Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday that CVS Pharmacy will be opening up 15-minute drive-thru coronavirus testing sites in Stamford and New Haven within the next week or so.

Officials later confirmed that the number of total coronavirus cases in the state is 8,781, and the number of virus-related deaths is 335.

He also addressed that the infection rate is higher for Hispanic and black residents in the state. Lamont says this is due to many working in front-facing industries where they interact with the public daily.

He says the state is working to combat the spread by increasing testing and making more space for people in hotels.

 

- Officials say the total number of coronavirus cases reported is 8,781, and the total number of virus-related deaths is 335. NOTE: Lamont said in this briefing that the total number of deaths was 326; that number has since increased.

- An additional 110 people have been hospitalized due to coronavirus, bringing the total to 1,418.

- State officials say that 39% of nursing homes in the state have at least one case of coronavirus.

- Lamont says the black population in the state is twice as likely to be infected with coronavirus.

- He says people living in an urban community in the state are more likely to get coronavirus.

- Lamont says the black and Hispanic communities are more likely to have pre-existing conditions.

- Medicaid and access to a primary care physicians have been made more available, Lamont says.

- He also says that 100,000 people have been given access to SNAP benefits, and that the state is raising the cap on the benefits.

- Officials say there are approximately 2,000 empty beds in nursing homes. They say that they will also be giving individuals looking to enter nursing homes two tests to ensure that they are negative for coronavirus.

- Several nursing homes have been converted to house coronavirus-positive patients.

- State officials say 302,000 unemployment claims have been filed so far, and that 132,000 claims have been processed so far.

- Lamont says the state will be making a decision within a week about whether to reopen schools. He says he's doubtful it's possible.

- He also says the state currently has enough ventilators.