COVID-19 Update: Greenwich Hospital Capacity Holding

As of 3:15pm, Monday, 212 Greenwich residents have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Greenwich Health Department.

That is up from 185 on Friday.

The age breakdown of the 212 COVID-19 positive Greenwich residents:

Greenwich Hospital reports that as of noon, Monday 107 COVID-19 positive patients were being treated in several different units of Greenwich Hospital.

So far, 108 patients have been discharged and continue their recuperation at home.

Cumulatively 2,372 people have been tested at the Hospital’s outpatient tent, with 888 testing positive. (Numbers include Greenwich residents as well as people from other towns in Connecticut and Westchester.)

As for fatalities, there have been 16, but Diane Kelly, COO at Greenwich Hospital, declined to say how many were Greenwich residents.

She said many had underlying conditions.

“There are many contributions to it (death numbers),” Kelly said. “It’s simply a measure of this person passed and had a positive COVID test, but some of them had other things going on.”

As for capacity for COVID-19 patients, Kelly said, the hospital’s 12-bed ambulatory “first stage” is full.

“I’ll probably dip into our second stage tonight. But I’ve only used 12 of our 84 beds at our facilities here in town. We definitely have capacity. It’s something we’re managing without a problem.”

Camillo suggested people wear facial coverings when outdoors, even if it’s just a bandana or scarf (in addition to hand washing and hand sanitizer).

Kelly said that was a good suggestion, on a par with wearing gloves at a venue with touchable surfaces.

“Having something on your face like a bandana prevents you from touching your nose or mouth inadvertently. That’s the risk there. If you forgot to wash your hands and touched something contaminated, it adds an extra barrier. If you’re out and about touching things, not wearing gloves, it’s a good idea. It can be a bandana or any cloth protector. And if you’re with people, you’re preventing breathing in things.” – Diane Kelly, COO of Greenwich Hospital

“This is especially important as Fairfield County continues to be the epicenter of new diagnoses every day,” Camillo said.

As for limitations of testing, Kelly said, “That is the international plight. Everyone is looking for more testing. …It’s very complex. It’s not just the testing. It’s the swabs. It’s the resources that laboratories need to have to manage the tests.”

She said Yale New Haven Health System has been able to get testing, but is prioritizing it for health care workers and patients who have been admitted.

“Obviously we want to have it for the health care workers,” she said. “We need to get them out as quickly as possible. In the same vein, we need to get them back in because they are also a critical resource right now.”

She said the hospital has received some of the new quick tests, mentioning  one from Cephied in particular, which yields results within hours.

Filing for unemployment. If you have already filed an unemployment claim: It is extremely important that you check your email (including your Junk or Spam folders) daily for updated messages from the Connecticut Labor Department. Messages may include next steps, or you may be asked to log back onto your claim to help us speed up processing times.

If you have not yet filed your unemployment claim: Visit http://www.filectui.com, and first click on the message located above the large blue button that says: “For quicker payment of unemployment benefits, please follow these instructions.” This link provides a guide that asks you to file your claim as a “Temporary Shutdown.”

To speed up the processing of your claim, it is important that you read the guide instructions before you file, and follow the instructions exactly as provided.

Resources for residents and businesses and other helpful tips:
• The Department of Human Services encourages residents to call if they need assistance with basic needs. The number is 203-622-3800.
• To reach the Domestic Abuse Services staff at the YWCA, please call the 24/7 hotline at 203-622-0003.
• Members of the public are encouraged to sign-up for the Town’s Emergency Alert Notification System at greenwichct.bbcportal.com/Entry
• The Department of Health has five phone lines dedicated to the public for questions and answers about COVID-19: 203-622 -7865; 203-622-7703; 203-622-7614; 203-622-7842 and 203-622-7836.
• If you are concerned about an activity or a group not following guidelines issued through COVID-19 related Executive Orders and emergency declarations, please call the Greenwich Police Department’s non-emergency phone number at (203) 622-8004.