By Mark Pazniokas and Gregory Hladky

UPDATE Gov. Ned Lamont said today that his preliminary plan for easing COVID-19 restrictions would permit businesses to reopen to varying degrees on May 20, assuming the increased availability of testing and a continued reduction in hospitalizations and illnesses due to the novel coronavirus.

The governor said that hospitalizations fell for an eighth consecutive day, a key metric. But his advisers warned that social distancing and other protective measures would continue indefinitely to guard against a resurgence of a disease blamed for 2,257 deaths in Connecticut.

There were 933 new cases and 89 deaths recorded today, reminders that the state must stay on guard until the availability of a vaccine or more effective therapeutic options for a severe respiratory disease caused by a virus unknown a year ago.

“This is a virus which is very transmissible. This is a virus that’s not going to go away. It’s not going to go away even with our best public health prevention and control measures. We’re always going to have the threat of resurgence,” said Dr. Albert Ko, a Yale epidemiologist.

Westport’s COVID-19 case count was 238, up four, while the town death count was unchanged at 14, state officials said today.

Hospitalizations continued to fall statewide and in Fairfield County for the eighth straight day. Patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 are 1,650 a decrease of 41. In Fairfield County, the number decreased by 26 to 565.

There are 11,294 cases in Fairfield County, up 309 and 810 deaths, up 36.

The state reported 27,700 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19, up 933. There have been 2,257 deaths, up 89 in the past 24 hours. Patients tested for COVID-19 statewide are 97,133, up 2,315.

The Westport Police Department’s Police Benevolent Association announced today it is planning to host a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) collection drive.

It will take place on Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. in parking lot No. 1 of the Saugatuck Railroad Station located directly off of Park Street.

Volunteers will be accepting unopened and unused PPE items such as gloves, masks, gowns, face shields, hand sanitizer, bleach wipes, etc. as well as monetary donations, an announcement said. 

“All of the supplies collected and all money raised will directly benefit our local front line health care workers at both Westport EMS and Norwalk Hospital by providing them with this essential equipment needed in their continued fight against the COVID-19 virus,” it said.

Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe told a virtual meeting of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce today he expects to soon determine specific rules for wearing masks in public and other guidelines.

First Selectman Jim Marpe (2nd row, 2nd l) addressed Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce members via Zoom. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

He spoke a day after announcement that the town anticipates opening of the Longshore Golf Course and beach parking lots on May 15.

From a real estate perspective, Marpe said local Realtors report an increased interest and activity among New York residents who seek relocation to the suburbs in light of the coronavirus.

He also referred to “a marked increase” in applications for residential permits to build swimming pools because of concerns about potential restrictions related to use of such public services.

With unanimous approval from Westport’s Board of Finance Wednesday night, Larchmont, New York-based Upsilon Entertainment Group LLC seems poised to become the town’s next concessionaire. Final approval from the Board of Selectmen is expected.

The question, however, is when Upsilon will be able to open at Compo Beach in the former Joey’s by the Shore spot at the pavilion or at the Longshore Club Park Halfway House.

“It has built-in contingencies for this first rocky year,” said finance board member Lee Caney said today about shutdowns in the wake of the coronavirus.

Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Fava, who presented the application to the finance board, had announced earlier Thursday that the town anticipated reopening Compo and Longshore on May 15, but with limited capacity, 50%, plus other restrictions.

By James Lomuscio

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented special challenges to Westport’s first responders, especially Westport’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

The EMS unit had begun COVID-19 training and providing personal protective equipment (PPE) weeks before the coronavirus first appeared mid-March in town, Marc E. Hartog, EMS deputy director said today.

But the department’s procedures have intensified as the pandemic has grown to what Hartog has never witnessed in his 40 years working in EMS, both in New York City and Westport.

Currently, Westport has 234 COVID-19 cases and 14 recorded deaths.