CONNECTICUT, USA — Updates from the fight against COVID-19 here in Connecticut
Dec. 18
Gov. Lamont provides update
Governor Ned Lamont gave an update on Connecticut's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Connecticut administered 39,128 tests and 2,680 came back positive, yielding a positivity rate of about 6.85 percent. There was a decrease in hospitalizations reported on Thursday by 38 patients. The state now has 1,167 people in the hospital being treated for the virus.
There were 29 new COVID-19 related deaths reported, bringing the death toll to 5,581 people.
Free COVID-19 testing this Sunday at Rockville High School
Free state-sponsored drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Sunday, December 20, from noon to 3:00 p.m. at Rockville High School, 70 Loveland Hill Road.
Testing is open to all, especially those who have reason to believe they were in contact with or exposed to a person with the virus.
The testing is being coordinated by the Town of Vernon and the North Central District Health Department with the State Department of Public Health. Sema4 Laboratories is conducting the testing.
There are other COVID-19 testing opportunities in and around Vernon. For additional COVID-19 testing sites in Connecticut, click here.
Nursing home COVID-19 vaccine program
Governor Ned Lamont will announce this morning the launch of Connecticut's nursing home COVID-19 vaccine program.
After the announcement, the state's first nursing home resident and staff member will receive the vaccine.
You Ask. We Answer. | COVID-19 vaccine
Dr. Syed Hussain from Trinity Health of New England joined FOX61 Friday morning to answer your questions surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine.
Dec.17
Current COVID-19 hospitalizations drop, positivity rate declines
Governor Ned Lamont gave an update on Connecticut's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Connecticut administered 35,948 tests and 2,321 came back positive, yielding a positivity rate of about 6.46. There was a decrease in hospitalizations reported on Thursday by 49 patients. The state now has 1,205 people in the hospital being treated for the virus.
Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe said Connecticut's hospital capacity in terms of beds is 78%, while IC capacity 55 percent. Out of the 55 percent, 42 percent IC capacity is due to COVID.
There were 46 new COVID-19 related deaths reported, bringing the death toll to 5,552 people.
As of December 17, Connecticut has vaccinated 1,982 people with the COVID-19 vaccine. All of the people vaccinated were healthcare workers. Lamont said nursing homes will begin to received Friday. Connecticut is one of four states in the USA to begin to vaccinate nursing homes.
Lamont and Geballe said more shipments of the vaccine will arrive in the state next week. Connecticut initially received 31,000 doses of the vaccine this week.
Dec. 16
Governor Ned Lamont to hold COVID-19 update press conference at 4PM
The Governor provided an update on Connecticut's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Connecticut administered 31,277 tests and 2,319 came back positive. The positivity rate increased to 7.41 percent. There was a slight decrease in hospitalizations since Tuesday by 15 people. The state now has 1,254 patients being treated for the virus in the hospital.
There were 40 more deaths reported on Wednesday bringing the state's COVID-19 related deaths to 5,506 people. Lamont said Connecticut has already vaccinated 350 people for COVID-19.
Hartford Healthcare announces testing location closure
Hartford Healthcare's drive-thru locations will be closed for Thursday due to the nor'easter and high estimated snow totals. They ask that people either be tested today, Wednesday, or wait until Friday. If you would like to avoid the lines, you're asked to make an appointment.
Yale-New Haven Hospital closes testing sites due to storm
Patients with a scheduled COVID-19 testing appointment for Thursday, Dec. 17, will be notified and asked to re-schedule. However, the storm will not impact access to emergency services at any Yale New Haven Health locations. If a patient is concerned about any other scheduled medical appointments or procedures, they should check with their provider.
Yale New Haven Health expects all 12 testing sites and all 19 partner sites to be open on Friday, Dec. 18. For the latest information concerning testing site closures and openings, go to YNHHS.org.
A full list of the testing locations that will be impacted by the storm are listed below:
223 Mill Hill Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610
Walk Up
226 Mill Hill Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610
Drive Through
5 Perryridge Road, Greenwich, CT 06830
Watson Visitor Garage
111 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437
Drive Through
831 Boston Post Road, Milford, CT 06460
Drive Through
1380 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511
Drive Through
130 Orchard Street, New Haven, CT 06519
Drive Through
365 Montauk Avenue, New London, CT 06320
Walk-Up
1 Mohegan Sun Blvd, Uncasville, CT 06382
Thames Garage
67 Masonic Avenue, Wallingford, CT 06492
Drive Through
25 Wells Street, Westerly, RI 02891
Drive Through
Dec. 15
Gov. Lamont reports Connecticut's infection rate is at 5.98%
During a press conference discussing state transportation preparations for the Nor'easter, the governor said noted that the positivity rate is on trend with the last several days. However, it was too short to extrapolate from.
Connecticut administered 24,580 tests and 1,470 came back positive, yielding a positivity rate of about 5.98 percent.
There was an increase of 26 patients for COVID-19 hospitalizations bringing the total number of people in the hospital due to the virus to 1,269 people. There 22 new COVID-19 related deaths reported since Monday. Connecticut has now lost 5,466 people due to COVID-19 related complications.
Vaccines continue arriving in Connecticut
COVID-19 Vaccines have arrived at both St. Francis Hospital in Hartford and Yale New Haven Hospital.
At Yale New Haven, five hospital employees will get the vaccine today. But that will happen at 1pm through a virtual press conference.
Yale New Haven Hospital
Saint Francis Hospital delivery
Dr. Banach, of UConn discusses vaccines arriving to Connecticut hospitals
Dec. 14
Governor Lamont holds press conference on COVID-19 in CT
The Governor will hold his press conference addressing the COVID-19 pandemic at 4 PM Monday. He will be joined by his Chief of Staff Paul Mounds, COO Josh Geballe, and Keith Grant APRN, Senior System Director, Infection Prevention of Hartford HealthCare. Grant was one of the first people in the state to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
The COVID-19 statistics from December 11 to 13 were released Monday showing an increase in hospitalizations. There were 33 people admitted into the hospital over the weekend, bringing the state total to 1,243 patients.
Connecticut administered 119,015 tests and 7,231 came back positive, yielding a COVID-19 positivity rate of about 6.08 percent. Lamont said during his press conference the positivity rate has been declining slightly but the next two weeks will be crucial. There were 81 COVID-19 related deaths reported over the weekend, bringing the death toll to 5,444 people.
First people in state receive the COVID-19 vaccine
Connecticut has received its first shipment of a coronavirus vaccine. The batch of nearly 2,000 doses made by Pfizer was sent to Hartford Hospital, where more than a dozen health care workers from across the state were vaccinated Monday. The shipment is part of an initial order by the state of more than 31,000 doses from Pfizer that are prioritized for doctors, nurses and other health care workers. Shipments of the Pfizer vaccine began arriving at hospitals nationwide Monday. Gov. Ned Lamont expects roughly 240,000 health care workers and nursing home residents and staff to be fully vaccinated by the end of January.
Keith Grant, APRN, Senior System Director, Infection Prevention, Hartford HealthCare was the first to receive the vaccine. Other front-Line healthcare workers (physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, environmental services) from all across the Hartford HealthCare system will be receiving the vaccine:
- Backus Hospital
- Charlotte Hungerford Hospital
- Hartford Hospital
- MidState Medical Center
- St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center
- The Hospital of Central Connecticut
- Windham Hospital
Enfield Schools go to remote learning
Christopher J. Drezek, Enfield Superintendent of Schools said effective Monday, December 14th through Friday, January 8th, the district will be moving to a completely remote learning program, with a hope to return to the hybrid program on Monday, January 11th.
