COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut

In late-January, 2020, two students living in Connecticut were monitored for displaying coronavirus-like symptoms. The first student attended Wesleyan University in Middletown and was confirmed to not have the virus, and instead had a case of the flu on January 27.[5] The second student monitored for the virus was attending the 2020 Yale Model United Nations Conference at Yale University in New Haven, and was also diagnosed with the flu, not coronavirus, on January 31.[6] On January 28, a student from Uncasville who had traveled to China was suspected to carry the virus was confirmed not to, and was cleared to return to school on January 29.[7]

On February 6, the Connecticut Department of Public Health released a document with information intended for schools to prevent the spread of the virus. The document advocated for those who had been to China recently to self-monitor for 14 days, and that those exhibiting no symptoms after the 14-day period were able to return to their normal lives.[8][9]

In late February, greater precautions were undertaken by different organizations to be prepared for the eventual spread of the virus into Connecticut.[10] On February 25, the University of New Haven suggested that all students in Italy should return to the United States.[11] A laboratory in Rocky Hill was approved by the United States Centers for Disease Control to test for the coronavirus.[12]

On March 1, two of Connecticut's neighbors, Rhode Island and New York, were confirmed to have cases of the virus within, the states.[13] On the same day, both the Connecticut state governor Ned Lamont and the United States surgeon general spoke at a Connecticut Department of Public Health laboratory in Rocky Hill, which had been previously approved to test for the virus.[14] On March 2, two suspected cases of coronavirus in Connecticut were confirmed to be negative.[15]

Connecticut governor Ned Lamont with senator Richard Blumenthal and US surgeon general Jerome Adams discussing the state and federal response to the coronavirus outbreak on March 2

Southern Connecticut State University suspended all institutionally-supported travel to nations including Italy, China, South Korea, and Japan on March 3 to try to prevent the spread of the virus.[16] On March 4, it was revealed that a Meriden-based company had begun research on a vaccine for SARS-Cov-2.[17]

On March 5, over 200 people in Connecticut were advised to self-monitor for symptoms.[18] An employee at Danbury hospital and Norwalk hospital was confirmed to have the coronavirus on March 6, which marked the first confirmed coronavirus case that could be linked to Connecticut. The person infected lived in New York however, and was quarantined in Westchester county, where she lived.[19]

On March 8, the first confirmed case in the state was reported in the town of Wilton. The patient was between the ages of 40 and 50 and was believed to have contracted the virus during a trip to California.[20]

A second positive case of coronavirus was confirmed on March 9. The patient was a female in her 60s who was a healthcare worker at Bridgeport Hospital.[21]

Nearly empty freezers at a Big Y grocery store in Cheshire, Connecticut on 14 March 2020 after hoarding reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic

On March 10, governor Ned Lamont declared a civil preparedness and public health emergency in response to the coronavirus.[22]

On March 13, governor Lamont ordered all schools to close after March 16 until at least March 31.[23]

On March 20, governor Lamont signed an executive order directing Connecticut businesses and residents to "Stay Safe, Stay at Home."[24] The executive order was similar to other stay-at-home orders that were issued by different governors at the time.[25] Non-essential businesses were ordered to close and were subject to fines if they did not comply; individual citizens were not subject to fines for violating the order.[26]

Soldiers from the Connecticut Army National Guard's 102nd Infantry Regiment began distributing personal protective equipment to medical facility personnel at the New Britain Armory. Members of the 1st and 2nd Governor's Foot Guard and 2nd Governor's Horse Guard assembled a mobile field hospital at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut.[27]

Dr. Cory Edgar, 48, of the University of Connecticut Health Center was arrested and charged with a breach of peace misdemeanor for coughing on and hugging coworkers. Edgar is in good health and is not believed to have COVID-19.[28] Sen Chris Murphy (D-CT) said that administration officials turned down an offer of congressional funding made on February 5.[29]

President Trump decided against imposing a broad two-week lockdown on New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut; however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) advised residents of the region not to travel except for essential purposes.[30]

