Press Releases
03/24/2020
DMHAS Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19
Middletown, CT – The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) announced today that a staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. The individual is an employee at the Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) in Middletown and last reported to work on March 10, 2020.
The individual was last at work on March 10, 2020 and called out sick on March 11, 2020 reporting flu-like symptoms, such as fever and cough. The individual was tested on March 14, 2020 and DMHAS was notified of the positive test result late on March 23, 2020. Seven other staff who were in close contact with the individual have been out on self-quarantine. Patients who came in contact with the employee have also been in quarantine and are being monitored for symptoms of COVID-19 while continuing to receive DMHAS services. Staff on the affected unit are also being monitored for symptoms, taking appropriate precautions and practicing infection control to prevent further spread of the virus. The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 is recovering at home.
“I wish our employee a quick and full recovery,” said DMHAS Commissioner Miriam Delphin-Rittmon. “The swift action on the part of the staff at CVH helped contain the exposure and prevent the spread of the virus to other parts of the hospital. We will continue to monitor staff and patients for symptoms to maintain the health and safety of those on the unit and the rest of the Middletown campus.”
DMHAS has taken significant steps to protect clients and staff throughout the DMHAS system. These include:
- Adjusting outpatient services while promoting social distancing including telephone check-ins and closing wellness centers and social clubs;
- Restricting visitors from DMHAS facilities;
- Conducting health screenings of all individuals who enter DMHAS facilities, including staff and clients;
- Approving over 900 employees for telework to promote social distancing and minimize exposure to clients and staff at DMHAS facilities; and,
- Directing staff who are symptomatic or have been in close contact with individuals suspected of or having COVID-19 to stay home and self-quarantine to prevent infecting clients and other staff.
Connecticut Valley Hospital is an inpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment facility operated by DMHAS with 209 psychiatric beds and 110 substance use treatment beds at the Middletown campus. An additional 42 substance use treatment beds are located on CVH’s Blue Hills campus in Hartford. Over 3,000 individuals received treatment through CVH in 2019.
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Media Contact:
Diana Shaw
diana.shaw@ct.gov
(860) 418-6967 (office)
(860) 558-0024 (cell)