Shipping and warehouse delays have put Connecticut's distribution of 3 million at-home rapid coronavirus tests, planned to start Thursday, on "standby."

Municipalities have been planning how to get these critical resources to residents since Gov. Ned Lamont announced the initiative Monday. But on Wednesday evening he announced that the "state's anticipated shipment of COVID-19 at-home rapid tests are currently delayed from arriving in Connecticut." He noted "a shipping and distribution bottleneck on the West Coast amid unprecedented international demand for tests."

The announcement comes as the state's positivity rate hit a record-high — 17.78% — on Wednesday. Out of the latest round of 42,295 tests, 7,520 came back positive. Coronavirus-related hospitalizations climbed by more than 150 in 24 hours, to 1,113 Wednesday, the state reported; New London County had 75 hospitalizations Wednesday, up from 66 the day before.

In eastern Connecticut, municipal officials planned to collect their allotment of test kits at the Mohegan Sun Expo Center on Thursday morning. Uncas Health District Director Patrick McCormack notified municipalities early Wednesday evening that the state said the cargo plane carrying the supplies has to be in Connecticut by 5 a.m. Thursday to get the test kits to the regional distribution site in time for distributions planned for later in the day.

"The State of CT said the message should be that 'we are on standby,'" McCormack wrote in the email. "Emergency Management and Municipal CEOs will be alerted to the cargo plane's arrival with an Everbridge message."

Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom said the plane expected to carry the kits to Connecticut was at an airport in Los Angeles, but whether it was being loaded or could depart late Wednesday or overnight was unknown.

On Tuesday, Lamont said he'd be calling up almost 100 state National Guard members to help with the distribution. The municipal test kits, each containing two rapid coronavirus tests, are intended for residents who have interacted or intend to interact with numbers of people whose COVID-19 status is unknown. Next week, school districts throughout the state will receive additional test kits for families of students returning to school after holiday breaks.

The state also plans to distribute 6 million N95 masks in January.

Thursday test distributions

New London

Mayor Michael E. Passero initially said the city would be distributing 3,510 COVID-19 tests to residents on Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m., or while supplies last, in the parking lot of C.B. Jennings elementary school at 50 Mercer St. But in a statement sent out Wednesday night, he said the Mayor's office will update the city by 8:30 a.m. Thursday "about status and whether we will have the test kits to distribute for the scheduled timeline."

Each resident will be given two self-test kits. The distribution with be a drive-thru but walk-ups also are welcome. People will need to bring proof of residency, such as government-issued identification or a piece of mail addressed to the resident at their home.

Norwich

The city planned to distribute about 4,500 COVID-19 test kits at Kelly Middle School, 25 Mahan Drive, from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday, as supplies last. Distribution was planned as a drive-thru with a zig-zag line-up pattern in the school parking lot.

Norwich City Manager John Salomone said city officials were on a conference call with officials from the state Department of Public Health and the governor’s chief of staff Wednesday evening. State officials promised to let the city know if the plane leaves California. If it leaves by midnight, the city could still keep its schedule. If not, there wouldn’t be enough time to unload and divide up the supplies.

Nystrom said the city could push the time back to later in the afternoon Thursday or reschedule for Friday, depending on when supplies arrive. “People should be alert to changes posted on the city’s website (www.norwichct.org), and we might use the Everbridge alert notification system to residents,” Salomone said.

The kits are for Norwich residents only and will be limited to three per household.

Salem

The town is slated to receive 540 test kits, First Selectman Ed Chmielewski said, noting that's "not nearly enough." There are 4,213 residents in town, according to the most recent U.S. census data.

Chmielewski said some test kits will be reserved for businesses that come into contact with the most customers, such as restaurants. "One staff member at 2 Brothers could come in contact with 100 to 200 or more people in a day or two," he said of the town's only sit-down pizza restaurant.

"This is not for everyone," he said. "This is for individuals who are going to come into contact with many people."

After kits are given out to businesses and first responders, the town planned to distribute the rest to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis at a drive-thru site in the Salem Free Public Library parking lot Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m., or while supplies last. Kits will be limited to two per family.

Old Lyme

First Selectman Tim Griswold said test kits were planned to be distributed in the Town Hall lobby from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Leftovers would be available starting at 9 a.m. Friday until supplies are exhausted.

The town is authorizing one kit per person or two kits per family. IDs will be checked to confirm residency.

The state allotted 990 kits for Old Lyme, according to Griswold. He said about 200 will be set aside for first responders.

Montville

Fire Marshal and Director of Emergency Management Paul Barnes said the town is expecting to recieve between 2,300 and 2,400 testing kits — not enough for the entire community. Officials and volunteers were planning to hand out the kits Thursday as early as 10:30 a.m. at Leonard J. Tyl Middle School by drive-thru services in the parking lot. Barnes said they will be available until 4:30 p.m. or until they run out.

Resident will be limited to two test kits and will need to bring proof of residency, such as a government-issued identification or a piece of mail addressed to their residence.

Stonington

First Selectwoman Danielle Chesebrough said working with Ledge Light Health District as well as the regional council of governments has been beneficial in establishing a number of distribution sites throughout town with staggered schedules.

As of Wednesday afternoon, distribution was scheduled to run from 1 p.m. Thursday at Town Hall and will go through Friday at 11 a.m. at the Mystic Fire Department. Specific sites and times are available at stonington-ct.gov, and the town will post supply updates at each distribution site on its website and social media channels.

