Coronavirus Cases Top 100 In Shelton

SHELTON-DERBY, CT — The number of lab-confirmed coronavirus cases in Shelton rose to 107 on Thursday, as the Naugatuck Valley Health District announced that its data show that 25 percent of the Valley's 1,173 total coronavirus cases are related to nursing home residents.

The numbers reflect just how dangerous coronavirus can be for elderly patients vulnerable to infection. With the coronavirus-related death toll for Valley nursing home residents at 115, the population represents nearly 40 percent of the Valley's coronavirus fatalities.

Statewide, there have been 1,228 confirmed deaths and 399 "probable" deaths among nursing home residents attributed to the new coronavirus. As of May 7, a total of 31,784 people have contracted the virus, and 2,797 have died.

In its Thursday data release, the Health District identified two new deaths in nursing homes, in Shelton and Naugatuck; a news release urged residents "to please stay home as much as possible and please continue to practice physical, social distancing."

Earlier on Thursday, Gov. Ned Lamont revealed the first details of a plan to loosen social distancing rules and to partially reopen the state by May 20.

Deaths by town

• Ansonia: 3 confirmed, 1 probable
• Derby: 2 confirmed
• Naugatuck: 6 confirmed
• Seymour: 30 confirmed, 2 probable
• Shelton: 87 confirmed, 20 probable