‘EXTREMELY GOOD NEWS’
State reports lowest single-day increase in cases since late March; June 20 eyed for Phase 2 of reopening
Connecticut reported its lowest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases Thursday since late March as the state moved into its second day of a gradual reopening of businesses.
The 191 new lab-confirmed cases came from the results of 5,729 tests.
“Our infection was below 5%, more like 3%, that’s extremely good news,” Gov. Ned Lamont said at a morning press briefing.
The last time Connecticut reported fewer than 200 new cases of the coronavirus was on March 26, according to statistics compiled by the Courant.
COVID-19 hospitalizations decreased by 71 Thursday to 816 and 53 more deaths were reported, bringing that total to 3,582 since the pandemic began.
Lamont held his daily briefing Thursday at Gay City State Park in Hebron as the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection gears up for a busy week
end at state parks and beaches. He encouraged residents to visit a lesspopular park that is not likely to be as crowded.
“I used to say stay home, stay safe, now I say go to a little-used park,” the governor said. “Go to one of the ones that aren’t on the mainstream. Go there with your family. Keep your distance if you see a group of people coming up. That’s what spring is about and we are doing this all together.”
In other news Thursday: t The release of the latest data on COVID-19 cases and deaths in Connecticut nursing homes and assisted living facilities was delayed to Friday because of a computer outage that disrupted state agencies’ systems all day Tuesday, a Department of Public Health spokesman said. t The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is now authorized to reimburse any rent paid for use of a state park property, including by campers or payments to host special events, under a new executive order issued by Lamont on Thursday evening. t Health insurers also are required to continue coverage for birth-to-three programs after a child’s third birthday in circumstances where school closures during the pandemic prevent that child from joining other services, per the new executive order. t The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles has extended expiring licenses and credentials by a total of 180 days and waived all late fees for those eligible. The announcement means DMV credentials that had been set to expire between March 10 and June 30 are automatically extended by 180 days, including licenses, permits and ID cards. Other credentials that will be extended include boat registrations, emissions tests, permanent disability placards, business licenses, and temporary licenses and registrations. t The state expects SNAP food-assistance benefit recipients will be able to use their EBT cards to order food online beginning June 2. Participating food retailers will include Amazon Pantry, Amazon Fresh, a dozen Walmart stores and 22 participating ShopRite locations. The state received federal approval to begin the new online program on Wednesday and will be testing the system this weekend before it is activated on June 2.
In-person classes at colleges this fall
Colleges and universities across Connecticut appear to be on track to reopen for in-person classes in the fall, Lamont said.
Lamont received a comprehensive plan from a task force led by former Yale
University executives that called for a phased reopening that included measures for extensive testing and thorough social distancing and sanitation.
“I can’t predict where COVID is going to be in August. I am hopeful,” Lamont said Thursday. “The scientists said they feel like we are on a pretty good trajectory, which we can probably anticipate into early fall. And that would mean anticipate opening in the fall.”
Higher education institutions abruptly switched to online classes in the early onset of the COVD-19 pandemic, along with shifting to virtual commencement events.
More than 260,000 jobs lost in April
Employers in Connecticut cut a staggering 266,300 jobs in April as the first full impact of the coronavirus was felt with the shutdowns of countless businesses, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday.
The unemployment rate more than doubled since March, to 7.9%.
In just one month, the number of jobs wiped out in Connecticut approached the number lost in the last two economic downturns of 1989-1992 and 2008-2010 when about 270,000 jobs vanished.
“Connecticut and the nation saw a rapid and unprecedented level of job loss in April due to the pandemic,” said Andy Condon, the Department of Labor’s research director.
All industries saw significant declines, he said, but the hardest hit included leisure and hospitality, retail, education and health services. All were the first victims of business shutdowns imposed by the state to halt the pandemic.
State finds deficiencies in nursing homes
Department of Public Health staff, assisted by members of the Connecticut National Guard, found more than a dozen deficiencies in 20 nursing homes after spending weeks conducting unannounced inspections.
