A Wilton man has become Connecticut’s first presumptive positive coronavirus case, state officials announced Sunday afternoon.
Gov. Ned Lamont said in a news release that the patient is between 40 and 50 years old and is being treated at Danbury Hospital. Officials said this person likely became infected with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 illness during a recent trip to California.
“We have been expecting for some time now that a Connecticut resident would become infected with COVID-19, so this should not come as a surprise to anybody,” Lamont said in a statement. “We wish this patient a full recovery and we know he is being cared for by highly competent medical teams.”
Up to this point, the state’s only known coronavirus cases were tied to two New York residents who work at Danbury and Norwalk hospitals, and Bridgeport Hospital, respectively.
State officials said the Wilton patient’s illness is not connected to the Danbury Hospital employee infected with coronavirus. That employee remains at her home in Westchester County, the state announced Friday night.
Positive Connecticut coronavirus cases are considered “presumptive positive” until they are confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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State and federal officials are working to identify people who had direct, face-to-face contact with the Wilton patient, as they may have been exposed to the virus. Those people are being instructed to stay home and self-isolate.
As of 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, the state health lab in Rocky Hill had tested 46 other people who all proved negative for coronavirus.
Lamont called for residents to practice preventive measures in order to reduce the spread of disease. He also said people should avoid nonessential travel.
“Avoid shaking hands with people to stop the spread of germs. Wash your hands with soap, and clean commonly touched surfaces,” the governor said. “If you start to feel ill, call your medical provider for guidance.”
For state updates, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and Connecticut Public’s resource page. For general questions, residents can call the 24-hour state hotline at 2-1-1.
This story has been updated.
