Gov. Ned Lamont and a half-dozen other Northeast governors are forming a task force to develop a coordinated, regional strategy for reopening their respective states' economies once the effects of the coronavirus subside.

In a conference call Monday afternoon, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced each of the governors will appoint a public health official and an economic development official to the panel and that each governor's chief of staff also will serve as a member.

Cuomo and Lamont, both Democrats, were joined on the call by fellow Democratic Govs. Phil Murphy of New Jersey, Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, John Carney of Delaware and Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island. Later, during his daily coronavirus update, Lamont told reporters Republican Gov. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts also will appoint task force members.

Lamont announced Connecticut's representatives will include Indra Nooyi, co-chairman of the nonprofit AdvanceCT and former chairman and chief executive officer of PepsiCo; Dr. Albert Ko, professor of epidemiology and medicine and a department chairman at the Yale School of Public Health; and Paul Mounds Jr., the governor's chief of staff. The governor also will announce appointments to a special advisory board on the state economy in coming days.

Cuomo said he believes the number of COVID-19 cases in New York has "plateaued," meaning that while it's not going down, it's not going up at the same rate as before, "which is relatively good news in a world of bad options."

Going forward, he said, states need to look at getting their economies moving again.

"If you do it wrong, it can backfire," Cuomo said. "No one's ever done this before. It can only be done after research and consultation with experts. ... It has to be informed by data."

No governor offered a timetable for the easing of restrictions on schools, small businesses and transportation systems that have been curtailed or completely shut down for weeks.

Lamont said the pandemic has largely traced the Interstate 95 corridor in Connecticut, affecting a "tristate workforce" of residents of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. In March, the governors of the three states coordinated shutdowns of bars, restaurants and entertainment venues.

"We have to make sure we don't pull the trigger too early," Lamont said. "We've seen a resurgence in countries like Japan and Singapore. That would be so demoralizing for our economies." 

Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) criticized the announcement of the multi-state council to develop a plan to reopen businesses and Lamont's creation of an advisory group. 

"I am disappointed that today Connecticut still does not have a plan to eventually reopen businesses when safe to do so, and nothing announced today moves us closer to action. I was expecting to hear details of what Governor Lamont thinks are the prudent and necessary steps for Connecticut to take to get our residents back to work. Instead, we learned of a plan to form a plan, through the creation of more bureaucratic bodies including a 21 person multi-state administration system and a state organization that is still not yet formed," Fasano said.

Fasano added the state needs action now.

"Action does not mean reopening every business tomorrow, but we need a strategy for how we will reopen in a safe manner that is focused on the issues and experiences in Connecticut. We need to give people answers and hope. If governors want to consult with one another that can be helpful, but Connecticut cannot wait on six other states, including states that do not even share a border with us, to agree on a path forward," he said. "We need to identify actions to help our residents today by getting them back to work to receive a paycheck, particularly because the unemployment benefits system in our state has been so unreliable."

COVID-19 cases in state continue to mount

Lamont's office reported another 1,346 positive COVID-19 cases in the state since Sunday, pushing Connecticut's total to 13,381. Forty-eight more deaths associated with the disease were reported, bringing the state's toll to 602. Hospitalizations of patients with the disease increased by 106 to 1,760.

In New London County, COVID-19 cases grew by 32 to 222. No additional fatalities were reported, leaving the county's total at seven. Hospitalizations were up by four to 20. Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London was treating 12 inpatients with COVID-19, while Westerly Hospital was treating five.

Lamont said the relatively modest increase in the number of statewide hospitalizations was a sign hospitals will be able to keep pace with demand. He said about a third of the hospital beds in the state are unoccupied and that 1,800 additional beds set up in field hospitals have not yet been put to use.

The governor said the low infection rates in New London, Windham and Tolland counties were "no reason to get complacent." He said the state needs to continue ramping up testing for COVID-19 and to begin testing for antibodies in the blood of those who have had the disease and may have developed immunity to it.

Old Lyme has first death associated with COVID-19

Prior to Lamont's daily press briefing on the state's response to the coronavirus, Ledge Light Health District confirmed the first death associated with COVID-19 involving an Old Lyme resident, a 61-year-old woman.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this Old Lyme community member," First Selectman Timothy Griswold said in a news release. "This is a tragic loss and shows the severity of the COVID-19 public health emergency. We understand this news is unsettling so if any resident is in need of mental health counseling, we encourage you to visit oldlyme-ct.gov for a list of therapists and resources. Please continue to take precautions and stay home, wash your hands, and practice social distancing."