The town will be getting only about 2,000 kits, so it is asking each household to take a maximum of two kits.

Groton

Town police announced that the plan was for the tests to be distributed to town and Groton Long Point residents Thursday in a drive-thru pick-up line at Fitch High School at 2 p.m., with no one allowed to start lining up prior to 1:30 p.m. Residents will have to show proof of residency in the town, "which may be in the form of a driver's license, tax bill, car registration or items of mail for service members demonstrating an address within the town of Groton."

On Wednesday evening, police Chief Louis Fusaro said in a Facebook post that officials were monitoring the reported delays. "While we remain hopeful that we will be able to issue them from Fitch High school tomorrow as planned, it is likely that the date and time may be moved later."

Groton is set to receive 4,580 test kits according to Southeastern Connecticut Council of Government estimates. People will be limited to two test kits per household.

There will be a separate distribution for city residents. City Mayor Keith Hedrick said Wednesday that if the test kits are delivered on time, there could be a distribution clinic from 2 to 6 p.m. at Washington Park.

Friday distributions

East Lyme

East Lyme Public Safety posted on Facebook on Tuesday that 143 of the 273 town residents — or 52.4% — who had been tested for COVID-19 over the prior 10 days tested positive. Since Thanksgiving, the town has seen 316 new cases of COVID-19 and lost another resident, bringing the death toll from COVID-19 in town to 53.

First Selectman Kevin Seery said the town is expecting 2,340 test kits. After reserving about 300 kits for first responders and Town Hall staff members who might be exposed at work, officials will hand out kits to residents on Friday in two drive-thru locations at the East Lyme Middle School and Bridebrook Park.

The kits are to be handed out Friday from 9 a.m. until they're gone, Seery said. Those in line will have to show a photo ID for proof of residency and will be limited to two kits per vehicle.

The town's plan was not expected to be affected by the supply delay. Police Chief Mike Finkelstein said that's why Friday was picked for the distribution: “We have a buffer.”

Lyme

The emergency management department will distribute test kits in a drive-thru format Friday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Hamburg Fire Station, while supplies last. Drivers will be required to show proof of residence in Lyme and state the number of people in their household.

First Selectman Steven Mattson said the town is slated to receive 350 kits. It is holding about 60 kits for first responders, town government staff and as a limited reserve for residents who may need tests after the holiday.

A post on the town website emphasized "supplies are very limited" and said the kits are likely to go fast.

Mattson in a phone interview this week expressed concerns about the availability of the kits after the holidays. "My biggest fear personally is we're going to get them out just in time for New Year's and then everybody's going to be looking for tests after the parties and there'll be none left for anybody. And that's a bad set of circumstances."

That's why he said he's reserving a small number of test kits for people who did not pick up a kit on Friday but may feel they need one next week.

Preston

The town plans to distribute about 600 test kits from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Preston City Fire Department, 412 Route 165, at the intersection of Routes 164 and 165. Proof of current Preston residency is required, and kits are limited to two per address. Masks also will be available. Residents are asked to drive to the rear of the parking lot to receive kits.

North Stonington

The town plans to distribute 720 testing kits Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the New Town Hall parking lot, on a first-come, first-served basis. Proof of residency may be required.

There will be a limit of four kits per household, and only people who have COVID-19 symptoms or who have been exposed to someone who tested positive are eligible.

Waterford

The town plans to distribute the majority of its 2,580 test kits Friday from 10 a.m. to noon at the field house of Waterford High School. A small portion will be allocated to first responders and municipal staff.

First Selectman Rob Brule said this distribution is a cooperative effort with the Ledge Light Health District and Waterford's Emergency Management Department. He said the town intends to keep its Friday schedule.

Residents will be limited to one kit and need to bring proof of residency, such as a driver's license or mail addressed to the resident. Parking at the high school will be available at both the upper and lower lots. Both entrances to the school will be open.

Ledyard

Fire Marshal James Dunn said residents can pick up testing kits Friday from 8 a.m. to noon at Ledyard High School, 24 Gallup Hill Road. Residents must show their ID and residency in town.

Dunn said the town is to receive 1,920 kits and expects to run out quickly. Two kits will be given out per household while supplies last.

Hospitals limit visitors

Separately Wednesday, Yale New Haven Health announced "extremely limited visitor access to patients" at its hospitals — including Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London and Westerly Hospital — and outpatient facilities, effective Thursday. People having procedures or operations will have to be picked up outside "unless bedside instructions are absolutely necessary," YNHH said in a news release. Only one support person will be allowed in obstetrics, and only one guardian can accompany pediatric patients.

Effective immediately, there is no visitation to hospitalized patients, though exceptions "may be made at the discretion of the patient's clinical team." Other exceptions are that two visitors can be at the bedside at the same time of someone who is imminently dying, but they can't swap out with other visitors. Patients who need a support person under the Americans with Disabilities Act can have two alternating support people.

"In response to the increase in COVID-19 cases, we made the difficult decision to once again, implement a strict visitation policy," said Dr. Thomas Balcezak, chief clinical officer of Yale New Haven Health. "By taking these steps, we are making every effort to keep risk minimized and ensure the health and well-being of both staff and patients across our health system."