Nursing homes have been a focus of state efforts to address COVID-19 after hundreds of residents have died from the virus.
The deficiencies involved how residents and families are notified, physical distancing between residents, improper use of personal protective equipment and other various infection control measures, state officials said.
The facilities can review and dispute the findings, but a corrective action plan must be submitted to DPH, state officials said.
“We believe Connecticut nursing homes are performing at an extraordinary level given the challenges of fighting this insidious virus while faced with changing guidance, an inadequate PPE supply chain and a statewide testing initiative that has only recently begun,” the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities said in a statement. “And while we would prefer that these focused inspections did not result in any findings, we absolutely welcome the department’s oversight and efforts in ensuring that Connecticut nursing home infection control procedures are in adherence with the latest of what has been ever changing CDC guidance.”
CVS to open 12 new testing sites in Connecticut on Friday
CVS Health, the parent company of Hartfordbased insurance company Aetna, said it is on track to open 12 additional testing sites in Connecticut on Friday, bringing the total in the state to 25.
The company said selfswab tests will be administered through the drive-up pharmacy window. The test will be sent to a thirdparty lab.
“As we move into a new phase of combating the pandemic and as communities begin to safely open up their local economies, we need testing to be easily accessible,” said CVS Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Troyen Brennan. “By further expanding the number of drive-thru test sites available across our retail network, more people can be tested closer to home in a familiar setting.”
Officials lauded the company’s announcement as the state attempts to bolster its testing capacity ahead of further phases of economic reopening.
“CVS Health has been a significant partner in Connecticut’s efforts to increase COVID-19 testing, and I appreciate their willingness to work with our administration on expanding these locations so that we can make testing more accessible and convenient for our residents, particularly within the hardest hit communities,” Lamont said.
Those wishing to be tested must register through the company’s website and they must meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements.
The new testing sites will be located at:
CVS Pharmacy, 81 North St., Bristol
CVS Pharmacy, 292 Spielman Highway, Burlington
CVS Pharmacy, 47 Lake Ave. Extension, Danbury
CVS Pharmacy, 15 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme
CVS Pharmacy, 16 Main St., East Hartford
CVS Pharmacy, 1770 Kings Highway, Fairfield
CVS Pharmacy, 1657 Route 12, Gales Ferry
CVS Pharmacy, 690 Wethersfield Ave., Hartford
CVS Pharmacy, 57 Providence Pike, Putnam
CVS Pharmacy, 229 Hope St., Stamford
CVS Pharmacy, 1938 West Main St., Stamford
CVS Pharmacy, 2005 Norwich-New London Turnpike, Uncasville
CVS Pharmacy, 355 Campbell Ave., West Haven
West Hartford, Ellington high schools to host ‘drive-in’ graduations
Ellington and West Hartford high schools are the latest to join the growing trend of socially distant, drive-in graduation ceremonies this summer for their outgoing 2020 senior classes.
Ellington High School will host its version of graduation at 4:30 p.m. June 5 at the Mansfield Drive-In, or the following afternoon on June 6 if there is rain in the forecast.
Connard High School will host its ceremony at 6 p.m. June 24 and Hall High School will follow at the same time June 25, after officials settled which school would go first in a coin toss Thursday afternoon. Both ceremonies will be held at the Farmington Polo Grounds.
All three ceremonies will allow seniors some semblance of an in-person ceremony after the coronavirus forced the closure of schools through the end of the school year, including traditional graduations.
The drive-in option has become a popular replacement among some districts across the state still hoping to honor seniors with more than a virtual, online meeting. Newington, Farmington and South Windsor high schools all are planning similar events and other districts are still considering their options.
Both West Hartford high schools also are planning a graduate car parade on June 15 and district officials plan to release more information about that event and parade route soon.
Courant staff writers Stephen Singer and Zach Murdock contributed to this report.