Developments from around New England on the coronavirus pandemic.

CONNECTICUT

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday he has decided to move the state's April 28 presidential primary to a later date. The Democrat announced that the primary will now be held on June 2.

He announced the plan on Twitter, explaining “these are difficult decisions that are all meant to put public health first.”

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Four Hartford police officers who returned from a trip to Spain earlier this month have tested positive for the coronavirus, Mayor Luke Bronin said Thursday.

The mayor said the officers got home March 10 and were asked not to return to work for 14 days. The officers have been self-isolating and have been asymptomatic for the most part, Bronin said.

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A 91-year-old Connecticut man who was hospitalized with the coronavirus has died, becoming the state's second victim of the virus, a local official announced.

New Canaan Councilman Steve Karl announced the death Wednesday night at a Town Council meeting.

A man in his 80s died Wednesday at Danbury Hospital, Gov. Ned Lamont announced.

For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death. The vast majority of people recover.

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A Maine-based independent bioresearch institution announced Thursday it will begin conducting 150 tests a day for the coronavirus at its Connecticut laboratory.

The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine will conduct the testing of samples obtained by medical organizations, including UConn Health and Hartford HealthCare.

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RHODE ISLAND

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo is calling on private companies to help the state replenish its stockpile of medical supplies for responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Democrat said Thursday that the state needs specialized swabs to collect virus samples for testing, as well as personal protective equipment like masks, gloves and gowns to keep health care workers safe.

She’s hoping local medical supply companies, manufacturers, research labs, dentists and other businesses that might stock the equipment can step up.

Health officials also said Thursday the state now has more than 40 confirmed cases of the virus, up 11 from Wednesday.

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Also Thursday, the University of Rhode suspended face-to-face classes for the remainder of the spring semester, and will conduct classes online only.

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MASSACHUSETTS

State officials are promising a significant increase in Massachusetts' capacity to test for the coronavirus.

Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said Thursday the state aims to administer 3,500 tests a day by the beginning of next week.

Gov. Charlie Baker has said expanding coronavirus testing is among his top priorities as state-run labs can only currently process about 400 tests a day.

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The top prosecutor for Boston and surrounding communities is seeking the release from custody of certain people who are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus because of their health or age.

Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins' office said in an emailed statement Thursday that it is working with defense attorneys to identity "individuals whose release we deem urgent and necessary for public health reasons."

Rollins' office said she is seeking to free from jail only those who "pose no meaningful risk to public safety."

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The Boston Symphony Orchestra has extended its period of performance and event cancellations in light of the coronavirus outbreak at both Symphony Hall in Boston and Tanglewood in Lenox through May 2.

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MAINE

A Maine island community has rescinded its order banning visitors and seasonal residents because of the coronavirus pandemic. But the community’s leaders are still asking people to limit travel.

A new resolution from the North Haven Select Board “strongly” encourages people to stay where they are. It also says that people who live on the mainland with better access to medical care should refrain from the traveling to the island, where resources are limited.

Town Administrator Rick Lattimer said it was never the Select Board's intention to keep summer residents away from the community with about 375 year-round residents and one medical clinic.

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Two more people who live at a retirement community in Falmouth have tested positive for coronavirus, the director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

The new diagnoses double the number of people from OceanView in Falmouth who have tested positive, Nirav Shah said.

Shah made the announcement on the same day he announced the number of positive cases in the state has surged past 50. One person has recovered and four are hospitalized, Shah said.

The state is also changing rules to allow compounding pharmacies to help alleviate the state's hand sanitizer shortage by making and selling their own, Shah said.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hampshire’s public university system is shifting to remote teaching for the remainder of the semester.

The University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University and Keene State College initially had taken different approaches to students returning after spring break. But university system officials announced Wednesday night that all would extend remote teaching for the rest of the semester while restricting access to the campuses. Housing will continue to be provided to students who do not have a secure place to be and have been granted exceptions.

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VERMONT

More than 20 people have tested positive. The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vermont's largest city, is temporarily suspending visitation at the hospital with limited exceptions. It's restricting entrances and screening everyone who enters the hospital or clinics.

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