Statement from the City of Stamford:
On March 10th a Stamford resident who returned from international travel was preemptively isolated at Stamford Hospital. On the late evening of March 11th the resident tested positive for COVID-19 (commonly referred to as “the coronavirus”). This is the first reported case of COVID-19 among Stamford residents. This infection was not contracted in the United States or Stamford.
“We anticipated this event for the past two months. We were — and are — ready to take care of patients in a safe and effective manner” said Stamford Health’s Chief of Infectious Diseases Dr. Michael Parry.
The individual arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport March 10th presenting with symptoms of COVID-19. The resident’s family picked up the individual from the airport and adhered to all precautionary measures recommended for individuals who recently traveled from areas with high levels of COVID-19 reports, including Wuhan Province in China, Italy, Iran, and South Korea. The individual was immediately provided a facemask, gloves, and traveled by a private vehicle to minimize potential exposure to others.
“I applaud these residents for following the recommended precautionary measures in this incident,” said Mayor David Martin. “These measures are the type of small changes we can make in our habits to reduce exposure risk in Stamford’s community.”
Upon arrival at Stamford Hospital, medical workers utilized the appropriate personal protective equipment and adhered to all the measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The individual has been placed in isolation at Stamford Hospital and will remain in isolation until they are deemed well by medical professionals. At this time, the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health and Stamford’s Department of Health do not believe the individual or the individual’s family exposed any other Stamford residents to the virus, however the individual’s family has been placed in voluntary quarantine at home as a precautionary measure.
The United States’ Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects individuals’ health information and privacy from being made public. Residents who want more information about the City’s response to COVID-19 can visit the City’s dedicated webpage about the virus at https://www.stamfordct.
Stamford Public Schools will be closed to students beginning Friday, March 13 through, at least, Friday, March 27, 2020.