Coronavirus CT: Lamont Calls For Regional Testing Strategy

HARTFORD, CT — Gov. Ned Lamont said that Connecticut, New York and New Jersey will work together on a regional coronavirus testing strategy for both active cases and eventually antibody testing to determine who has immunity to the virus. Lamont appeared on CNN Monday night and was interviewed by Chris Cuomo, the brother of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He also appeared on MSNBC Tuesday morning.

Lamont said that a national testing strategy would be prudent, but in the absence of one he’d like to work regionally on a plan.

“It’s not the right policy prescription, I think [President Donald Trump] should be rolling out a national testing strategy just as he should be buying PPE[Personal Protective Equipment]… I’m not going to sit around and complain about that, I’m working with your brother, I’m working with Phil Murphy in New Jersey,” Lamont said on CNN. “I want to get together with them and work on a test strategy, not just what we do for this region now, but what we do afterwards in terms of the antibody testing so we can prepare for what comes afterwards.”

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo tweeted Tuesday that testing will be necessary to restart normal life. He said that his state's Department of Health developed antibody testing and is working to bring it to scale with the the FDA.

"We are moving with NJ & CT to ensure we move forward using a regional approach," he tweeted.

On MSNBC Lamont said that hospitalization data was probably Connecticut's best metric to predict trends.

"So far our hospitalizations are not flattening, but at least the line is linear," he said.

He also called on the federal government to act as the purchasing agent for PPE and ventilators instead of leaving it up to the states to scour the globe.

Lamont during his daily Monday news conference said that the fight against coronavirus won’t be over once Connecticut gets over its peak number of cases, which is expected in the coming weeks. The key to the long-term fight will be adequate testing. Lamont said that Stamford Hospital now has Abbott Labs’ 15-minute COVID-19 test. More hospitals in Connecticut are expected to receive the 15-minute test kits by the end of the week.

Connecticut has conducted 26,686 tests as of Monday with 6,906 positive coronavirus cases and 19,780 negative results; that is about one test for every 131 residents .

That lags behind some other nearby states on a per capita basis. Massachusetts has tested about one out of every 90 residents. New York, which is the country’s hot zone and has conducted 320,000 tests, which is about one test per 60 residents. New Jersey has conducted about one test per 100 residents.

The U.S. has conducted about 1.9 million coronavirus tests as of Monday, according to the COVID Tracking Project. According to 2019 U.S. Census estimates that is about one out of every 172 people. (To sign up for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities, click here.)

See related: Coronavirus CT: Lamont Close To Making School Decision

CT Hospitals Using Chloroquine To Treat Coronavirus Patients

Connecticut’s testing strategy has changed over time. Lamont said on March 27 the state was slowing down testing due to a lack of PPE, but days later said the state would ramp up testing again, according to the Hartford Courant. The state has also seen swings in the number of tests results reported; it reached a high of more than 3,000 Monday; Sunday saw just over 1,200 results and Saturday saw more than 2,000 results.

Hospitals Also Call For National Testing Strategy

A hospital survey performed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that testing was among one of the biggest challenges during the coronavirus pandemic. The survey was conducted between March 23 and 27 and more than 300 hospitals responded.

“Hospitals reported that they were unable to keep up with COVID-19 testing demands because they lacked complete kits and/or the individual components and supplies needed to complete tests,” the report said. “Additionally, hospitals reported frequently waiting 7 days or longer for test results. When patient stays were extended while awaiting test results, this strained bed availability, personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies, and staffing.”

Many hospital administrators interviewed for the survey said they wanted the government to nationally coordinate testing because they were often competing against different hospital systems for test kits and swabs. Administrators also complained about rapidly-changing CDC guidance that sometimes conflicted with guidance from home states.

Long turnaround times for testing have led hospitals to assume all patients with coronavirus symptoms are positive, which results in more personal protective equipment and other hospital resources being used.

The lack of quick testing turnaround also takes hospital staff out of rotation if they are presumptively positive for COVID-19.