Connecticut reached a grim milestone on Friday as the number of people who have died of the coronavirus in the state climbed above 1,000.
There are 925 new coronavirus cases in Connecticut since Thursday and 65 new deaths, according to Gov. Ned Lamont.
That brings the total number of cases to date to 16,809 and the death toll has now reached 1,036.
"A milestone tragic day," Lamont said. "We have over one-thousand of our citizens, our members of the Connecticut family, who have now passed away."
He asked to pause for a moment of prayer for the victims and their loved ones.
Lamont said there was a glimmer of hope in the number of hospitalizations. The state saw a net increase of 20 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, a number Lamont said may show that the rate of infection is slowing.
Residents Urged to Wear Masks
Local
As the pandemic goes on, the governor has been urging residents statewide to wear cloth masks in public places to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and said he is likely to issue an executive order requiring the wearing of masks soon.
Lamont said he wants employers and employees to wear masks in any place where public interactions are taking place. He singled out grocery stores as a business where he wants to see masks worn.
The governor's recommendation is for cloth-face masks, not surgical masks or N95 respirators, said Josh Geballe, the state's chief operating officer.
