MOHEGAN SUN AT CENTER OF ACTION
Though casino is closed, Expo Center is busy as one of state’s five PPE distribution centers
Mohegan — With the casinos closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the action at the Mohegan Sun these days is at the expo center.
No, the expansive building is not hosting conferences or conventions. Since early April, the building has served as one of the five locations designated by the state as a distribution point for personal protective equipment, or PPE.
The operation at the expo center covers Region 4, an expansive area designated by the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security that covers two tribal nations and 42 municipalities in Tolland, Windham and New London counties.
Twice a week, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, a steady stream of representatives from various municipalities trickle into the building, where they are met by members of the National Guard and volunteers filling orders for PPE.
Montville, New London, East Lyme and North Stonington all had personnel pulling in early on Wednesday to pick up gear for municipal employees and first responders, along with surgical masks available through donations for small businesses. Killingly Public Works Garage also opens on Wednesdays for distribution of PPE for municipalities.
Thursdays are designated solely for the public health sector and emergency medical services, such as EMTs at the New London Fire Department, and often is the much busier of the two days, said Mike Caplet, the Region 4 coordinator, who chatted with town employees as they drove through.
On Wednesday, North Stonington Emergency Management Director Gary Baron picked up N95 masks, surgical masks, gloves and bottles of hand sanitizer, among other items going to town employees that include highway department and transfer station personnel. Some of the masks are headed for Gourmet Galley, a catering business in town.
Surgical masks still are available for small businesses of 50 or fewer employees, which are allowed two masks per employee. Those requests can be made online at bit.ly/ ctsbmasks. Information on how to donate is available at 211ct.org/DonationsCOVID19.
Ledge Light Health District's director of health, Stephen Mansfield, said his agency is tasked with distributing equipment to urgent care centers, primary care physicians, dialysis centers, hospice groups and home health agencies. Hospitals receive their PPE directly.
“We have a list of wants and needs. We do our best to fulfill those needs,” Mansfield said. “Sometimes we have to prioritize. We have no control over what comes in.”
“We have a list of wants and needs. We do our best to fulfill those needs. Sometimes we have to prioritize. We have no control over what comes in.” STEPHEN MANSFIELD, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH LEDGE LIGHT HEALTH DISTRICT