HARTFORD, Conn —
Feb 12
22 more cases of the B117 variant identified in Connecticut
The Connecticut Department of Health announced there have been 22 new additional cases of the B117 coronavirus variant identified in the state. The variant was first discovered in the United Kingdom.
Connecticut has now reported 42 confirmed overall cases of the variant. CT DPH says the specimen collection dates of these new cases were from between January 12 and February 3. The ages of the people who have the variant range from 5 years-old to 90.
Below is a list of towns of the 22 new variant cases:
- Fairfield (1)
- Greenwich (1)
- Hamden (1)
- Madison (1)
- Meriden (1)
- New Britain (1)
- New Haven (2)
- North Branford (1)
- Oxford (2)
- Prospect (1)
- Seymour (1)
- Shelton (1)
- Southbury (1)
- Stratford (1)
- Torrington (1)
- Thomaston (2)
- Waterbury (1)
- West Haven (1)
- Woodbridge (1)
Positivity rate drops to 2.22%, hospitalizations less than 700 patients
Governor Lamont's office released Friday's COVID-19 statistics showing another drop in positivity rate and hospitalizations.
Connecticut administered 37,791 tests and 838 came back positive, yielding a positivity rate of 2.22%. There was a decrease in patients since Thursday and hospitalizations are under 700 patients for the first time in months. Currently, there are 674 people in the hospital for COVID-19.
There were 27 new COVID-19 related deaths reported Friday. The state death toll now stands at 7,381 people.
Governor Lamont visits Stamford COVID-19 vaccination clinic
The city and Stamford Health have partnered to create the No Barriers program at the site to ensure an easy path for minorities, undocumented residents, and non-English speakers to be vaccinated.
The governor will be joined by Mayor David Martin and Stamford Health President and CEO Kathleen Silard.
Feb 11
COVID-19 positivity rate lowest in the last 3 1/2 months
Governor Lamont held a press conference at 4 p.m. today discussing Connecticut's response to COVID-19.
Connecticut reported its lowest COVID-19 positivity rate in the last three and a half months with a 2.32%. Hospitalizations were also down Thursday by 39 patients. There are now 731 people in the hospital being treated for COVID-19.
There were 28 new reported COVID-19 related deaths bringing the state total to 7,354 people.
People who are 65 years and older can now begin to scheduled COVID-19 appointments in CT. To qualify for an appointment, one has to either live or work in CT. Surrounding states have similar guidelines.
Connecticut continues to rank in the top five among states in terms of the vaccinated population. There have been 580,432 doses administered in the state and 61% of people 75 years old and older have been vaccinated.
Gov. Lamont did say Connecticut is receiving 69,000 doses next week and asked residents to please be patient in regards to getting the vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccination clinic to be launched at City of Bridgeport
The City of Bridgeport, partnering with Bridgeport Hospital and Yale-New Haven Health, will launch a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the University in Bridgeport.
Officials say the vaccination clinic will have the capacity to administer more than 1,700 vaccine doses per week. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
According to Connecticut's COVID-19 data tracker, which tracks the cases by town throughout the state, Bridgeport has been issued a red alert status due to the high number of cases within the city. The state's Department of Public Health reports as of February 3, about 4.8% of Connecticut's largest city has been vaccinated.
Feb 10
Hospitalizations drop by over 50 patients, positivity rate 3.1%
Connecticut COVID-19 statistics continue to trend downward, with hospitalizations falling under 800 people for the first time in months.
Governor Lamont's office released the state's COVID-19 numbers showing a drop of 56 patients since yesterday. There are now 770 patients being treated for COVID-19 in the hospital.
Connecticut administered 28,662 tests and 888 came back positive, yielding a positivity rate of 3.1%.
There were 28 new reported COVID-19 related deaths bringing the death toll to 7,326 people.
Feb 9
COVID-19 hospitalizations increase for first time in days
Governor Lamont's office released Tuesday's COVID-19 statistics showing an increase in hospitalizations, which is the first time in days.
Connecticut added 11 more patients to its total hospitalizations since the weekend. There are now 826 people in the hospital due to COVID-19.
The positivity rate stayed again stayed under 4% Tuesday. Connecticut administered 22,602 tests and 869 came back positive, yielding a positivity rate of about 3.84%.
There were 16 new COVID-19 related deaths reported, bringing Connecticut's death toll to 7,298 people.
Vernon offering free drive-thru COVID-19 testing Feb. 14
This coming Valentine's Day, Vernon will be offering a free state-sponsored drive-thru COVID-19 testing.
The event will take place at Rockville High School on Loveland Hill Road and run from noon to 3 p.m.
