www.plainvillecitizen.com
Volume 19, Number 13
Thursday, May 7, 2020
TROUBLING COVID-19 DATA Schools closed Spike in cases, deaths at for remainder of academic year Connecticut nursing homes By Jacqueline Rabe Thomas The Connecticut Mirror
By Mary Ellen Godin Record-Journal staff
Gov. Ned Lamont will order K-12 schools throughout Connecticut to stay closed for the remainder of the academic year because of the health threat posed by COVID-19.
The number of local and statewide nursing home patients infected with COVID19 and patient deaths soared last week despite flattening in general hospital admissions, according to data released by the state Department of Public Health.
“I know how important it is for so many students and teachers to finish out the school year, and I was holding out hope – particularly for high school seniors – that we’d at least be able to complete the final few weeks, but given the current circumstances and to protect everyone’s safety, it has become clear that it’s just not possible,” Lamont said Tuesday morning. No decision has been made yet about whether
Gov. Ned Lamont on Tuesday ordered schools closed for the rest of the academic year. File photo
summer school and camps will be allowed to convene. This announcement – recommended by the panel the governor appointed to explore how best to reopen schools and businesses – is sure to complicate efforts to restart the economy since many employees rely on schools for childcare while they work. The Democratic governor first ordered schools closed seven weeks ago after most district leaders had already See Schools, A12
Nursing home residents now comprise 57 percent of all COVID-19 related deaths statewide. Health officials re- Regency House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 181 E. Main St., Wallingford, Tuesday, April 28. port there are now 4,814 confirmed cases in the Dave Zajac, Record-Journal state’s nursing homes, compared to last week’s 3,423. have tested positive, and an- or. And The Curtis Home on other 140 are suspected of Crown Street reported 10 COVID-19-related deaths having the virus. cases and six deaths, up rose sharply, from 568 to from one death. 958. The report also cited ‘Concerning’ 291 probable deaths associ“Certainly the spike in nursated with the virus. There In Meriden, Apple Rehab ing home cases and deaths are a combined 19,319 liCoccomo nursing home on is concerning,” said Lea censed beds in the facilities. Cone Avenue reported 26 Crown, Meriden director of positive cases, 10 more than health and human services. The state also released the the previous week, with six “It shows how contagious numbers of affected resithis virus is, and how easily dents living in assisted living deaths and two probable deaths. Silver Springs nursit spreads. Also, how vulnerfacilities. ing home on Roy Street saw able our older residents and According to the updated a spike with 33 confirmed those with underlying health data, 558 residents in assist- cases and no deaths, up ed living facilities in the state from five cases the week priSee Nursing homes, A14
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In making this decision, Lamont becomes the 40th governor in the nation to decide that it is not safe for schools to reopen.