Lucy Dathan

It has been another jam-packed week of ever-changing information from our local, state, and federal partners as the COVID-19 health crisis continues to permeate almost every aspect of our daily lives. This is overwhelming, so please — first and foremost — focus on yourself and those within your care. As a good friend and colleague likes to remind us: “You must put the oxygen mask on yourself first. Otherwise, what good are you to anyone else?”

Again, I want to share my deepest empathy to anyone who has been suffering or has lost a loved one as a result of this virus. I have had too many friends and acquaintances share how they are grieving for a lost friend or relative, and they have no one to physically comfort them in their grief. A virtual funeral feels so emotionally distant and not an appropriate way to say goodbye, but it is the safest thing we can do for each other right now. The time will come when we can all be there for a hug, but unfortunately it is not safe to do so yet.

Please remember the importance of social distancing. With Passover and Easter approaching, the temptation to see our friends and family is high, but we need to keep up with Stay Safe, Stay Home. It is truly the ONLY thing we can do to combat this virus.

The CT National Guard and members of the Governor's Foot & Horse Guard have been hard at work providing emergency support to the state since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, including their recent work at Stamford Hospital re-purposing the Wheeler Building on the Bennett Medical Center campus as an alternative care site.

Below are just a few support efforts provided by the CTNG. You can also read more about national relief efforts here.

• Deployed additional medical capacity stations at Danbury, Middlesex, and St. Francis Hospitals; Southern Connecticut State University and Western Connecticut State University; and the Newington and West Haven VA Hospitals.
• Led the strategic and tactical operations of a medical equipment warehouse and providing transportation and distribution of the vital equipment throughout the state, including PPE and ventilators.
• Participated in multiple planning elements of the State Emergency Operations Center including medical planners.
• Remained ready and willing to take on assigned missions in accordance with the state response framework.

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A special thanks to all the men and women of the Connecticut National Guard and Governor's Foot & Horse Guard for the remarkable job they are doing in support of the state's COVID-19 response efforts.