If there is inclement weather, the event will be canceled. Vernon is asking to check its town's and Police Department's Facebook and Twitter pages for any updates.
Feb 8
UConn Health likely to start 65+ vaccine appointments mid-March
Due to the limited supply of the COVID-19 vaccine, Uconn Health said today they will likely start scheduling appointments for people 65 years or older in mid-March.
UConn Health had a set back in earlier February and had to cancel appointments. They continue to vaccinate people 75 years and older. UConn Health added, they are working to get more vaccines and will expand their appointments to people 65 years or older as soon as possible.
CT nursing homes and hospitals to lose legal immunity
During his press conference, Governor Lamont said legal immunity will be lifted from nursing homes and hospitals by March 1. He cited the low positivity rate in nursing homes as one of the reasons for the lift.
When asked if visitations at nursing homes can resume, Lamont said yes. Nothing official from the Governor's office has been released.
COVID-19 hospitalizations lowest number of patients in months
Governor Lamont said during his Monday press conference Connecticut's trend lines are moving in the right direction in terms of COVID-19 numbers.
Connecticut administered 122,145 tests over the weekend and 4,367 came back positive. The positivity rate from over the weekend was 3.58%.
Hospitalizations continue to drop in the state. Connecticut now has 815 patients in the hospital, which Gov. Lamont says is the lowest in months.
There were 68 reported COVID-19 deaths reported since February 5. Connecticut's death toll has reached 7,282 people.
Connecticut has administered 517,081 total doses of the COVID-19 vaccines and has reported 56% of its residents 75 years and older are vaccinated. The state ranks fourth in the country in terms of vaccines. Governor Lamont said providers with open slots and scheduled people who are 65 years and older and the latter age group will be able to schedule appointments starting on February 11. This group is composed of 350,000 people.
Governor Lamont also signed his 90th executive order that will keep almost all of the other COVID-19 executive orders in effect until April 19.
Walmart stores in Connecticut receiving COVID-19 vaccine
State officials allocate which locations receive the vaccine and how many. The following Walmart stores are among the participants:
- Torrington - 970 Torringford St
- West Haven - 515 Saw Mill Rd
- North Windham - 474 Boston Post Rd
- New Haven - 315 Foxon Blvd
- Waterbury - 910 Wolcott St
- Hartford - 495 Flatbush Avenue
- Norwalk - 680 Connecticut Ave
Walmart has activated its online scheduler where eligible populations can sign up directly. Should they need additional assistance, members of designated priority groups should check the state health department’s website.
New York City indoor dining can reopen early on February 12
Governor Cuomo today announced that New York City indoor dining can reopen at 25 percent capacity on February 12, Lunar New Year Day.
The reopening was previously scheduled for Valentine's Day, but restaurants requested an earlier reopening date to allow staff to prepare and the request has been granted. The reopening is subject to strict state guidance, which can be found here.
"We're in a footrace with COVID, and the footrace is clear--it's rate of vaccination versus rate of infection and we're continuing to make progress on both fronts," Governor Cuomo said. "Not only have we administered more than two million doses of the vaccine, but the infection rate continues to decrease and New Yorkers should feel good about that. After all, this was possible because of their actions, their discipline and their sacrifice. As we move forward, we're continuing to respond to the facts and data every day, and when the enemy changes tactics, we change with the enemy. We were planning to open the restaurants in New York City to indoor dining on Valentine's Day, but they've made the point that they'd like to open a couple of days earlier so they can prepare for Valentine's Day. That's a reasonable request, so we'll start indoor dining on Friday at 25 percent so the restaurants can get ready."
Patriots fly health care workers to the Super Bowl
BOSTON (AP) — Dozens of vaccinated health care workers scored a free trip to the Super Bowl courtesy of the New England Patriots and the family of team owner Robert Kraft. The 76 workers come from all six New England states and work a variety of health care jobs that have put them on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. Meanwhile, Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg has tested positive for the virus. In Vermont, officials say they're keeping an eye out for new COVID-19 variants, while in Maine, close to 150,000 people have now received their first dose of the vaccine.
Doctors say pandemic taking a toll on youth mental health
As the pandemic drags on month after month, doctors say children and teens are feeling the impacts on their mental health.
"I look at a lot of my classmates and I think to myself, 'Who's going to be next to have a breakdown?' You show up to the online meets and you see 20 kids in bed, barely awake, none of them smiling. You see people going through the whole class without saying a word, and you just wonder, 'What are those people going through?'" said Peter Borzillo, a senior at Mark T. Sheehan High School in Wallingford.
