CT's Sen. Hwang Offers COVID-19 Viewpoint

Fairfield, CT - The following provides a COVID-19 update and perspective from CT State Senator Tony Hwang as of March 19...

Hello Friends,

Every day’s news brings more and more information on the COVID-19 outbreak in Connecticut.  The singular focus of the news and social media feeds can really accelerate people’s anxieties and concerns about the future.

To put the numbers you are reading in perspective, testing in Connecticut started at a rate of only 20 per day and as of yesterday, increased to a rate of 500 per day.  That  increase has come with the increase with the availability of test kits and medical training.  With tenfold more testing, we have to be ready for a tenfold uptick in infected diagnoses.

This week, Dr. Matthew Cartter, CT State Epidemiologist stated, “You should assume there are at least 100 people out there who have COVID-19 for every single positive, which puts us around 6,000 or so – and that might be a low estimate.”

I ask you to keep this information in the forefront of your mind as you see the numbers climb, watch the news and read the headlines. I ask you to maintain calm, composure and equally important, compassion as we all work together to weather this health pandemic.

Thank you to the town officials, first responders, healthcare professionals and all those whose responsibilities require them to wade through this every day.  

Also, thank you to each of you who are able to quarantine yourselves and your family members to prevent carrying or contracting COVID-19.  Your diligence is saving someone else’s life.

Also, here are some helpful tips from CT’s Department of Public Health:

  • Everyone can help stop the spread of viruses in Connecticut.
  • Someone is considered a contact if they have had direct, face-to-face contact with a person with COVID-19.
  • People who think they have COVID-19 should call their healthcare provider. These people should not go directly to a healthcare facility without first calling a healthcare provider (unless they are experiencing a medical emergency).
  • Wash your hands often throughout the day. Use warm water and soap. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand gel.
  • Cough or sneeze into your elbow. Viruses can spread by coughing or sneezing on other people or into your hands.
  • Stay home from work or school if you are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious foods.
  • Keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant.

General questions about COVID-19?  Visit ct.gov/coronavirus or call 2-1-1.

The information line is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance and TDD/TTY access for those with a hearing impairment. 

Stay safe and healthy,

State Senator Tony Hwang

Serving CT’s 28th District: Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Westport, Weston

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Submitted by Westport, CT

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