The total number of hospitalized patients continues to drop and the governor said the May 20 reopening date is still on the horizon.

By Gregory B. Hladky and Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, CTMirror.org

West Hartford-specific information provided by Ronni Newton, We-Ha.com

As Connecticut continues to focus on reopening its economy, this state’s coronavirus death toll reached a grim milestone Monday. State officials reported that 3,008 people here have now succumbed to this deadly disease.

Gov. Ned Lamont said that, despite the day’s additional 41 fatalities, hospitalization statistics continued to show “a good positive trend.”

The number of patients now in Connecticut hospitals with COVID-19 dropped by 30, according to the latest reports, bringing the total down to 1,212. Testing for the disease was down Monday, with only 2,316 new tests reported compared to the previous day’s 6,623, but the governor said the “trend lines continue in a positive direction” with less than 10% of those tested receiving a positive result.

In West Hartford, 386 residents have now tested positive, an increase of 13 in the past day. Four more residents died from COVID-19-related causes, bringing the total number of fatalities to 73.

Lamont and medical experts say expanded testing for coronavirus will be critical to a safe reopening of the economy, the start of which is currently scheduled for May 20. Josh Geballe, the governor’s chief administrative officer, said the state is “well on track” to reach the goal of carrying out 42,000 tests a day by mid-June.

“May 20 is still on our horizon,” Lamont said Monday. “By and large, we’re staying true to what we’ve got to do,” the governor said of Connecticut’s efforts on social distancing to curb the spread of the virus.

Lamont was asked about comments he made in March about how Connecticut was ready to deal with the virus given that this state has now seen more than 3,000 people die of COVID-19.

“Shame on us for under-estimating, perhaps, what could happen,” Lamont said. “Could we have done anything sooner? I think so.”

Mystery coronavirus-related childhood illness now in Connecticut

The governor also revealed Monday that there are now three children being treated at Yale New Haven Hospital for a mysterious and potentially deadly inflammatory syndrome linked to coronavirus. Three children in New York have died of this apparently new illness, which has symptoms similar to toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease. As recently as Sunday, state health officials said they were unaware of any similar cases in Connecticut.

Lamont said his medical advisors say little is yet known about this illness. “Right now there is a very very tiny risk of infections,” Lamont said, adding his administration is monitoring that aspect of the pandemic and that “It’s something we’re very concerned about.”

“Unfortunately, this disease carries features of toxic shock syndrome and elements of Kawasaki Disease and strikes school-aged children. While these cases are exceptionally rare, given our proximity to New York where there have been a significant number reported, we have been watching their experience closely,” said Clifford Bogue, physician-in-chief of Yale New Haven Childrens Hospital. “We are working diligently with local and state health officials to address this issue and strongly recommend that children who may be suffering from symptoms seek early referrals to pediatric infectious disease specialists, rheumatologists or cardiologists.”

Symptoms of what is now being called “Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome” include a persistent fever, rash as well as gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, according to Yale New Haven experts. They said patients can also suffer from cardiac inflammation, and urged parents of any children suffering such symptoms to contact their doctors immediately.

“I think they are doing okay,” Lamont said of the three children now in Yale New Haven Hospital with that illness. He said he had no further information on their condition.

Gun rights group sues Lamont

A Connecticut pro-gun rights group has filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Ned Lamont claiming his COVID-19 related executive order suspending state fingerprinting services for gun and ammunition permits is unconstitutional.

The lawsuit by the Connecticut Citizens Defense League argues that the governor’s order “effectively shut down the issuance of all firearm permits in Connecticut” and thus violates the constitutional right to bear arms.

Lamont shrugged off those claims, saying the “overwhelming majority” Connecticut gun owners already have their fingerprints on file. “Right now, we’re in the middle of a pandemic and we’re going to have to be a little careful for the near term,” the governor said.

Attorney General William Tong also rejected the lawsuit’s arguments and said Monday that Lamont’s executive orders “have been very clearly constitutional and fully legally justified.”

Reprinted with permission of The Connecticut Mirror. The author can be reached at [email protected].

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