hours. Nonessential travel is discouraged. The governor's order didn't mention liquor stores.

Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods agreed to close temporarily.

Expanded unemployment benefits

Lamont said that the state is expanding unemployment compensation, including for all hourly workers and independent contractors. He said during a recession, unemployment claims in Connecticut might top 5,000 a week.

"Yesterday 10,000 applied," Lamont said.

Lamont said he's also working with the state's congressional delegation in the hope of securing cash payments for people, two weeks of paid sick leave and paid family leave.

Connecticut cases by the numbers

On Monday, there were 41 Connecticut residents who tested positive coronavirus. On Tuesday, that figure hit 68. This represents people who were approved by a doctor be eligible to have testing done. These are the number of patients who tested positive (including presumptive positive):

• Fairfield County: 48
• Hartford County: 7
• Litchfield County: 5
• New Haven County: 8

More housing and help needed

Lamont said he's working to secure housing for the homeless so that if they have the coronavirus they can quarantine for 14 days and get well.

He also said he's looking for additional housing for folks who are at hospitals but on the mend so it will free up another hospital bed.

Lamont praised hospitals for halting elective surgeries due to the need for as many hospital beds as possible. He said he's working to secure more nurses and pleaded with retired nurses to return to work for the next couple of months.

He specifically mentioned that Greenwich, Danbury and Bridgeport hospital staff are working 24/7 and that the hospitals are full.

Drive-thru coronavirus testing in Connecticut

Lamont said that 10 hospitals in the state are doing drive-thru testing and that to date, there have been "around 400-500 tests so far."

Hartford HealthCare said it “mobilized quickly” and opened its drive-thru Tuesday. It’s explained that with the proper referral, patients with symptoms or possible exposure can be tested without leaving their vehicles. Call your provider or schedule a virtual visit through Hartford HealthCare’s COVID-19 hotline (860.972.8100 or, toll-free, 833.621.0600).

Across the state, in an effort to help protect patients and support social distancing, alternate coronavirus testing locations have been approved at several hospitals throughout Connecticut and each of them are at varying stages of setting-up drive-thru testing procedures.
The hospitals approved for drive-through test sampling includes:

• Bridgeport Hospital
• Bristol Health
• Danbury Hospital
• Greenwich Hospital
• Stamford Health
• Waterbury Hospital
• Yale-New Haven Hospital

Anyone seeking to be tested must have a prescription from their doctor and make an appointment in advance. Healthcare providers granted streamlined approval process to accelerate availability of coronavirus treatment and services.

Connecticut’s Office of Health Strategy Executive Director Vicki Veltri provided guidelines for a streamlined application, review, and approval process so healthcare providers can adjust treatment services for those afflicted with coronavirus.

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Social distancing

On Monday, the social distancing order by Lamont was for gatherings of 50 or more to be canceled and that people 60 and over should avoid crowds altogether. By late Monday, the CDC said just 10 people.

All schools closed

Lamont on Sunday closed all public schools in Connecticut from March 17 through at least March 31 to mitigate the spread of coronavirus but added, "This date may be extended if determined necessary."

Students who receive meals through the school lunch/breakfast program are getting meals using a drive-thru method at schools.

Student education will continue he said as the state is working with internet education companies to provide online education modules.

With the likelihood that closures extend past two weeks, the state education department is working to provide school districts with additional guidance on distance learning, with a basic option to support their planning, and are working with partner districts and providers to develop more robust resources to promote equitable access around Connecticut, a press release from Lamont reads. The agency is in discussions with the Regional Education Service Centers to have them act as repositories of distance learning best practices and other similar resources.

Disaster loans for small businesses, nonprofits

Lamont said that now, small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Connecticut that have been negatively impacted by the global COVID-19 outbreak are now eligible for disaster relief loans of up to $2 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

On Sunday, the governor submitted a request to the federal agency for expedited approval of the disaster relief to immediately provide aid to businesses in Connecticut. Over the past several days, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has been working diligently to survey companies statewide to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the small business community and the local economy.

And, there's guidance for workers, employers and small businesses.

State tax authority extends some deadlines

Consistent with the emergency declarations signed by Lamont, the state Department of Revenue Services granted automatic extensions for certain state tax return deadlines as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Effective immediately, the filing deadlines for certain tax returns due on or after March 15 and before June 1 are extended by 30 days. The payments associated with these returns are also extended to the corresponding due date in June.

No evictions, no utility shutoffs

A judicial order Tuesday stays evictions until at least March 27.

In a formal petition to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, Attorney General William Tong sought an emergency moratorium on electric, natural gas, and water utility shut-offs in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The petition seeks to cease all utility service terminations for a 30 day period subject to renewal to ensure all residents may safely remain home during the epidemic.
Last Friday it was granted.

Out-of-work residents can get health insurance

State Office of Health Strategy Executive Director Vicki Veltri reminded workers who received health insurance through their employer and lost their jobs due to coronavirus or other factors have an option to maintain insurance. If a worker loses minimum coverage or receives COBRA benefits, the worker qualifies year-round for open enrollment through AccessHealthCT, the state’s health insurance marketplace. Find more information at learn.accesshealthct.com/special.

Masses canceled

Priests in churches across Hartford, Litchfield, and New Haven counties will celebrate a daily mass alone, with no congregation, the Archdiocese of Hartford said, noting those priests will be praying for "all affected by the COVID-19 pandemic."

They will be alone because beginning Tuesday, March 17, as the Archdiocese of Hartford has canceled all weekend and weekday masses.

The Archdiocese posted to Facebook that it is complying with the instruction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the order issued by Lamont Monday.