HARTFORD, Conn —
March 5
New Haven high school students can start in-person classes on April 5
New Haven Public Schools announced that starting April 5, students grades 9-12 will be welcomed back for in-person learning.
Students will have an option for remote learning and parents and guardians with any questions should please contact their child's schools.
New Haven schools will be contacting parents and guardians in the next few days with more information.
Positivity rate stays under 2%, hospitalizations decline
Connecticut administered 45,062 tests and 830 came back positive yielding a positivity rate of 1.84%. This is the second day in a row that the state's positivity rate has stayed under 2%.
Hospitalizations declined by five patients bringing the total number to 428 patients.
There were 11 reported COVID-19 related deaths Friday. Connecticut's death toll has now reached 7,704 people.
March 4
Connecticut expected to ease some virus-related restrictions
Connecticut is expected to ease some of its coronavirus-related restrictions as infections and hospitalizations are declining and vaccinations continue. Gov. Ned Lamont says he'll be releasing details of the rollbacks Thursday afternoon, but it won't be a major lifting of COVID-19 rules like Texas and some other states have announced recently. The governor appeared at a news conference at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford where officials announced a special vaccination clinic that is expected to inoculate 1,500 Hartford school employees Thursday and Friday.
March 3
COVID-19 Hospitalizations increase to 451 patients
COVID-19 hospitalizations increased by 38 patients on Wednesday. There are now 451 people being treated in the hospital for the virus.
Connecticut administered 22,165 tests and 494 came positive yielding a positivity rate of 2.23%.
There were 20 new reported COVID-19 related deaths on Wednesday. Connecticut's death toll has reached 7,678 people.
2021 Norwalk St. Patrick’s Day Parade canceled
The Norwalk Police Emerald Society announced the postponement of the 2021 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Parade Committee made this decision with safety of all participants and attendees in mind.
“It’s disappointing not to have the parade, but now is not the time to relax guidelines,” said Mayor Harry Rilling. “We will make sure the shamrocks are painted green for residents to enjoy. Please celebrate St. Patrick’s Day safely and let’s hope next year we can have the parade once again.”
March 2
Connecticut COVID-19 positivity rate up slight, hospitalizations decline
Gov. Ned Lamont's office released the latest COVID-19 statistics Tuesday showing a slight increase in the state's positivity rate and a slight decline in the state's hospitalizations.
Connecticut administered 17,331 tests and 502 came back positive, yielding a positivity rate of 2.9%.
Hospitalizations continued to decline in the state and have now reached 413 patients. There were seven new COVID-19 related deaths reported Tuesday. The state's death toll has now reached 7,658 people.
March 1
State's positivity rate is 2.35%
The positivity rate for COVID-19 was as 2.35% as of Monday. As of February 28, the total of laboratory-confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases reported among Connecticut residents is 282,626, including 26,3448 laboratory-confirmed and 19,178 probable cases. Four hundred seventeen patients are currently hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. Over the past weekend, 29 people died. There have been a total of 7,651 COVID-19-associated deaths in the state.
As of Monday, 75% of people over 75 years have been vaccinated. 52% of people 65-74 years old have been vaccinated.
The governor said there would be an update on travel restrictions later in the week.
Gov. Lamont to hold press conference on CT's response to pandemic
At 4 p.m. today, Gov. Lamont will hold his scheduled press conference regarding the state's response to COVID-19.
Over the last several weeks, Connecticut's COVID-19 metrics have been trending downward as more and more people become eligible for the vaccine.
Connecticut is one of the country's top performers is administering the COVID-19 vaccine. Gov. Lamont's office says Connecticut has been in the top five among states vaccinating its population.
Connecticut girds for demand as vaccine eligibility expands
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Health officials in Connecticut expect an avalanche of requests for appointments as the state on Monday opens up vaccines to everyone 55 and older as well as school teachers and other school staff. Acting Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford says that though the state has increased capacity to accommodate online and telephone requests, delays are likely. She asks people 55 and older to wait a few days to make an appointment. Connecticut has more than 500,000 people aged 55 and over and 160,000 educators and childcare workers. The state is getting about 130,000 vaccine doses per week from the federal government.
UConn Class of 2020 reports finding jobs despite pandemic
The University of Connecticut said data shows that the pandemic hasn’t slowed recent UConn grads in their pursuit of their post-collegiate plans, including job hunting.
The data shows 85 percent of members of the Class of 2020 are doing what they had planned, with most working full time and others attending graduate school or other pursuits.
While the positive outcome rate for the UConn Class of 2019 was higher than this year’s – 90 percent, vs. the current 85 percent – the difference is primarily because more students chose post-grad programs in 2020.
This year’s employment figure, 60 percent, is just 1 percentage point lower than last year’s pre-pandemic figure.
While at first glance it might seem that 15 percent are not employed or engaged in other activities, UConn career counselors say their conversations with those graduates provide significant context.
“Some were still looking for appropriate employment, but many were saying to us, ‘I’m home with my parents, but going to grad school next year instead of this year because of uncertainty due to the pandemic’,” says James Lowe, UConn assistant vice provost and executive director of the Center for Career Development.
