Coronavirus Hospitalizations Remain Steady At Greenwich Hospital

GREENWICH, CT — The number of active cases of the coronavirus in Greenwich has risen to 235 as of Tuesday, an increase of 70 since last week, according to First Selectman Fred Camillo.

During a press update Wednesday afternoon, Camillo said the town has seen a total of 2,665 positive cases of the virus overall, an increase of 233 since last week. He also noted six more residents have died as a result of the virus in the past week, brining the total number to 73.

According to Greenwich Hospital president Diane Kelly, the hospital currently has 36 patients in-house who have tested positive for the virus. Of that number, five are in the hospital's intensive care unit, Kelly said. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

"Greenwich is very much in the same situation they were in a week ago," Kelly said during the press update.

Kelly said the hospital discharged six patients Tuesday but admitted seven more patients who tested positive for the virus by Wednesday morning, keeping the number of patients with the virus at the hospital mostly consistent.

"The numbers look the same, which means we're really not decreasing," Kelly said. "The number of people coming in and being discharged is pretty constant."

She also urged residents to remain cautious as they enter the new year.

"Social distancing is extremely important, as is wearing masks and good hand hygiene," Kelly said. "We really have to keep our vigilance up on that."

As of Wednesday, 15,000 health care workers in the Yale New Haven Health System have been vaccinated against the coronavirus since mid-December, which Kelly said was "a great start." Of that number, 1,300 are in Greenwich, Kelly said.

Kelly said the hospital will expand its distribution of the vaccines when they are given permission by the state to do so.

"The distribution of this and when we go to different levels and categories is all state-driven," Kelly said.

Kelly also noted the town has seen lower influenza rates than usual this flu season.

"It's very interesting," Kelly said, "because if you've ever wondered whether washing your hands and covering your mouth was effective in preventing the flu, I think you now probably have your answer."

Camillo said the lower influenza rate could be an indication of ways residents can protect themselves from the flu going forward.

"We learned something, and hopefully that's one of the things we can take with us going forward," Camillo said, "that from now on, during flu season, be careful. It's ok to keep a mask around if you're going to be in close quarters."

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