With hospitalizations trending downward for seven days, Gov. Lamont says Connecticut is closer to making a series of decisions on "reopening."
But the talk of better days ahead comes as coronavirus continues to claim the lives of many state residents. The state has moved past 2,000 COVID-19 deaths, just ten days after reaching 1,000.
Notes from the governor's Monday afternoon newsbriefing:
HINTS OF "REOPENING"
Gov. Lamont says that if hospitalizations for COVID-19 drop for another 7 to 10 days, the state would reach the CDC's optional guideline of a two-week drop before the start of lifting stay-at-home restrictions.
"We're about 7 days into this downslope, and that means another 7 to 10 days I think we can start making some announcements about... places that can be reopened," said Lamont.
The governor says we will hear again Thursday from the co-chairs of his Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group, Indra Nooyi and Dr. Albert Ko. Last week, Nooyi said "reopening" could start sometime in June.
ANOTHER GRIM MILESTONE
Connecticut surpassed 2,000 COVID-19 deaths just ten days after it reached 1,000.
--88 more deaths, for a total of 2,012
--25,997 known cases
--90,746 total tests (roughly 2.7% of the state population)
KEY DATES IN CONNECTICUT'S STRUGGLE WITH COVID-19
Mar. 8 first case confirmed
Mar. 10 state emergencies declared
Apr. 5 5,000 known cases
Apr. 10 10,000 known cases
Apr. 12 500 dead
Apr. 17 1,000 dead
Apr. 26 25,000 known cases
Apr. 27 2,000 dead