Health & Fitness

CT Coronavirus Infections See Large Increase In Recent Weeks

The state as a whole has seen a large increase in per capita infections over the past month.

(Patch graphic/Datawrapper)

CONNECTICUT — Only three small Connecticut towns aren’t at the state’s highest coronavirus alert level this week.

Connecticut’s daily coronavirus figures have swing wildly over the past week, but the longer-term data shows a steady increase in identified infections. Connecticut reached 68.5 average daily cases per 100,000 people between Dec. 27 and Jan. 9, according to the state Department of Public Health. The state’s infection rate was 47.2 per 100,000 people between Dec. 13 and 26 — that's about a 36 percent increase between the time periods.

The state’s positive test rate was 9.5 percent between Dec. 27 and Jan. 9. The rate has been steadily increasing for the most part since October — the positive test rate was 2.6 percent in late October.

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The health department uses the per-capita figures as the main gauge of the state’s coronavirus situation. The positive test rate, new per-capita coronavirus hospitalizations and percent of emergency room visits for coronavirus-like symptoms are secondary indicators.

Communities enter the red zone when they exceed 15 daily coronavirus cases per 100,000 people over a two-week average.

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There are wide differences in infection rates across counties. Tolland County had a rate of 48.1 while Windham was at 100.6. These are the rates across counties:

  • Fairfield: 64.9
  • Hartford: 70.2
  • Litchfield: 50.2
  • Middlesex: 60.9
  • New Haven: 69.1
  • New London: 83.8
  • Tolland: 48.1
  • Windham: 100.6

Connecticut health officials recommend the following for municipalities in the red zone:

  • Individuals: Limit trips outside home, avoiding gatherings with non-family members. High-risk individuals should stay home.
  • Communities: Cancel public events and limit community gathering points, alert residents via reverse 911 system.
  • Organized group activities: Postpone all indoor activities. Postpone outdoor activities where mask wearing or social distancing cannot be maintained at all times.
  • Prekindergarten-grade 12 schools: In collaboration with local health department and superintendent, consider more distance learning if cases are greater than 25 per 100,000 residents per day over a two-week average.

The municipalities with the most per capita infections have trailed away from the state’s biggest cities. The list is now dominated by a mixture of small towns and a couple of small cities.

It should be noted that it doesn’t take many infections to send the per capita rate skyrocketing in a small town — It only took 62 infections over two weeks to send Bozrah’s (population around 2,500) rate to 174.


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