‘Something brewing’
CT COVID spike concerns health experts
A mislabeled COVID-19 test result has caused an entire Sacred Heart University dorm to be quarantined as health experts warn the state’s recent spike in cases should serve as a wake-up call for everyone.
“I think we need to be prepared for a surge 2.0,” said Keith Grant, senior system director of infection prevention for Hartford HealthCare. “I don’t believe the numbers will go back down again any time soon.”
Sacred Heart University has expanded a quarantine order, requiring all students living in Merton Hall to remain in their rooms except for trips to their designated bathrooms. The order
was a result of a student who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, but was not initially identified as being infected because the test was mislabeled, school officials said.
In a letter sent to the school community, officials said there are a total of 50 active COVID cases. Of those, 45 live off-campus in the North End of Bridgeport. Most of those are asymptomatic, the school said.
“Our children started school, and as difficult as is to maintain the proper precautions in place with young children, teenagers and college students, we need to focus on this group if we will be successful in containing this pandemic,” said Dr. Corina Marcu, St. Vincent’s Medical Center’s associate vice president of medical affairs.
On Thursday, Gov. Ned Lamont announced there were 220 new COVID infections out of about 14,000 tests performed statewide in the previous 24 hours, a positivity rate of just under 1.6 percent. He called the numbers “concerning,” while maintaining that Connecticut still has some of the lowest numbers in the country.
The data released Friday was marginally better, with Lamont reporting 13,865 tests administered and 141 coming back positive, for a 1 percent positivity rate. However, the state’s positivity rate was less than 1 percent as recent as last month.
Among the state’s larger cities, Bridgeport, Hartford and Danbury have seen some of the biggest spikes in new cases. Between Wednesday and Thursday, there were 29 new cases in Danbury, 13 in Bridgeport and 21 in Hartford — compared with two in New Haven and four in Stamford.
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said he wasn’t surprised by the numbers. The city began seeing an increase last month, prompting schools to move all classes online to start it the year.
Boughton said the city is taking measures to control the spread of the virus, but said the recent trend is “troubling.”
“We continue to encourage people to follow the guidance (on masking, social distancing and other preventative measures),” he said. “People have been very cooperative. It’s just a difficult time right now.”
Those statewide and citywide figures reflect what Grant has been seeing at Hartford HealthCare’s hospitals, which include Hartford Hospital and St. Vincent’s Medical Center.
As of Friday, Grant said there were 27 COVID-19 patients across the entire Hartford HealthCare system. He said there were just 13 patients on Aug. 25.
“There is definitely something brewing,” Grant said.
Grant attributes the spike in hospitalizations to more people becoming relaxed with COVID-19 safety measures after months of declining numbers in Connecticut. Grant said he often sees people walking around without masks, and in some instances, has intervened to gently remind them the virus is still present.
“Sometimes success brings complacency,” he said. “The human part of me says I understand why that’s happening.”
But, Grant said, when it comes to COVID-19, complacency can be dangerous.
“One of the things we need to get into people’s heads is that this is a deadly virus and this is still out there,” he said.
However, Grant and Marcu said they don’t expect a resurgence to the level Connecticut experienced in the spring.
“I do not predict a return to anything like we have seen in the spring, and definitely not the same intensity,” Marcu said. “Our community in general is more aware of the preventative measures and the hospitals and ambulatory offices have spent a tremendous amount of time and resource setting safeguards in place.”