Connecticut reports 42 more coronavirus-related deaths Saturday, bringing the total to 3,912. Another 260 confirmed cases brings the state’s total to 42,022.
Such homes had almost 94% of state’s virus-related fatalities during week starting May 20
In a one-week period starting on May 20, the state recorded 244 COVID-19-related deaths. Only 15 of those deaths were not in a long-term care facility, meaning nearly 94 percent of the deaths were in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, continuing at least a monthlong trend.
Even as the numbers continue to fall overall, the overwhelming number of deaths in long-term care facilities shows how the state has struggled to tame the deadly virus as it spread among elderly patients.
On Friday, the latest nursing home numbers showed 208 people had died in nursing homes over that same period of May 20-27, and 21 had died in assisted living facilities, for a combined total of 229 deaths.
As of May 27, a total of 2,398 nursing home residents had died since the beginning of the pandemic, representing about 63% of the total deaths statewide.
More than one-third of the state’s nursing home patients have tested positive for COVID-19. The number of positives has increased because the state is in the process of testing all patients in long-term care facilities.
State officials are hoping the increased testing will allow nursing home providers to cohort positive patients and stop the spread of the virus. Once the patients are tested, the state wants to test all employees of those facilities next.
Connecticut’s latest COVID-19 numbers, released Saturday, show 44 more people died, bringing the overall death toll since mid-March to 3,912.
The low number of deaths outside of nursing homes could also explain why Gov. Ned Lamont this past week eased restrictions on social gatherings, allowing for 10
people to gather inside homes and up to 25 outside. Gatherings had previously been capped at five people.
“The metrics continue in the right direction from what each and every one of you are doing. That’s why we make these changes,” Lamont said.
Lamont typically refers to hospitalizations as a better indicator of where the state stands because death data is usually a little behind. The state Department of Public Health collects information from several sources — the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, hospitals and funeral homes — and analyzes it before updating totals.
On Friday, Lamont specifically highlighted that hospitalizations dropped by 71 people Thursday, close to just one quarter of the number at the peak in April. The total hospitalizations were 577, the lowest number since March.
On Saturday, hospitalizations continued to fall, as 44 more people were released, leaving only 533 COVID-19 patients in state hospitals.
Lamont also announced new guidelines Friday that allow for houses of worship to reopen with 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer, or up to 125 people for outdoor services. Some churches, including the Diocese of Bridgeport, announced plans to return to Saturday and Sunday services on the weekend of June 13 and 14.
Also on Saturday University of Hartford President Gregory Woodward announced in a letter to faculty and students that classes will begin on Aug. 26 and online instruction may be utilized during the first week to allow for continued move-in and the administration of state-required COVID-19 testing of all students upon their return.
Classes will be held on Labor Day and will conclude on Nov. 24. When students depart for Thanksgiving break, they will not return to campus until Jan. 17, Woodward said.
From Nov. 30–Dec. 15, there will be online classes, review sessions, office hours with final exams completed remotely.
With beautiful weather on Saturday, several state parks reached capacity and closed for the day: Rocky Neck State Park in Niantic, Sherwood Island State Park in Westport and Silver Sands State Park in Milford. State officials expect similar crowds on Sunday.