Coronavirus CT: 8 Deaths, 327 Total Positive Cases Reported

CONNECTICUT — Since yesterday, an additional 104 Connecticut residents have tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 327 cases. More than 3,600 tests have been conducted among the state and private labs to date. Approximately 51 people are hospitalized and three more have died since Saturday from complications of COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths in the state to eight.

The deaths include a man in his 80s who was a resident of a nursing home in Stafford Springs and recently hospitalized at Johnson Memorial Hospital (not to be confused with another man in his 80s who was also a resident of a nursing home in Stafford Springs and being treated at the same hospital, whose passing was reported in yesterday’s update); a woman in her 80s who was a resident of a private home in Rocky Hill and recently hospitalized at Hartford Hospital; and a woman in her 80s who was a resident of a private home in New Canaan and recently hospitalized at Norwalk Hospital.

In Fairfield County, 208 positive cases have been reported and 20 people are in the hospital and five deaths have occurred. In Hartford County, 54 positive cases have been reported and 13 people are in the hospital and one death occurred. In New Haven County, 29 positive cases have been reported and nine people are in the hospital.

In Tolland County, 14 positive cases have been reported and two people are in the hospital and two deaths have occurred. In Litchfield County, 12 positive cases have been reported and three people are in the hospital. In New London County, three positive cases have been reported and one person is in the hospital and one positive case has been reported in Windham County.

Read the full report from the Connecticut Department of Public Health here.

Meanwhile, the Department of Economic and Community Development is preparing guidance to Connecticut businesses for implementation of Gov. Ned Lamont 's executive order directing the statewide closure of all non-essential, in-person business functions.

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Stay Safe, Stay Home: Non-Essential Businesses Close By 8 P.M. Monday

On Friday, Lamont issued his latest executive order, based on his 'Stay Safe, Stay Home' coronavirus response initiative: all non-essential workers statewide are being directed to work from home effective Monday, March 23 at 8 p.m. The details are supposed to come tonight.

A press release read that Lamont "is encouraging all businesses to employ, to the maximum extent possible, any telecommuting or work-from-home procedures that they can safely implement."

The order excludes any essential business or entity providing essential services or functions, such as healthcare, food service, law enforcement, and similar critical services. Lamont has previously said businesses that will be allowed to remain open include: grocery stores, restaurants that provide takeout and food delivery, pharmacies, gas stations, and even liquor stores.

"At this critical time it is essential that everyone just stay home so we can contain the spread of this virus while keeping essential services running,” Lamont said Friday. “I know that this will be disruptive to many and will bring many daily activities to a halt, but the only way we will be able to mitigate the impacts of this public health emergency is to take measures like this. I appreciate everyone’s cooperation, and I especially want to thank the essential workers who are needed to keep critical services running.”

The measures:

1. Effective at 8PM on Monday, March 23, all non-essential businesses statewide should close;
2. Non-essential public community gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason should be canceled (e.g. parties, celebrations or other social events) are canceled or postponed at this time;
3. If you must leave your home, do not travel in groups -groups must be limited to workers providing essential services;
4. Everyone should keep at least six feet away from each other whenever possible;
5. Businesses and entities that provide other essential services should implement rules that help facilitate social distancing of at least six feet;
6. Individuals should limit outdoor recreational activities to non-contact and avoid activities where they come in close contact with other people;
7. Individuals should limit use of public transportation to when absolutely necessary and should limit potential exposure by spacing out at least six feet from other riders;
8. Sick individuals should not leave their home except to fill critical needs or to receive medical care, and only after a telehealth visit to determine if leaving the home is in the best interest of their health;
9. Young people should also practice social distancing and avoid contact with vulnerable populations; and
10. Use precautionary sanitizer practices such as using soap and water, hand sanitizer, or isopropyl alcohol wipes. Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds works best.

Ellyn Santiago/Patch

From barbers to bars, businesses are closed

Connecticut joined New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to shutter restaurants and bars, though takeout and delivery are allowed, movie theaters, casinos, gyms, large indoor retail shopping malls, amusement parks, and bowling alleys.

Also, any public amusement venues including aquariums, zoos, arcades, fairs, children's play centers, theme parks, and other family and children's attractions shall be closed to the public. By Thursday, the governor directed that all nail salons, barber shops, hair salons, and other cosmetology services close.

Personal Protective Equipment Is Desperately Needed For Hospitals, First Responders

Lamont asked members of the public, businesses, and philanthropic organizations to consider donating items of Personal Protective Equipment for use in Connecticut’s hospitals and long-term care facilities, more than 100 entities have filled out the donation form expressing interest in giving.

Anyone who has these vital materials and would like to donate them to Connecticut’s medical community should fill out the online form located at www.211ct.org/DonationsCOVID19.

Requests received are being reviewed by staff at DPH and United Way to ensure that the donations meet the needs of Connecticut’s medical community.

Items being requested by the state at this time include:

· N95 Respirators
· Face Masks/Surgical Masks
· Face Shields
· Surgical Gowns
· Gloves (nitrile, or non-latex)
· Thermometers
· Thermometer Covers (if applicable to type of thermometer)
· Hand Sanitizer
· Other Medical Items