HARTFORD, Conn. — The Department of Public Health is reminding Connecticut residents to remain vigilant against COVID-19 as case rates have risen over the last two weeks. DPH has moved several Connecticut towns that had been seeing falling or stable COVID-19 case rates back into Red Alert status, as the average daily case rate for COVID-19 has increased statewide to 25 cases/100,000 residents per day.
Over 90% of the Connecticut population lives in a town with an average daily case rate of over 15 cases per 100,000 residents (e.g. red alert towns). DPH estimates that 40% of these new cases are the B.1.1.7 variant.
Case rates have decreased among persons age 70 and older, but they have plateaued or increased among all other age groups. The age group with the highest case rates is 20–29-year-olds.
Connecticut residents considering traveling during the upcoming spring break season are urged to review CDC’s travel guidance, which continues to recommend against traveling at this time.
The county with the highest case rate is New Haven County at 31.8/100,000. The towns with the highest case rates are located in the Waterbury/Naugatuck Valley area; Waterbury has the second-highest case rate in the state at 43.4/100,000. For the latest town map and other COVID-19-related data, click here.
COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased over the last week with 456 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Saturday.
Variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including those known to be more transmissible, are circulating in Connecticut and put people who are not fully vaccinated at increased risk of infection, serious illness, and death.
Continued vigilance and adherence to mitigation measures, including masks and social distancing, is key.
Get vaccinated if you are eligible or when you become eligible. Remember that you are not fully vaccinated until 14 days after the entire vaccination regimen.