'Not A Good Thing' As Coronavirus Numbers Rise: Lamont

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut saw another couple of days of increased coronavirus hospitalizations over the weekend. The state reported a net increase of 19 patients, bringing the total up to 129.

Connecticut’s hospitalizations were at the highest point since June 22, according to data from the state Department of Public Health.

There were 823 positive coronavirus cases out of more than 50,000 tests over the weekend for a positive test rate of 1.64 percent. Another four deaths were reported over the weekend, which brought the state total up to 4,517.

“That’s not a good thing,” Gov. Ned Lamont said at a news conference Monday about the positive test rate. “It’s been more or less flat 1.6 over the last seven-day moving average, but to be blunt that’s up from .8 percent about a month, month-and-a-half ago.”

New London County continues to be a challenge, especially in Norwich. Nine of the new hospitalizations over the weekend were in New London County, which brought the county coronavirus hospitalization net total up to 26 patients.

New London County now has the third-most coronavirus hospitalizations in the state and is only behind Hartford County, which has 41 hospitalizations and New Haven, which has 28. However, both those counties have more than three times the population of New London County.

Connecticut for the first time saw one of its school learning model indicators shift out of the low-risk zone and into the moderate zone. New London County’s indicators moved into the moderate category, which means that schools are encouraged to use hybrid learning.

New London County had 12.8 coronavirus cases per 100,000 population per day on average between Sept. 20 and 26. Anything between 10 and 25 falls in the moderate category. New London County’s rate is nearly double the next closest county; Windham County had 6.8 cases per 100,000.

All other counties fall in the low-risk category, which favors more in-person learning. The indicators were designed by the state Department of Public Health and Department of Education. The cases per 100,000 population per day is the leading indicator for what level of in-person learning schools should consider using.

Secondary indicators are the positive test rate, new coronavirus hospitalizations per 100,000 population and percent of COVID-19-like illness emergency department hospital visits. New London County’s secondary indicators all fall in the moderate category. It had a positive test rate of 2.4 percent, .7 new coronavirus hospitalizations per 100,000 population per day over a seven-day average and 2.5 percent of emergency department visits were for COVID-19-like illnesses.

These are the towns with the most new cases between Oct. 1 and 4:

1. Hartford: 66
2. Norwich: 58
3. Waterbury: 53
4. Danbury: 41
5. New Britain: 38
6. Stamford: 34
7. Norwalk: 31
8. New London: 28
9. Bridgeport: 27
10. East Hartford: 26

See also: 100 College Students Suspended For Coronavirus Violations

Play Areas Closed At Schools After Mask-Less Gatherings

Trooper Arrested; Popular Venue Reopens; Peak Fall Foliage Map

These are the towns with the most new cases since Sept. 28:

1. Norwich: 145
2. Hartford: 134
3. Waterbury: 102
4. Danbury: 99
5. Mansfield: 81
6. New Britain: 75
7. Fairfield: 70
8. Stamford: 66
9. New London: 63
10. East Hartford: 48