The number of COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths continued to rise Tuesday, as Gov. Ned Lamont announced plans to ramp up testing in the state.
There were 19 more patients hospitalized with the coronavirus and 92 more COVID-19-related deaths in Connecticut, bringing the statewide totals to 1,949 and 1,423, respectively, the governor’s office said.
Overall, 20,360 residents have tested positive for the virus.
Hartford County has 3,951 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases, 473 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations and 402 coronavirus-related deaths, according to the governor’s office.
Things to know: Lamont pushes for testing
Lamont on Tuesday announced several efforts to expand testing.
First, he said a new initiative between Hartford HealthCare and Quest Diagnostics will significantly increase the capacity of COVID-19 testing in the state from 500 tests per day to 2,500.
Hartford HealthCare also plans to increase capacity at existing testing locations in Norwich, Hartford, Torrington, Bridgeport and New Britain.
Patients can receive a test with a referral from their provider, or by contacting the 24/7 Hartford HealthCare Clinical Command Center at 860.972.8100 or, toll-free, 833.621.0600.
Hartford HealthCare has been providing tests daily at its five hospital drive-through locations, where a clinician swabs the patient’s nose and throat to collect samples that will be sent for evaluation. It’s expected that number will increase at those locations, while also providing additional testing for healthcare workers, first-responders, corrections officers and workers at skilled-nursing facilities.
Lamont said the state hopes to reach 1.5 million tests by mid-May. The 2,000 additional tests each day will increase by 80 percent the current daily statewide average of 2,600 tests.
Lamont also announced his administration issued an RFP seeking organizations that want to partner with the state to significantly scale-up its daily COVID-19 testing capacity as part of efforts to reopen the state’s economy.
In addition to the current testing of patients and front line workers who are currently exhibiting symptoms of the virus, the state is planning to significantly build out its capacity to test people who are not exhibiting any symptoms, including front line essential workers, and test them regularly, he said.
To do this, the Lamont administration is looking for proposals from organizations that will support sample collection efforts, particularly in urban and underserved communities where significant impacts of COVID-19 have been prevalent, in addition to proposals from CLIA-certified testing labs.
“The sooner we can identify people with the infection, the sooner they can self-isolate and we can trace their contacts,” Lamont said. “That’s how we will drive infection rates down and prevent rebounds in infection rates as we begin to reopen.”
Lamont recently issued executive orders under the state of emergency that have suspended many of the state contracting requirements and will allow the administration to expedite the process.
