New Haven has recorded its 11th and 12th confirmed cases of covid-19 — with one of the latest cases a 10-year-old.
Mayor Justin Elicker and city Health Director Maritza Bond (pictured) disclosed that information at the latest daily press briefing on the crisis, held Sunday afternoon via Zoom.
The 10-year-old is being treated at Yale New Haven Hospital and is in stable condition, Bond reported.
“It’s really critical we talk about this not being an elderly-only crisis. This is for all populations,” Bond noted.
Also during the briefing:
• Police Chief Otoniel Reyes announced that officers caught up with a homeless man who had left Yale New Haven Hospital while under quarantine after having contracted the virus. (Read more about that here.) Mayor Elicker said his team plans to speak later Sunday with hospital officials about how to prevent future escapes.
• Elicker (pictured at the briefing) put out the call for citizens to donate desperately needed N95 masks and other personal protection equipment for use by medical workers. He asked people to bring masks and other items to their local firehouse — making sure to come alone and stay at least six feet away from other people. He spoke of how doctors in New York City are “using the same N95 mask for an entire week because there are not supplies. I’m terrified to think about what we’re going to look like in seven days.”
• Toward that end, the city is looking for other facilities to “alleviate pressure on the system” when, if as expected, cases pile up over the next week and many more people need emergency care and subacute beds than currently exist in the system, Elicker said. He said he’s not yet ready to announce specific locations. Click here to read about a subacute overflow facility Yale has put in its gym for students and employees of the university.
Watch the full conference above.
God bless everyone during these difficult times!