Gov. Ned Lamont says officials are looking at May 20 to begin reopening the economy in Connecticut, as they expect there to be more testing and more PPE by that time.
Officials say there are 608 new coronaviruses cases in the state, bringing the total number of cases to 13,989. There are also 23 new virus-related deaths, bringing the total to 671.
Lamont says the number of hospital admissions had been going down the last few days but increased Monday. The net number of hospitalizations is 19. The number includes people being discharged compared to those being admitted.
He says there are now more beds available and more care for people who need it. Lamont also says that the curve is flattening and that social distancing is working, but it's not time to let up on it.
Lamont also says he's eyeing late May to start reopening, and that there should be a better indication of who and how people can get back to work. He also says local manufacturers are retooling their whole businesses to fill the shortfall in protective gear.
Lamont says the state has kept small businesses alive with a $50 million fund, which is more than what New York and Massachusetts have given combined.
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton and Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling discussed how their towns were hit early by coronavirus, and said that this is no time to play politics.
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BRIEFING NOTES:
- There are 608 new coronaviruses cases in the state, bringing the total number of cases to 13,989. There are also 23 new virus-related deaths, bringing the total to 671.
- There were only 19 new virus-related hospitalizations in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 1,779. Lamont says hospitalizations in Fairfield County increased due to an outbreak in Bridgeport.
- There have been 45,841 total coronavirus tests performed in the state.
- State officials say they're looking into alternative solutions to testing, due to testing kits being in limited supply.
- Lamont says he's looking at May 20 to begin reopening.
PHOTOS: COVID-19 spreads throughout the globe
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