Friday, December 11, 2020
www.towntimes.com
Volume 26, Number 37
Dr. earns ‘Hero’ tag Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, a nonprofit rehabilitation-based healthcare system headquartered in Wallingford, announced that Gaylord Hospital Medical Director Dr. Megan Panico was honored by the Hartford Business Journal as a 2020 “Health Panico Care Hero.” According to the Hartford Business Journal, this year’s Health Care Hero Awards program placed special emphasis on recognizing frontline healthcare workers throughout the state who went above and beyond to care for patients with COVID-19. Panico, a Durham resident, was nominated by her peers for epitomizing the essence of Gaylord’s “Think Possible” approach to restoring the health, function and quality of life of people recovering from devastating injuries and illnesses. Panico treated many COVID patients throughout their continuum of care, as a pulmonologist in the Hartford Hospital ICU, to Gaylord’s inpatient program, to following their continued recovery as outpatients. “Many of the ICU patients that come to Gaylord to begin their functional recovery are extremely deconditioned and in need of intensive rehabilitation. Megan was quick to identify the need and to advocate for her patients requiring this level of care. She understands the See Hero, A8
COVID-19 UPDATE
53 new local cases reported Durham and Middlefield – like nearly all other Connecticut municipalities – are in the coronavirus red zone.
A crowd gathers Sunday on the Durham green for the tree lighting festivities. Photos by Bronwyn Commins
Tree lighting brings on warm vibes, a sense of normalcy By Bronwyn Commins Special to Town Times
There is such comfort in tradition. These days, when we need that comfort most, it has been interrupted by the demands of social isolation.
The state’s most recent report, issued Dec. 3, showed 31 positive cases in Durham and 22 in Middlefield. That works out to an average of 30.8 daily cases in Durham and 35.9 in Middlefield per 100,000 people. As of Dec. 3, the total number of COVID-19 cases reported among Connecticut residents was 127,715, including 119,584 laboratoryconfirmed and 8,131 probable cases. One thousand one hundred fifty patients were hospitalized and there had been 5,146 COVID-19-associated deaths in the state.
We can’t predict a pandemic, or severe rainstorms for that matter, but we can anticipate the solace to be found in an outdoor gathering immersed in community. This is why Durham Recreation Director Sherry Hill wanted to guarantee that the tradition of the tree lighting on the green continued.
According to the CDC, “People with COVID-19 can have mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms can appear two to 14 days after being exposed to the virus. Symptoms can include: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever or chills, muscle or body aches, sore throat, headache, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, runny nose or stuffy nose, fatigue, recent loss of taste or smell. Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.”
The event went on Sunday, Dec. 6, with just a few tweaks to ensure safety. While songs came from recorded music rather than live instruments, it See Lighting, A15
The color coded status for cities and towns represents two weeks of cases. The trigger for red status starts at a rate of 15 cases per 100,000 people per day.
An impressive tree by any measure.
— Town Times report