Road To Reopening: Grim Milestones To Signs Of Hope, A Timeline
CONNECTICUT — The coronavirus situation in Connecticut was less dire in May than the previous month, however, more than 13,000 new confirmed cases were reported during May and more than 1,600 people died due to the virus.
There were more than 43,000 total positive cases as of June 3 with 3,989 deaths and 406 people hospitalized. Overall the state has had more than 9,500 coronavirus hospitalizations; of that around 7,100 were discharged and nearly 2,000 died.
May marked the third month since the virus first appeared in the state. Connecticut managed to keep the net hospitalization drop of coronavirus patients going from April. Net coronavirus hospitalizations dropped by more than 1,000 patients from the beginning to the end of the month and the state also saw an improvement in the number of tests being performed as well as the rate of positive test results.
The state managed to flatten the curve of cases beginning in mid to late April and the trend continued into May and is so far continuing in June.
Connecticut saw an 87 percent increase in deaths reported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in May 2020 compared to May 2019. The majority of the difference is attributed to the coronavirus, however, state COO Josh Geballe said the Lamont administration suspects that some of the difference was due to people not seeking medical attention for critical non-COVID health issues.
Connecticut hit its first reopening phase on May 20, which saw the return of many retail businesses, outdoor dining, office space use and outdoor zoos and museums.
Below is a timeline of some of the significant developments during May for the coronavirus situation in Connecticut.
See related: March and April timeline
May 5: Lamont announces that schools will remain closed through the rest of the school year. Plans are laid out for summer camps.
May 6: The state releases some information about the college reopening plan, which calls for the gradual return of non-residential students over the summer and residential students in the fall.
May 11: Lamont announces that three children are being treated for a suspected coronavirus-related inflammatory illness. The number later increases to six.
May 12: State Department of Health Commissioner Renee Coleman-Mitchell is ousted by Lamont. She had largely been out of the public view during the pandemic response.
Deaths exceed 3,000.
May 13: Lamont releases some parts of the phase two and three reopening plans.
May 14: A group of Democratic state senators encourage Lamont to delay the phase 1 reopening.
May 15: Unemployment in Connecticut is around Great Depression levels.
May 18: Lamont pushed back reopening of hair salons and barbershops to June 1 after originally being scheduled to start May 20. The move drew some criticism as it came two days before the reopening date.
May 20: Connecticut enters the first phase of its reopening plan, which sees the return of outdoor dining, the rest of retail and office spaces. Lamont also offers a preliminary look at what phase 2 and 3 will look like.
Not everyone is happy with the speed at which businesses are being allowed to reopen and the Cromwell Town Council votes to draft a declaration in defiance of Lamont’s executive orders.
May 25: George Floyd, a black man, dies after a white police officer in Minnesota kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The killing set off numerous protests across the country, including some in Connecticut, calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism. Lamont supports peaceful protests, but asks protesters to stay off highways. Lamont also worries that the large gatherings of protesters could cause coronavirus infections to rise.
May 28: Mobile testing sites come to Hartford area.
May 29: Lamont announces that larger social gatherings indoors and outdoors will be permitted as well as an expansion on the number of people allowed at one time for houses of worship.
May 30: Many colleges release their plans for the fall semester around this time.
This article originally appeared on the Across Connecticut Patch
