Lamont: Connecticut’s First COVID-19 Death Was An Assisted Living Resident

EDITOR’S NOTE: We originally reported that the victim was in a nursing home but the location is in fact a licensed assisted living facility.

HARTFORD, CT – Gov. Ned Lamont announced the first death of an 88-year-old man who lived at an assisted living facility in Ridgefield. Another patient at Evergreen Health Facility, which is a nursing home in Stafford Springs, also tested positive Wednesday.

The elderly population is especially vulnerable to COVID-19 and have been asked to take additional precautions. Several days ago Lamont signed an executive order that restricted any visitors and contractors at nursing homes.

“We know that people of an advanced age and in certain conditions are among the most at risk of this disease, however I urge everyone in Connecticut – regardless of age or condition – to take an active role in doing their part to reduce the spread of this virus throughout our communities so we can protect one another,” Lamont said.

He said the first death is not unexpected but “it’s a shock because it makes this so real for all of our families.”

Department of Public Health Commissioner Renee Coleman-Mitchell said they are monitoring two other patients at Benchmark Senior Living at Ridgefield Crossing where the man died, but no one else has been tested. She also dispatched a team to Evergreen Health Care Center to ensure they were following the proper protocols regarding infection.

Rob Baril, president of SEIU 1199, a union that represents 26,000 nursing home workers wrote a letter to Lamont Wednesday about the “fragmented and insufficient response to the COVID-19 virus.”

Baril said there needs to be screening measures for open spaces where clients wait to receive services, comprehensive emergency protocols, education about emergency protocols for clients, and access to personal protective equipment. He said the facilities should know what kind of appointments should be put on hold until the public health crisis is over.

A total of 96 Connecticut residents have test positive for coronavirus and around 700 had been tested. State officials said they are working hard to get information about negative test results from private labs to be able to provide a total.

A total of 96 Connecticut residents have test positive for coronavirus and around 700 had been tested. State officials said they are working hard to get information about negative test results from private labs to be able to provide a total.

Lamont signed an executive order Wednesday that requires private labs to provide both positive and negative test results. Prior to the executive order only positive results needed to be reported.

As of Wednesday, there have been 24 hospitalizations.

Hospitals have been looking for additional space to house patients should the system get overwhelmed.

“As part of the ongoing work to respond to COVID-19 and the clinical requirements of patients, hospitals are working together to assess capacity on an ongoing basis,” Fiona Phelan, a spokeswoman for the Connecticut Hospital Association, said. “This includes understanding evolving federal guidance on patient care standards, assessing the range of potential clinical needs a patient may have and determining the ability to expand capacity based on equipment and space. That work is ongoing.”

Josh Geballe, Lamont’s chief operating officer, said there’s still capacity in the hospital system and hospitals are working hard to reconfigure spaces in anticipation of a surge.

Lamont asked doctors and dentists to end elective surgery and give their personal protective equipment or the swabs needed for testing to the hospitals. Lamont said the state did receive a shipment of PPE and swabs and are receiving help from the federal government,” but tomorrow is too late.”

Phelan said hospitals are taking steps to preserve and extend the use of the current inventory of personal protective equipment, “hospitals have asked the state to help us acquire additional PPE, and hospitals are working with suppliers to understand when additional inventory will be available.”

Lamont stopped short of ordering the state to shelter-in-place.

Lamont said he’s confident “people do the right thing. You don’t need the government to enforce it.”

Earlier in the day, Lamont announced the closure of malls, amusement parks, and bowling alleys.That’s in addition to his closure of bars and dine-in service at restaurants.