By Gregory Hladky

As Connecticut’s death toll jumped far higher today and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose by 557 in 24 hours, Gov. Ned Lamont delivered a bleak message to the state’s residents about a lack of critical supplies needed to fight the pandemic.

“The national strategic stockpile is empty,” Lamont said, meaning Connecticut won’t be receiving from the federal government any of the personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators needed by hospitals to treat dangerously ill coronavirus patients. “For now, we’re on our own.”

Lamont said state officials and Connecticut hospitals are continuing to seek crucial medical supplies from across the world.

“This breaks my heart,” Lamont said. “I feel like a general sending troops into battle without the protective gear they deserve.”

Westport’s COVID-19 count increased to 114 today, 13 more in the past 24 hours, state officials said.

Norwalk was tops in the state with 226 cases, Danbury second with 182, Stamford third at 126, followed by Westport.

State cases jumped to 1,993, up 469 in the past 24 hours. There have been 34 deaths, up one from Saturday.

Fairfield County continued to lead the state in cases with 1,245, 189 of whom are hospitalized.  There have been 21 county deaths.

By Kelan Lyons

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved Connecticut’s request for a major disaster declaration, unlocking crucial federal funding as officials respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Ned Lamont announced today.

State agencies and municipalities in Connecticut’s eight counties will be reimbursed for 75% of the costs associated with their pandemic response and emergency protective measures, thanks to the approval for public assistance.

“I am grateful that the federal government is recognizing the severity of this pandemic in Connecticut and the impact it is having on the health and safety of the people of our state. It is an important step in providing critical aid in our communities,” Lamont said in a statement.

“This funding is imperative to protecting the health and safety of the people of our state and further limiting the spread of this disease.”

By Gregory Hladky

Coronavirus deaths and infections continued to rise in Connecticut today as officials reported that 39% of the state’s 6,800 hospital beds are currently available to treat people seriously ill from the disease.

Gov. Ned Lamont said 1,291 people have now tested positive for COVID-19 in the state, with 279 new infections, 27 deaths, and 173 hospitalizations.

“That’s the beginning of the surge, the beginning of folks going into the ICUs needing hospitalization,” Lamont said during his afternoon briefing.

Health officials predict the number of coronavirus infections in Connecticut will double every 3-5 days and that the peak of the pandemic is likely to occur around April 11-14.

By Gregory B. Hladky

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Connecticut officials today confirmed a new coronavirus hotspot at a Ridgefield senior living center shortly after Gov. Ned Lamont announced during a radio interview that he expects schools in the state to remain closed until this fall.

A spokesman for the Ridgefield assisted living facility, Benchmark Senior Living, said a second resident at the facility died Monday from COVID-19 and that 16 other seniors there have now tested positive for the virus.

“These residents have not exhibited any symptoms and are being closely monitored and cared for by our trained staff,” facility officials said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, in an interview with New York-based WCBS-880, Lamont said that all of Fairfield County should now be considered a coronavirus hotspot along with New York City and Westchester County.

By Gregory B. Hladky

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Connecticut officials pushed hard today to prepare the state for a major surge in coronavirus cases, urging hospitals to free up more beds and eyeing nursing homes and college dorm rooms as potential sites for overflow COVID-19 patients.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced the coronavirus death toll in the state has risen to 10 and that the number of people who have tested positive for the disease jumped from 327 to 415 in a single day. State health experts now expect Connecticut’s infection rate to double every 3-5 days.

“This is still in the acceleration phase,” Dr. Matthew Cartter, the state epidemiologist, said at the governor’s late afternoon news conference on the crisis. Asked how soon Connecticut hospitals might reach capacity, Carter responded: “I think we just don’t know.”

Cartter said the first hospitals to feel the coming surge will be in Fairfield County.

With 62 cases making Westport the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Connecticut, the head of the Westport Weston Health District (WWHD) said this is not unexpected.

“The increasing number of positive cases is not surprising,” said Mark A.R. Cooper, director of WWHD in a posting on the district website.

“Last week the number of testing sites and the resulting number of tests being conducted increased significantly. The more testing that gets done, the more COVID-19 will be found in Westport and Weston, and across the state. Everyone should assume it is everywhere.”

Cooper said It is not believed that the testing conducted last week by the Health District is reflected in these numbers. Fairfield County towns continue to be hardest hit and have the majority of cases being reported.

The Westport Weston Health District (WWHD) is no longer conducting COVID-19 tests and said residents should assume everyone has come in contact with the virus.

In a statement, the WWHD said the number of COVID-19 in Westport and the state “are going up and they will continue to go up.”

Mark A.R. Cooper, WWHD director, gave no new numbers on cases in Westport. On Monday, the state said the number was 21.

Cooper said he advised First Selectman Jim Marpe that COVID-19 testing is now being conducted by the state through its 2-1-1 hotline.

In total, 105 individuals have been tested in Connecticut: 6 positive and 99 negative.

Later this was updated to 136 individuals tested with 11 positive and 125 negative.

Cooper said the number of Fairfield County test results will start to increase once the test results become known from those that were collected on Thursday.

“It is my understanding that once a nasal swab is sent to the lab, the results should be back in three to five days,” he said. “The samples collected today are being shipped overnight to a private laboratory in California because the State Laboratory is running near or at capacity.”

According to Cooper, the WWHD received its first batch of test kits on Wednesday evening and began limited testing on Thursday afternoon.

“This first batch of 40 kits was used for those exposed last week and who have COVID19 symptoms,”  he said, referring to a Westport bon voyage party for a man not from the United States who confirmed he tested positive for the virus upon returning home. His country was not disclosed.

“Kits were ordered last week and it is my understanding that more will be arriving in the days ahead,” Cooper said.

“The Health District’s priority is to test those with a known or presumed exposure to a positive COVID19 patient and who are exhibiting symptoms.

“The next batch of kits is also expected to be about 40 kits and we will notify those exposed with symptoms when we can schedule the next round of testing.

“There is a waiting list from which we will draw the names to be tested in the next round.”