New London — Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday said he plans to issue a new executive order in the next couple of days that will allow leaders in communities such as New London, where COVID-19 cases have spiked in recent weeks, the discretion to roll back the state's Phase 3 reopening.

It would be a departure from the uniform measures taken by the state throughout the pandemic, but Lamont has said the reason is the localized nature of the outbreaks. Phase 3 reopening, which started on Thursday, increased the number of patrons allowed at restaurants and other commercial establishments and on the sizes of crowds at indoor and outdoor gatherings.

Mayor Michael Passero said he is studying the possibility, but his inclination, with the city being contained to such a small geographic area, is to not roll back Phase 3.

“It’s too small an area to exercise any discretion. To impose different restrictions on our businesses would force people a mile away to Waterford, Montville, Groton, Mystic ...” Passero said.

Other municipalities with COVID-19 numbers higher than 15 cases per 100,000 over the last week included Norwich, Preston and Windham.

Lamont and acting Public Health Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford joined Passero, health officials and legislators at a news conference Monday to encourage continued COVID-19 testing and vigilance in the city. New London has been among the state leaders in new COVID-19 cases, which prompted a COVID-19 alert from the state Department of Public Health last week. Norwich had a similar alert the previous week.

The response in both cities has been a marked increase in available testing sites through partnerships that in New London have included Community Health Center Inc. and Yale New Haven Health. Two testing sites were set up at different New London schools over the weekend with more than 700 tests performed.

Monday’s gathering was held outside Community Health Center Inc. at 1 Shaw’s Cove with a backdrop of cars lined up for free testing. Community Health Center has expanded its hours for testing and opened a testing site at 481 Gold Star Highway in Groton. Free testing for all ages is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at both sites. Ledge Light Health District has a complete list of local testing sites on its website.

“We know there’s been a flare-up around the region. We’ve seen this movie before. And we know its going to have a good ending,” Lamont said. “We were hit pretty hard going back five or six months. It’s going to be very different this time. It’s going to be very different because ... we know what we’ve got to do.”

Health officials continue to stress the importance of testing and preventive measures, such as wearing masks and social distancing. Gifford said testing alone would not turn the corner and that anyone who has been in contact with someone who has tested positive, even if they have not tested positive themselves, should be in quarantine for 14 days.

“That’s how we’re going to break this cycle,” she said.

COVID-19 results released on Monday show that the number of new reported cases in the state rose by 1,066 since Friday with an additional 77,261 tests performed. There were two more deaths for a total of 4,532 in the state. Hospitalized patients rose by 21 for a total of 155. New London County reported 267 new COVID-19 case for a total of 2,754. The Department of Public Health reports that cases in New London rose by 77 between Oct. 8 and Oct. 11 and by 58 in Norwich over that same time period.

Lawrence + Memorial Hospital reported Monday afternoon it was treating 14 COVID-19 patients. Westerly Hospital had none.

Lamont and Gifford also met with Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom Monday to discuss the recent COVID-19 spike in the city and what state assistance could be provided. After the meeting, Nystrom said he didn’t have specific breakdowns for the latest numbers, but infections have been affecting some elderly residents, including those in the city’s senior housing complexes. Nystrom said the city and the state Department of Public Health will reach out to senior housing facilities, both public and privately run, to ensure that safety protocols and protective equipment are in place. He is especially concerned about homes where residents share bathrooms or have community meals served.

Nystrom said Lamont offered additional state assistance if the city needs it. Several COVID-19 testing sites were open over the weekend, and the state put out telephone emergency alert calls to Norwich residents with the testing schedule.

Nystrom said that last week he discussed with Lamont’s staff whether the city would be interested in rolling back some of the Phase 3 reopening guidelines. Nystrom said he told the governor’s staff at the time that any rollback should be done by the governor’s office, not the local authorities, to have any weight. He also was concerned that local police would not be able to enforce the change.

Norwich schools are entering their second week of fully remote learning due to the COVID-19 outbreak. But Nystrom said he thinks students are safest at school.

The Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center hosted a U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmers to Families food distribution at five Norwich locations in the city on Friday. Nystrom said the spread out locations proved to be difficult logistically, with long lines of cars and city staff needing to walk along the line to inform drivers when the boxes ran out. This Friday, the city is working with the Mashantucket tribe to move the Norwich food distribution to the large, unused former Foxwoods Resort Casino employee parking lot on East Main Street. Nystrom said distribution times were not yet established as of Monday evening.

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