CDC: 3 More CT Counties Have 'Substantial' COVID-19 Transmission

CONNECTICUT — Three more Connecticut counties — Fairfield, Tolland and Windham — are now considered to have "substantial transmission" rates for COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those three counties join Hartford, New Haven and New London counties as designated, leaving only Middlesex and Litchfield counties as not considered to have substantial transmission rates.

The CDC has a four-tiered classification system as it pertains to the coronavirus, low, moderate, substantial and high. A county is considered to have a substantial transmission rate if it has 50 to 100 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people, or a positivity rate falls between 8 percent and 10 percent.

As a result of the designations, the state Department of Public Health is recommending people mask-up when in indoor public spaces in these six counties.

"Per guidance this week from the CDC, anyone over age two who lives, works or travels throughout these counties should wear a mask when in public indoor spaces," said Dr. Deidre Gifford, acting commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health. "This alert applies to all residents in these areas whether they are vaccinated or not."

Additionally, all Connecticut residents who have underlying medical conditions who are at high risk for complications of COVID, or residents who live with high risk or unvaccinated individuals should also consider wearing masks in indoor public spaces, Gifford said.

"This includes vaccinated family members who live with young children who are not yet eligible for vaccination," she said.

Gov. Ned Lamont's Executive Order 12A pertaining to masks remains in effect, which requires all individuals who have not been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to wear a cloth face covering over their nose and mouth when indoors and unable to maintain adequate distance from others.

The highly infectious COVID-19 Delta variant is now the dominant strain of the virus in Connecticut, according to officials, who are urging people to get vaccinated to help protect themselves and the public at-large.

"We are seeing that the dominant Delta variant can infect those who are vaccinated and that they can transmit the COVID infection to others," Gifford said. "But I cannot stress enough that the vaccine is the safest and most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID."

The infection rate for Friday was 2.72 percent and hospitalizations increased by four to 116.