HARTFORD, Conn (AP) — Connecticut officials are trying to speed up the certification of new nurses and urging retired nurses to come back to work to help handle the state’s anticipated spike in patients afflicted with the coronavirus.

“We need you. And we’re gonna to you over the next two, three, five, six weeks,” Gov. Ned Lamont said Tuesday. “So please reach out to your former hospital where you were. We need you to be able to step back.”

While the state now has close to 70 diagnosed cases, State Epidemiologist Matthew Cartter warned many more are expected in the coming weeks.

“Really, this is just starting to move across (the state). This is the beginning of this,” he said, noting that doctors and nurses at hospitals in the western part of the state are already working around the clock in facilities full of patients with many other ailments. Cartter said there are 26 patients currently hospitalized in Connecticut with the virus that causes COVID-19.

Steps are being taken to help the state’s hospitals meet the predicted increased demand for care. The Democrat said they’re looking into “separate housing” for patients on the mend in order to free up space in the hospitals.  Lamont said his office is continuing to work with the federal government to access more protective equipment for medical personnel.

Commencement exercises at the University of Connecticut the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities have been cancelled to because of the need to limit crowds. Both UConn and CSCU announced Tuesday they’re moving to all-online classes for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester.

State Attorney General William Tong said Tuesday that his office has received more than 70 complaints about price gouging during the coronavirus pandemic.  Some local gas stations and retail stores reportedly were selling 7.5-ounce containers of hand sanitizer for more than $25. Some were selling 30-packs of toilet paper for nearly $40 and three-packs of disinfectant wipes for nearly $40, according to complaints.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving announced Tuesday that it was providing $1 million to support nonprofit organizations that assist low-income families affected by the coronavirus pandemic with groceries, health care services, rent, utilities and other expenses. The foundation supports community groups in Hartford and 28 surrounding towns.

Lamont said 10,000 people applied for unemployment compensation benefits on Monday. In recessions, the state usually sees 5,000 applications a week.