Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday evening the first death of a Connecticut resident from the novel coronavirus.

The resident, an 88-year-old man, died from "severe" complications related to the virus. He was a resident of Benchmark Senior Living at Ridgefield Crossings in Ridgefield and was being treated at Danbury Hospital after contracting the virus. 

Less than two weeks ago Lamont visited Danbury Hospital, where he announced the first person in the state to be infected with the virus, and now, he said, in delivering his daily update on the state's response to the outbreak, he was announcing the state's first death connected to the virus.

"The first death was not unexpected, but it's a shock," Lamont said. "It's a shock because it makes this so real for all of our families. Our hearts go out to that man and his family." 

Connecticut has 96 cases, including another positive case affecting a resident of the Evergreen Health Care Center, a nursing home in Stafford Springs, who is hospitalized at Johnson Memorial Hospital in that town. 

State Department of Public Health Commissioner Renee Coleman-Mitchell said DPH employees have been deployed to the facility in Stafford Springs, where two other individuals are under close watch, and at the hospital there to review mitigation efforts and infection control procedures to slow down and prevent the spread of the virus at these facilities. She said the department would later determine whether more people at the facility should be tested for the virus.

Another group of DPH employees soon would be sent to do the same at the facility in Ridgefield where the deceased man had been living, she said.

"Benchmark Senior Living at Ridgefield Crossings is extremely saddened to confirm the tragic passing of a valued member of our community, one of our residents. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family during this difficult time, and we are deeply committed to helping our residents and associates heal from this loss," the facility said in a news release Wednesday night.

It said all residents who "had high exposure" to the man who was infected have been quarantined and that the facility is following health department and medical guidance. Staff members who may have been exposed have been advised to stay out of the community, it said.

People over the age of 60, and especially over 80, are at increased risk of developing severe or fatal infection. Those with underlying medical conditions also are at higher risk.

More than 700 people in Connecticut have been tested for the novel coronavirus; 24 people were hospitalized as a result of illness caused by the virus as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, said Josh Geballe, the governor's chief operating officer.

Some health care facilities across the state have expressed increasing concern about running low on personal protective equipment, and Geballe said the Lamont administration is urging dental offices and similar places to not use those supplies for elective procedures or those that are not life-saving, and instead donate them for use by health care facilities directly dealing with the pandemic.

Lamont said he's been in regular contact with governors across the country, who are sharing the actions being taken in their states. He said he hasn't made a decision yet whether to postpone Connecticut's primary election scheduled for late April. He will be consulting with his "fellow governors" about that, but "my hunch is it will be delayed."

Expanding multistate efforts

Also on Wednesday, Lamont, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced additional measures as part of their regional effort to try to curb the spread of the virus.

Shopping malls, amusement parks and bowling alleys in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey will close by 8 p.m. Thursday. That follows the closure earlier this week of bars, restaurants, movie theaters and gyms in those states until further notice. Restaurants and bars that serve food are able to provide takeout and delivery services only.

The governors also announced Wednesday that Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has joined their regional effort and has instituted the same restrictions in his state.

Lamont also reached an agreement earlier this week with the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes, both located on sovereign reservation lands in southeastern Connecticut, to close Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun for two weeks. This is the first time the casinos have closed since they opened in the 1990s.

The heads of the state's agencies are working hard to tackle a number of issues related to the virus, Lamont said, including the best approach to treating vulnerable populations, such as the homeless, who contract the virus; finding child care solutions for essential workers, such as health care personnel, and seeking a waiver from the federal government for standardized assessments in the state's public schools.

State Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona, who joined Lamont at the late afternoon news conference, said the school year has not been canceled. "We hope to welcome students back, but at this point we're taking precaution, and if we have to extend class cancellation, we will," he said.

Lamont reiterated his call for residents to practice social distancing, specifically imploring young people, whom he called "the invincibles," to do so. 

"This is really important for your safety, your parents' safety and your grandparents' safety," he said.

Lamont said he's been "strongly recommending" to businesses to let their employees work from home. Asked whether he would enforce a "shelter in place" type order, he said "if people do the right thing, you don't need the government to reinforce it."

"I hope it doesn't come to a lockdown," he said. "I hope it happens voluntarily. This is America."

j.bergman@theday.com