Fairfield County Business Journal 032320

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PRINT JOURNALISM: BECAUSE IT STILL MATTERS. MARCH 23, 2020 VOL. 56, No. 12

westfaironline.com

Stamford Hospital Chair of Infectious Diseases Dr. Michael Parry demonstrates a medical mask while speaking about the coronavirus at Stamford Hospital. Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media.

INSIDE

COVID-19 crisis worsening BARS, RESTAURANTS LOOK TO SURVIVE AMID COVID-19 BAN

BY KEVIN ZIMMERMAN

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ONLY IN AMERICA

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GOTTA GO TO MO’S? NOT ANYMORE

kzimmerman@westfairinc.com

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he COVID-19 era is continuing to pick up steam in Fairfield County as it has nationwide, with 48 confirmed cases as of March 17. Fairfield County has the most cases in the state, with the Connecticut total at 68. There had been two presumptive positive cases involving Connecticut residents, and another two involving Westchester County residents who work

in Connecticut hospitals. They are officially counted as New York cases. Dr. Matthew Cartter, the state epidemiologist with the Department of Public Health, reported that as of March 17, 248 tests have been completed. “Testing is important, but it is not the answer,” he said, repeating that people showing no signs of symptoms should be tested. Cartter said it can be assumed that for every person who tests positive, there are “at least 100” who have

the disease, “and that might be a low estimate.” He again stressed, however, that as with influenza, those with the virus may never get sick. “The vast majority of people who get this illness … will be better in a few days,” he said. “Most of us will not need to be tested.” Testing capacity is increasing, Cartter said, but the continued lack of personal protective equipment “is still a challenge.” He noted that Yale New Haven Hospital is online with testing and that he expects other acute care hospitals to follow suit.

TRAIN TROUBLE

In addition, MetroNorth Railroad said its ridership has plummeted 90%. Ridership in the New York City subway system has » VIRUS

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BY KEVIN ZIMMERMAN kzimmerman@westfairinc.com

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airfield County’s restaurants and bars are hoping to hang on in the wake of Gov. Ned Lamont’s order for them to close until further notice. Restaurants can offer takeout service, drive-thrus, curbside service and delivery, but no in-house dining. Lamont joined New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on March 16 to announce the move, which also closed movie theaters, fitness centers, casinos and racetracks. Tribal-owned casinos are exempt from the

order, but Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun ultimately agreed to temporarily close from 8 p.m. on March 17 for a two-week period. Neither Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun have closed since opening in 1992 and 1996, respectively. The governors also banned gatherings of more than 50 people, the enforcement of which Ryan Broderick, co-owner of Reverie Brewing Co. in Newtown, had wondered about before the mandatory closure announcement. “We have people coming in here in groups of two or three or more. We have birthday parties,” he said. “How are we supposed to » BARS

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