Trumbull Coronavirus: Deaths Rise to 73, Total Cases 429

TRUMBULL, CT — Two new deaths related to coronavirus were reported in Trumbull on Friday, bringing the total number of deaths to 73 as the town prepares for the statewide relaxing of the coronavirus shutdown scheduled for May 20. Total cases rose slightly to 427.

According to figures released by the Department of Public Health, the statewide spread coronavirus cases surpassed 32,000, while the number of deaths stand at 2,874.

Although cases and deaths continue to rise, the hospitalization rate has slowed to the point where the state is on track to satisfy the seven reopening benchmarks first announced by Gov. Ned Lamont earlier this week. Those criteria for include a downward trend in hospitalizations, upgraded testing capacity, expanded contacted tracing and maintaining supplies of PPE.

During a news conference Friday, Lamont described the reopening process as a balance between "metrics and behavior" — a balance he presented as hanging between three entities: The data on coronavirus spread, the needs of businesses and, perhaps most importantly, the behavior of consumers themselves.

Lamont noted that in Georgia and Texas, where governments are already weeks into their own partial reopening plans, "Many of the stores didn't open because they didn't feel comfortable and many of the consumers didn't go back."

In Connecticut, Lamont said, the first phase of reopening will allow retail, restaurants and hair/nail salons to welcome customers, but there are significant changes. Among them: All businesses will be limited to 50 percent capacity, restaurants can serve outdoor dining areas and offices will be encouraged to allow employees to continue working from home.

All businesses will be expected to maintain social distancing rules between employees and customers.

UPDATE: Daily COVID-19 data in Connecticut

- 32,411 people tested positive (+627)
- 2,874 people have died (+77)
- 1,336 patients are currently hospitalized (-49)
- 120,541 tests have been reported to the state (+4,367)

For more data sets, visit https://t.co/FpgO8W27I0. pic.twitter.com/HSWwDFhawc
— Governor Ned Lamont (@GovNedLamont) May 8, 2020

On Thursday, Trumbull First Selectman Vicki Tesoro announced the creation of a Government Operations Recovery Committee to set "guidelines for public activities, use of public spaces, and programs run by the town" after the state's partial reopening later this month.

This committee, Tesoro said, "will be charged with creating a return to work schedule for employees, protocols for the use and care of gloves, masks and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), rules around the use of common areas, the size and place of meetings, and other items to ensure a safe working environment. This committee will also create communications to the public to inform them of progress in restoring services and how we will protect the public when entering Town Hall buildings to do business."

The recovery committee's next meeting is scheduled for May 15.