HARTFORD, Conn — Updates from the fight against COVID-19 here in Connecticut
Key Facts
- Nor'easter shuts down some weekend testing clinics
- Lamont highlights volunteer program to help in schools and health care centers during pandemic
- Lamont releases COVID stats
- Hartford St. Patrick's Day Parade canceled for 2021
Dec. 5
Community Health Center announces multiple COVID19 testing locations have closed for the day due to weather conditions.
Officials say those locations include Rentschler Field, Waterbury and Stamford.
The town of Vernon says that a COVID-19 testing clinic scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 6, at Rockville High School has been canceled due to the inclement weather.
Dec. 4
CT's positivity rate drops down to 5.52%, hospitalizations down
Governor Ned Lamont's office released the latest COVDI-19 statistics, showing a drop in positivity rate and hospitalizations. Connecticut administered 27,840 tests and 1,538 came back positive. The positivity rate for Thursday was about 5.52 percent.
Currently, hospitalizations also dropped for the second day in a row by 41 people. There are now 1,150 patients being treated in the hospital for the virus. Connecticut saw more COVID-19 related deaths Friday, bringing the state death toll to 5,146 people.
Dec. 3
Governor Lamont holds press conference on COVID-19 response
Governor Ned Lamont held a press conference today at 4, discussing Connecticut's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Connecticut saw one of its highest COVID-19 positivity rates on Thursday with a 7.13 percent. The state-administered 66,645 and 4,751 came back positive. Current hospitalizations dropped by 11 patients, the first time in months. There are now 1,191 people being treated for COVID-19.
There were 20 more COVID-19 related deaths reported bringing the state total to 5,111 people.
It was also announced during the press conference there are now 160 towns in Connecticut that have been issued a COVID-19 red alert status. To earn a status like this, a town must have 15 or more positive cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population.
Hartford St. Patrick's Day Parade canceled for 2021
The Central Connecticut Celtic Cultural Committee, which sponsors the Greater Hartford St.Patrick's Day Parade, announced they will be canceling the parade for March 13, 2021.
The organizations cited the current public health circumstances as the reason for the cancelation.
“This decision was not made lightly and we have everyone’s health and well-being at the forefront of our decision,” said Parade Chairwoman Elizabeth Saunders
Dec. 2
Positivity rate rises to 6.52%, hospitalizations continue to rise
Governor Ned Lamont's office released the state's COVID-19 statistics showing an increase in positivity rate, hospitalizations, and virus-related deaths.
Connecticut administered 41,001 tests and 2,672 came back positive, yielding 6.52%. There were 50 new hospitalizations since Monday bringing CT's current total to 1,202 patients. New Haven County has the most COVID-19 hospitalizations with 392 people. Fairfield County has 375 patients and Hartford County has 309 patients.
There were 51 COVID-19 related deaths reported. The state's COVID-19 death toll is now 5,091 people.
Enfield Public Schools to go back to hybrid learning model
In a letter posted to its Facebook page, Enfield Public Schools announced it will be returning to the hybrid learning model. The switchback will begin on Monday, December 7. The letter added that the school district hopes to continue with the model until January 4.
Avon Public Schools switch to full remote learning
in a letter to the families of Avon Public Schools, the Superintendent announced schools will be transitioning to full remote learning beginning Thursday, December 3.
The administration learned of positive cases among high schoolers associated with a common social gathering outside of school over Thanksgiving break. After contact tracing, it was determined by officials there are potential contacts and connections across all of the Avon schools.
The full remote learning period will be until December 14, "to allow time for the full implications of this social gathering to be addressed, including potential additional cases requiring quarantining."
Dec. 1
Sally's Appiza in New Haven temporary closes for 'deep cleaning'
The popular pizza shop in Elm City announced on Tuesday it will be closing immediately as a voluntary precaution to clean its facilities. The restaurant posted on their website saying the precaution is a continued effort to keep employees, customers, and the rest of the community safe.
Lamont releases COVID stats
Governor Ned Lamont said the state's positivity rate was 5.88% for the last day. He also said hospitalizations up 54 from yesterday and 20 people had died. There are now 1,152 people in the hospital being treated for COVID-19. Connecticut's death toll has reached 5,040 people.
Lamont highlights volunteer program to help in schools and health care centers during pandemic
Governor Ned Lamont is holding a news conference to highlight ways people can volunteer in schools and health care centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. He will be joined by Dr. Shuana Tucker, chief talent officer for the Connecticut State Department of Education, and other advocates.
Rep. Courtney prepares to end quarantine with doctor’s approval
U.S. Rep Joe Courtney said Tuesday he will be leaving quarantine with his doctor's approval.
Courtney has been working from home while recovering, and is expected to return to Washington this week for votes and other official duties following clearance from his doctor.
“I’ve continued to work remotely while recovering at home in Vernon, and I’m glad to report that my doctor has officially cleared me to end quarantine and to resume work in-person,” said Rep. Courtney.
“My experience with COVID-19 was thankfully a relatively mild one, and my family and I are grateful that was the case. But that has not been the experience of hundreds of thousands of other Americans."
“I want to thank all the staff at UConn Health Center for their care, my wife Audrey and daughter Elizabeth who did so much to keep my isolation secure, and all who reached out with encouragement and well-wishes since my diagnosis. It meant a great deal to my family and me, and it was another strong reminder of the tight-knit community we have here in eastern Connecticut—a community that I am proud to represent every single day.”
Nov. 30
COVID-19 related deaths in CT surpasses 5,000 people
On Monday, Connecticut surpassed a grim milestone by surpassing 5,000 COVID-19 related deaths.
Governor Ned Lamont held a news briefing at 4 p.m. Monday to provide updates on the State of Connecticut’s coronavirus response efforts. Over the weekend (11/27 through 11/29) Connecticut saw 59 more COVID-19 related deaths. The current total is now 5,020 people. There were 81 new current hospitalizations over the weekend. There are now 1,098 people in the hospital being treated for the virus.
New Britain to shift to online learning thru Dec. 11.
New Britain public schools will be shifting to all online learning starting today until December 11 according to Mayor Erin Stewart. She said, "Not much transmission between students, but staffing is the bigger problem, many teachers are out sick. #newbritain."
Lamont has a message for youth sports players
Gov. Ned Lamont had a message for youth sports participants after one 10-year-old hockey player sent him a orange puck.
Nov. 29
Virus hospitalizations top 1,000 again in Connecticut
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The number of Connecticut residents hospitalized with COVID-19 has topped 1,000, the first time it has been that high since mid-May. The new data released Friday also showed the number of nursing home residents who have been infected since pandemic began has topped 10,000 and the number who died has exceeded 3,000. The state reported 49 more people were in the hospital compared with Wednesday, bringing the total to 1,017. Peak hospitalizations hit nearly 2,000 in April. The state reported more than 3,400 more people had tested positive and 35 more had died since Wednesday. Total deaths are approaching 5,000.
