Name: Dozens of Connecticut doctors ask Gov. Lamont to close gyms and indoor dining as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to spike
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Dozens of Connecticut doctors ask Gov. Lamont to close gyms and indoor dining as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to spike

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AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantNov 30, 2020 at 6:00 amDozens of local physicians in Connecticut are urging Gov. Ned Lamont to immediately close down gyms, prohibit indoor dining and ban all unnecessary gatherings, as hospitals once again begin to fill up with coronavirus patients.Thirty-five doctors and one nurse — who work directly with COVID-19 patients — signed onto a Nov. 24 letter that they sent to Lamont and copied to acting Public Health Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford.Advertisement“The rapid increase in admissions and severity of illness that we are seeing here in the ICU and the wards is incredibly concerning,” the letter reads.The letter laid out the gravity of the situation, as Connecticut’s coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths spike to levels not seen in months. On Friday, hospitalizations passed 1,000 for the first time since mid-May. So far in November, the state has reported 345 coronavirus-linked deaths — which is more than in the prior four months combined.AdvertisementWith that context, the medical workers’ letter asked the state’s leaders to intervene now, before the second wave of the pandemic gets even worse.“Based on what we know about the epidemiology of COVID-19, we are confident that a decision to close indoor dining and gyms and ban all other unnecessary public gatherings would protect our citizens from this lethal disease, keep our hospitals and caregivers from becoming overwhelmed, and save lives,” the letter reads.In a statement late Sunday evening, Lamont spokesperson Max Reiss pointed to the restrictions that the governor has already put in place and said that Lamont’s administration is watching the state’s coronavirus metrics. He did not indicate if the state would impose the restrictions requested in the letter.Lamont “has made it clear he is prepared to take additional steps to protect Connecticut residents,” Reiss said. “Connecticut continues to find the right balance with an emphasis on public health, and our doctors and nurses have a place at the head of the table as we manage our way through this pandemic.”But Lamont has so far shown no sign of shuttering indoor dining or closing gyms — even as some public officials, including in the states of Michigan and Washington and the cities of Philadelphia and San Francisco, have taken those steps.Lamont has capped gatherings at a maximum of 10 people, although he’s said he doesn’t plan on banning all socialization outside of households, as Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo has temporarily done.Dr. Luke Davis, who spearheaded the Nov. 24 letter, said he believes it’s time for Connecticut officials to do more.“We know it’s going to be a long few months, and so we think it’s time to contract a little bit,” he said.AdvertisementDavis — a clinician at Yale New Haven Hospital and an epidemiologist at Yale’s School of Public Health — added that the pending COVID-19 vaccines offer a light at the end of the tunnel. But while the federal government may begin distributing a vaccine as early as December, the distribution and administration process is expected to take months.During those months, people will continue to die of COVID-19.“We just don’t want people to be the last casualties of a war that we think we’re going to win,” Davis said.He said the letter to the governor focused on indoor dining, gyms and gatherings because medical professionals see those three areas as particularly prone to spreading the virus. That’s because indoor dining cannot be done while wearing masks, because gym-goers breathe much more heavily while working out and because the holidays are likely to spur many more social gatherings. by on Scribd“As critical care physicians, having seen a lot of this, we really believe in the precautionary principle,” he said.And the state’s coronavirus outbreak is already taxing the hospitals.AdvertisementAs it happensGet the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut &gt; The Yale New Haven Health system recently said that 80% of its intensive care capacity was full, according to . And on Friday, the state reported that 1,017 people were hospitalized with the virus. The number of hospitalizations is expected to keep rising for at least several more weeks.“We’re running out of room, basically,” Davis said. And “our ICU numbers are just going to continue to go up.”Beyond physical space, Davis said he worries about the quality of care that patients will receive as medical workers are stretched thinner and thinner, and as workers are assigned to duties outside of their usual specialty.“I think we’ve all tried to be patient,” Davis said. “But just given the way the epidemiology has evolved, we feel like there’s an opportunity to intervene in these specific areas and hopefully prevent a further rise in cases.”After Davis sent the initial letter to the governor, seven additional medical workers signed on, for a total of 43 signatures. On Friday, three days after sending the letter, Davis also started with the same message — by early Monday morning, 192 people had signed the petition.This story has been updated.AdvertisementEmily Brindley can be reached at . Advertisement

AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantNov 30, 2020 at 6:00 amDozens of local physicians in Connecticut are urging Gov. Ned Lamont to immediately close down gyms, prohibit indoor dining and ban all unnecessary gatherings, as hospitals once again begin to fill up with coronavirus patients.Thirty-five doctors and one nurse — who work directly with COVID-19 patients — signed onto a Nov. 24 letter that they sent to Lamont and copied to acting Public Health Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford.Advertisement“The rapid increase in admissions and severity of illness that we are seeing here in the ICU and the...

Dozens of Connecticut doctors ask Gov. Lamont to close gyms and indoor dining as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to spike

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