Connecticut National Guard workers put up a Field Hospital with 646 beds at the Connecticut Convention Center.[31]

Connecticut began Phase 1 of a three phase plan to reopen Connecticut. Phase 1 allowed museums and zoos (outdoors only), offices, restaurant (outdoors only), retail and malls, outdoor recreation, and university research.[32]

Two of Connecticut's largest employers, Mohegan Sun Casino and Foxwoods Resort Casino, reopened. While Lamont publicly urges casinos to stay closed, due to the sovereign nature of the tribal nations that own the casinos, they are able to open before similar businesses are allowed in Connecticut.[33] The state erects electric signs on roads leading to the casinos discouraging people from going.[34]

Hair salons and barbershops are allowed to open.[32]

Connecticut began phase 2 of reopening. Indoor dining, hotels, and gyms were allowed to open.[35]

On July 6, Governor Lamont indefinitely postponed the phase 3 reopening scheduled for July 20, citing the surge in cases following other states reopening. Although Connecticut had met its contact tracing goals and had not seen an increase in cases, the move was done in coordination by a comparable policy change in New Jersey where case numbers were increasing.[36][37]

On July 20, the state public health laboratory announced it had identified a flaw in the test system that resulted in 91 false positive tests in 90 patients over the previous month.[38]

On July 21, the governor announced that travelers from states with a high burden of virus would be required to fill out a health questionnaire and quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Connecticut. Noncompliance could result in a $1,000 fine.[39][40]

The postponed phase 3 reopening began on October 8. Existing limits on gathering capacities were relaxed. Indoor performing arts venues were reopened at 50% capacity. Bars and nightclubs remained closed.[41]

With an increasing case load, the Phase 3 reopening was scaled back to new "Phase 2.1" rules on November 6. The rules included mandatory 10:00 pm closing times for in-person dining, entertainment and recreation venues, and indoor and outdoor events.[42][43] The Connecticut State Department of Public Health advised a voluntary curfew from 10:00 pm–5:00 am.[44][45]

Following FDA Emergency Use Authorization, the first vaccinations with the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were administered to health care workers were administered on December 14.[46] On December 18, the first nursing home residents were vaccinated.[47] Administration of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine began on December 21.[48]

On January 4, 2021, healthcare workers began receiving the scheduled second vaccination doses to complete the series.[49]

On February 1, the mandatory closing time for dine-in restaurants was moved from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. The mask, social distancing, and 50% capacity limit on houses of worship was left unchanged, but the numerical cap on group size was lifted.[50]

In college sports, the National Collegiate Athletic Association canceled all winter and spring tournaments, most notably the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, affecting colleges and universities statewide.[51] On March 16, the National Junior College Athletic Association also canceled the remainder of the winter seasons as well as the spring seasons.[52] In addition, CIAC, which regulates high school athletics in the state canceled winter championship tournaments and is reported to currently be discussing the future of spring sports.

IMSA a motorsport league cancelled their race at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville for the 2020 season only due to government restrictions in the state.

Over 30,000 unemployment claims have been filed between Friday, March 13, and Tuesday, March 17 in Connecticut.[53] Many of these unemployment claims have been associated with the laying-off of employees of businesses unable to afford to maintain their entire staff during the outbreak, as well as due to the closure of businesses reliant on public and social interactions such as bars and gyms.[54][55]

In response to racism surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, Connecticut governor Ned Lamont stated during a speech at the Connecticut Department of Public Health's laboratory in Rocky Hill, "there is no link between race or ethnicity and the spread of coronavirus. Viruses do not discriminate."[15]

Governor Ned Lamont signed an executive order requiring the closure of all Connecticut public schools on March 17 until May 20; it was eventually extended for the rest of the school year. Most public schools were already closed. March 13–14[56] Lamont also encouraged private schools and other non-public schools to follow the same schedule.[57] Many colleges in Connecticut switched to virtual learning.