Connecticut Nursing Home Hit By Second Outbreak; 57 Positive Tests

Hartford Courant: Coronavirus Outbreak At Colchester Nursing Home Has Infected More Than 50 Residents And Staff 
A total of 57 people, including 46 residents, at the Harrington Court Nursing Home in Colchester have tested positive for the coronavirus as state officials deal with yet another outbreak in a long-term care facility. Russell Melmed, director of the Chatham Health District, said Thursday morning there had been no deaths so far, but that the outbreak, which is believed to have started early last week, is still not contained. However, the weekly count of COVID cases in nursing homes released following Gov. Ned Lamont’s press conference lists two deaths in the past week at Harrington. (Altimari, 10/1)

In news from New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts —

CNN: US Coronavirus: New York City Plans To Reverse Reopenings In Some Neighborhoods As Coronavirus Cases Climb
Schools, daycares and restaurants may again be forced to close in some New York City neighborhoods as the city tries to get ahead of a worrisome spread of Covid-19. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Sunday proposed temporarily closing all schools and non-essential businesses in nine ZIP codes with high test positivity rates beginning Wednesday, pending state approval. (Holcombe, 10/5)

The New York Times: N.Y.P.D. Warns Officers: Wear Your Masks
New York City police officials instructed all officers to wear masks in public or risk discipline, as the department faces mounting criticism over officers’ failure to comply with a state mandate that people wear face coverings in public when social distancing is not possible. The Police Department’s directive, issued on Friday in memos and a video, came after elected officials repeatedly called out the police for flouting the mask mandate they are supposed to enforce. About 400 officers have been assigned to nine neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens where there has been an uptick in coronavirus cases and where the city plans to close nonessential businesses and schools this week. (Southall and Gold, 10/4)

The Wall Street Journal: New Jersey Voters Set To Decide On Legalizing Marijuana
New Jersey voters will decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana next month, after the Democratic-led state legislature fell short of enough votes to get it done. The ballot measure, if passed, would amend the state constitution to allow people ages 21 and older to use marijuana. It would also allow the state to establish a regulated market to grow, distribute and sell the drug. (De Avila, 10/4)

WBUR: COVID-19 Outbreak At Massachusetts Alcohol And Substance Abuse Center Halts Admissions
The state has temporarily stopped sending men to an involuntary addiction treatment center because of a coronavirus outbreak. The Department of Correction (DOC) says it has stopped admissions to the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center (MASAC) in Plymouth after 28 men at the center tested positive for the virus. Eleven staff members of the facility's medical provider, Wellpath, also tested positive. (Becker, 10/3)

In news from Ohio and Michigan —

Columbus Dispatch: Ohio's COVID-19 Deaths Drop To Zero On Sunday
After a week of posting above-average numbers of new coronavirus cases, the Ohio Department of Health reported zero deaths for the first time since March and 941 new cases on Sunday. The number of new cases is an 8% decrease from the recent three-week average and a drop from Saturday's 1,157 recorded cases. However, even though the state hadn't recorded zero deaths since March 15, death reporting can lag over the weekend. A total of 4,925 Ohioans have died of the virus. (Doyle, 10/4)

Politico: Ohio Governor Says Trump’s Diagnosis Serves As ‘Cautionary Tale’ 
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday he hoped President Donald Trump's Covid-19 diagnosis served as "a cautionary tale" that inspired people to wear masks to help slow down the spread of the virus. "What I hope is that what we have seen with the president is a cautionary tale for people, and people will understand that, look, it can happen to the president, it can happen to your family, and you wear a mask to help other people," the Republican governor said on CNN's "State of the Union." (Tamborrino, 10/4)

Detroit Free Press: DDOT Bus Driver Stop Bus Service, Amid New Pandemic Concerns
Detroit's bus drivers don't feel the city has done enough to protect them during the pandemic and have pledged not to go back to work until it does, their union president Glenn Tolbert said Friday, adding they hope it won't be a long shutdown. Tolbert said the city broke off talks with the union earlier today, and the work stoppage will continue through the weekend. The talks between the union and city officials will resume Monday. (Witsil, 10/2)

In news from Alabama and Texas —

WPMI: Hurricane Season Taking Toll On Mental Health Of Alabama Storm Victims
AltaPointe Health says after Hurricane Sally struck, there was an uptick in calls for help. Japonica Bryant works with people experiencing psychiatric emergencies there. "People are calling about anxiety and depression, dealing with storm anxiety," said Bryant. With Alabama's coast about to possibly receive a one-two punch just weeks apart this hurricane season, Bryant says she's concerned about people who've already reached their breaking point. (Ramey, 10/4)

Dallas Morning News: Texas Taps Federal Funds To Help Nursing Homes Buy Equipment To Expand COVID-Era Visits
State officials announced Friday that they will help nursing homes tap $3.5 million in federal funds to buy equipment that would allow more visitors during the coronavirus pandemic. Starting Monday, certified nursing homes in Texas can apply for up to $3,000 each toward purchasing plexiglass barriers for expanded indoor visits and tents to accommodate more safe gatherings outdoors, Gov. Greg Abbott and the Health and Human Services Commission announced. (Garrett, 10/2)