Ledge Light Health District continues to work with local and state partners to prepare for widespread community transmission of COVID-19. The district urges residents and businesses to access up-to-date information regarding the pandemic at its website, www.llhd.org.

First state prison inmate death

On Monday evening, the DOC announced that a 62-year-old man who was serving time at the Osborn Correctional Institution in Somers had died Monday from COVID-19. The man was tested for the virus on April 6 and was taken to UConn Health Center for intensive treatment of his illness on April 8. His test came back positive on April 9, the DOC said.

The man had been approved for discretionary release last month but did not have an appropriate home sponsor so was remanded to the prison. He was serving a two-year sentence for criminal possession of a firearm and had underlying medical conditions, said the DOC. 

EB president returns to work

Electric Boat President Kevin Graney, who learned he tested positive for COVID-19 the night of April 3, was cleared to return to work Monday. Company spokeswoman Liz Power said the determination was made by medical professionals who evaluated Graney in line with current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Graney has declined to say how and when he got tested but said he developed symptoms late on April 1 into April 2.

As of Monday, there were 25 confirmed COVID-19 cases involving EB employees. An additional six people tested positive since Graney’s last update on April 9, including two people who work at the Quonset Point, R.I., facility and four employees in Groton.

“We continue to follow our protocols for notifying employees who may have come in contact with these individuals and for cleaning areas these individuals worked in,” he said in a statement to employees.

Graney said nine of the 25 employees have been cleared to return to work, including him. He said he’s monitoring his health closely and is wearing a mask in the office.

“I’m glad to be back to work and happy to report that according to the medical team, the other employees who have tested positive are all on the road to recovery and will be back with the rest of the EB team when they’re able,” Graney said.

At end of the week, the company will begin distributing surgical masks to all employees and has begun producing hundreds of cloth masks internally, Graney said.

Over the weekend, the company was informed of the death of an employee by that person’s family.

“We are unable to provide any additional information about the cause of death, but can confirm that this employee was not among the positive COVID-19 cases we are tracking,” Graney said. “We offer our sincerest condolences to the employee’s family and friends.”

Mohegan Sun a PPE distribution point

Mohegan Sun's Earth Expo Center is one of five locations the state Department of Public Health has designated as distribution points for personal protective equipment, or PPE, the gear worn by doctors, nurses and other health care workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

The department Monday began delivering the equipment — bundles of "push packs" containing N95 respirator masks, surgical masks, gowns, gloves and face shields — on a regular, weekly schedule, according to Renee Coleman-Mitchell, the state's public health commissioner.

The state's inventory of PPE, which comes from the federal government, private donations and other sources, is being consolidated and distributed at the locations, according to the governor's office.

"The Mohegan Tribal Council is committed to being good neighbors and good partners to the State of Connecticut," James Gessner Jr., the council chairman, said in a statement. "Early on in this crisis, we reached out to the governor's office to let them know we wanted to offer any and all assistance we could. We're honored to now be serving as a point of distribution for personal protective equipment, which is so vital to our hospital and health care workers."

Deliveries are being provided to local public health directors who are being tasked with distributing the equipment to providers in the regions they serve, including urgent care centers, primary care physicians, dialysis centers, hospice and home health agencies, "as needed and requested," the health department announced.

Long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities and residential care homes also will be able to pick up supplies at the locations on a weekly basis.

EMS providers will be included in the distribution starting next week. Acute care hospitals and the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut will continue to receive direct deliveries.

"There will continue to be a limited supply," the department said.

The distribution points, which the department will operate in conjunction with the military department, will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. according to the following schedule:

• Region 1, Mondays: Sherwood Island State Park, Westport

• Region 2, Tuesdays: North Haven Recreation Center, North Haven

• Region 3, Wednesdays: 25 Brixton St., West Hartford

• Region 4, Thursdays: Earth Expo Center, Mohegan Sun

• Region 5, Fridays: Bethlehem Fairgrounds, Bethlehem

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