President Donald Trump decided against issuing an enforceable quarantine of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut after it was met with resistance Saturday from state leaders, who said they have already instituted strong measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Instead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an advisory late Saturday evening urging residents of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey to hold off on any nonessential domestic travel for the next 14 days. The advisory, which was effective immediately, did not extend to those working in critical infrastructure, such as truckers or public health professionals.
Trump’s decision against a quarantine, announced in a tweet about 8:20 p.m., followed a midday comment to reporters that he was considering quarantining the tri-state region that he called a “hot spot” for the virus. He did not speak to the governors about the possibility of a quarantine before speaking about it publicly earlier Saturday.
“On the recommendation of the White House Corona Virus Task Force, and upon consultation with the Governor’s of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, I have asked the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] to issue a strong Travel Advisory, to be administered by the Governors, in consultation with the Federal Government,” Trump said in the tweet. “A quarantine will not be necessary.”
Trump’s announcement came several hours after Connecticut officials confirmed Saturday that the state has now had 1,524 confirmed cases of COVID-19, along with 205 hospitalizations and 33 deaths from the virus.
With little information from the president, Gov. Ned Lamont said at a 6 p.m. briefing that he could not speculate on “exactly what the president meant” about enforcing a mandatory quarantine. The governor said a quarantine would be unenforceable if Trump is talking about stopping traffic in the area.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House midday Saturday, Trump brought up the possibility of a quarantine that could last “short term, two weeks — on New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut.”
Lamont said Saturday night that he had a “high-level” conversation with the White House and while he said he believed they were “thinking out loud” about re-examining coronavirus hot spots in an effort to contain the spread, he said the president’s words created confusion.
“Words matter, and those words have created a certain amount of confusion, and when you lack clarity, that can lead to confusion, and confusion can lead to panic,” Lamont said. “I can tell you we are working together on this. We are the ones that have to enforce this — we, the governors. There are hundreds and hundreds of roads leading in and out of the New York metro region. It’s something absolutely unenforceable if they are talking about slowing down or stopping traffic.”
Connecticut continues to see an increase of cases, with the largest number in Fairfield County. By Saturday evening, there were 233 more confirmed cases of the coronavirus and six additional deaths in Connecticut since Friday.
Lamont reiterated Saturday that Connecticut has asked residents to stay home and also asked those traveling from New York to self-quarantine for 14 days — measures to slow the spread of the virus.
Trump has said he has heard from a lot of states less impacted by the coronavirus that they want the New York region quarantined.
When asked if it was legal to issue a mandatory quarantine, Lamont said the White House was looking into whether they had that authority, but that the governors enforce the laws and the White House should work collaboratively with the governors.
In a media briefing, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also questioned whether it was possible.
“I don’t even know what that means,” said Cuomo. “I don’t know how that could be legally enforceable. I don’t even like the sound of it.”
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said no members of the state’s congressional delegation were notified that the White House was considering a quarantine.
“I think that failure to coordinate with the governors, who are at the tip of the spear, just leads to confusion and fear,” Blumenthal said. “It creates the impression of drift and uncertainty.”
Blumenthal again commended the measures taken by Lamont, Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.
“The governors have been ahead of the federal authorities in their leadership, listening to scientists. … Their input should be heeded,” Blumenthal said.
On Saturday, Trump approved requests from governors in Michigan and Massachusetts for a federal major disaster declarations, but has not approved Lamont’s request for a similar declaration in Connecticut.
Lamont issues plea for more volunteers
As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases topped 1,500 statewide, Lamont issued another plea for volunteers with health care experience to help out as the state prepares for a surge of cases requiring hospitalization.
“We need you more than ever,” Lamont said in minutelong video posted early Saturday.
Lamont, highlighting the ways individuals have pitched in to help during this crisis, said more than 1,000 nurses have come out of retirement to work in hospitals. Lamont on Saturday was calling out to students with experience in health care and other retired health care workers to volunteer.
“As the COVID-19 virus puts a surge upon our hospital capacity and supplies, ordinary people are stepping up and doing extraordinary things,” Lamont said. The state has created a website to coordinate volunteers at ctresponds.ct.gov.
Spread continues to hit nursing homes in Connecticut
Town officials in Suffield said that Suffield House, a nursing facility, and Suffield by the River, a separate assisted-living facility, have a number of residents and staff that have tested positive for COVID-19.
Suffield officials did not provide an exact number of cases. They said the facilities have contacted families of the residents.
The announcement from officials in Suffield comes as cases spread this past week at Evergreen Health Care Center, a nursing home in Stafford, and Benchmark Senior Living at Ridgefield Crossing.
At Evergreen Health Care Center, 12 residents had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Friday. Two residents of the facility have died, officials said. Benchmark Senior Living said two residents have died and an additional 16 residents tested positive.
In addition to the sick residents, Benchmark Senior Living said that five employees also tested positive for the virus.
State health officials have been in contact with both facilities.
Yale offers beds to New Haven after initially turning down request
A day after New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said Yale University denied the city’s request for emergency housing for firefighters and police officers, the university made an offer of 300 beds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Responding to a question about Yale’s donation of $1 million to a community COVID-19 fund, Elicker said it was housing, not money, that the city asked for from the university.
“If your house was burning down and you asked a neighbor if your kids could stay at your house, and your neighbor said ‘no, but here’s a check so you can stay at the Econolodge across town,’ what would that tell you about your neighbor?” Elicker said.
Elicker called the University of New Haven, which he said “rolled out the red carpet” for the city.
“I then called the University of New Haven and spoke to President Steve Kaplan, who in the first five minutes of the conversation said, ‘Yes, we will make this happen. This is important for the community,'” Elicker said.
The city and university have been addressing logistical and liability concerns, but they plan to move first responders into dorms within several days.
In a statement Friday, Yale University said its dormitories are still full of student belongings. Late Saturday, Yale President Peter Salovey, in an about-face, said they would make the beds available by the end of the week.
“We are eager to help New Haven with this need,” Salovey said.
ProHealth Physicians closes all nine walk-in clinics
In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, ProHealth Physicians announced that it has closed all nine of its express walk-in clinics. The health care provider operates clinics in central and western Connecticut.
“The health of our patients and their families are still of our utmost concern,” the company said. They told patients who need walk-in services to call and they may be able to refer them to a ProHealth Physicians provider.
The company said all its adult, family medicine, pediatrics, specialty care and diagnostic services are still open.
Wilton man, state’s first case of COVID-19, recovering at home
Chris Tillett of Wilton, Connecticut’s first confirmed case of COVID-19, was home Saturday and recovering with his wife and twin infant sons.
Tillett, who was placed in a medically induced coma during his battle against the virus, appeared on the “Today” show Saturday morning from his home.
“I am feeling much better, and I’m improving every day,” Tillett said in the interview. “I feel great, and I am grateful to be alive.”
It is believed that Tillett, who is in his 40s, contracted the virus during a trip to San Francisco in February.
“I felt like a truck hit me flying home from San Francisco — from a conference,” Tillett said. The symptoms developed over days, and he was soon in the hospital.
Tillett and his wife thanked the staff at Danbury Hospital for saving his life. “There is hope,” he said.
Courant staff reporter Dave Altimari contributed to this report.
Nicholas Rondinone can be reached at nrondinone@courant.com.
