Schools, nonessential businesses to stay closed in Connecticut through at least May 20; deaths, infections rising while new COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to slow

Total hospitalizations due to COVID-19

Hover over or touch chart for a detailed view.

https://hc-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/js/d3/d3.min.jshttps://hc-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/js/d3/c3.min.jshttps://hc-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/js/corona-hospital.js

In other news:

The state has ordered nearly 19 million pieces of personal protective equipment, including 5.3 million N95 respirators, and is beginning to see some shipments arrive.

Since March 13, more than 302,000 have filed for unemployment in Connecticut. The Department of Labor has already processed 133,000 of those claims, and has paid out $35 million to 104,000 claimants.

The town of Stratford plans to issue $100 fines for those who do not adhere to social distancing guidelines.

CVS Health Corp. has committed to opening a new, large-scale test site in Connecticut using rapid testing that can produce results in about 15 minutes.

Lamont said the state is examining using antibody testing as a way to determine who can safely return to work when the coronavirus begins to subside.

Trinity Health of New England, which operates St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, has been approved to treat critically ill coronavirus patients with plasma collected from those who have recovered from COVID-19.

Stratford to fine social distancing violators

The town of Stratford said Wednesday it would have police issue $100 citations to those failing to observe social distancing measures.

Mayor Laura Hoydick directed police to enforce the measures at town recreational areas, and to issue the fines to those who fail to maintain a 6-foot distance from one another, or gather in groups of five or more, after receiving a warning.

Hoydick said most people are observing the guidelines on social distancing, “but there are some who are failing to do so.”

“We need to make it understood that we are very serious about enforcing the governor’s executive orders at our public facilities, and those who disobey will be cited,” she said.

CVS testing site planned for Connecticut

CVS Health Corp. has committed to opening a large-scale, COVID-19 testing site in Stamford or New Haven, a spokesperson for Gov. Ned Lamont said, though the governor is continuing to push for both Connecticut locations to expand the state’s testing capacity.

Lamont had announced the planned sites Wednesday, indicating they were official following his conversations with CVS CEO Larry Merlo.

A CVS spokesperson would not confirm the planned sites on Thursday morning, saying talks are ongoing. However, Max Reiss, a spokesman for the governor, responded that the pharmacy giant has committed one location — in either Stamford or New Haven — and that Lamont is still seeking both.

“The goal is to have those two sites, and we know CVS is going to be a great partner and we’re going to get this done,” Reiss said.

State moving toward antibody testing

Lamont said he is “working with a number of different companies” producing antibody blood tests, which will let the state test not only who is currently infected but also anyone who has been previously infected over the past 60 days.

“This would be a broad-based program that allows you to see what people can get back to work first,” he said.

Lamont said antibody tests would likely focus first on first responders and advanced manufacturing workers. He said he would know more in the next few weeks about how the state might roll out those tests.

Experts say widespread antibody testing will be essential in eventually allowing residents to return to work.

St. Francis to treat patients with plasma

The parent company of St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford is one of four health systems in the country approved to treat critically ill coronavirus patients with plasma collected from those who’ve recovered from the virus.

Starting Friday, the hospital will be screening and identifying its own donors, who must be symptom-free for two weeks, test negative for COVID-19 and meet other criteria for eligibility, Dr. Latha Dulipsingh of St. Francis said Thursday.

Trinity Health of New England received FDA approval Wednesday for the clinical trial, which aims to prove antibodies from recovered patients can safely provide immunity to those who are still suffering from COVID-19. The therapy has been used with good outcomes in China.

“By end of next week, we should be giving the first transfusion,” Dulipsingh said.

Trinity Health plans to share results as soon as it has data from 10 to 15 transfused patients, Dulipsingh said.

In other developments:

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities institutions are repurposing their advanced manufacturing centers to produce face shield frames for area hospitals and nursing homes.

The state has received a donation of 400,000 tablets (4,000 bottles) of hydroxychloroquine from Amneal Pharmaceuticals. The drug is being used to treat COVID-19 patients in Connecticut hospitals.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong filed a motion Thursday asking a state judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the ACLU and Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association demanding the release of thousands of state inmates to try to halt the spread of the virus in state jails. Tong argues the 300-member lawyers group does not have standing to make their claims on behalf of inmates nor does the court have the authority to release inmates early. Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis plans to schedule oral arguments in the case next week, according to a court filing.

Forty-seven inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19 are now being housed in an isolation unit at the maximum-security Northern Correctional Institution in Somers, according to the Department of Correction. The DOC plans to move all inmates who contract the virus to that facility.

Courant staff writers Russell Blair, Kenneth R. Gosselin and Zach Murdock contributed to this report.

Alex Putterman can be reached at aputterman@courant.com.