Connecticut on Tuesday again saw an increase in coronavirus hospitalizations, with the state now reporting the highest number since late July. Also on Tuesday, the state’s rate of positive tests remained above 1%, marking a full week since it last reported a positivity rate below the 1% threshold.
The state on Tuesday reported a net increase of seven hospitalizations, for a total of 71 patients currently hospitalized with coronavirus. Tuesday’s increase came one day after the state reported 13 additional hospitalizations over the weekend.
Tuesday’s hospitalization number is the largest the state has reported in more than seven weeks. However, the state did report 70 hospitalizations in mid-August. In that case, the hospitalizations dipped significantly the following day.
Also on Tuesday, the state reported 136 new coronavirus cases, for a total of 55,031 cases since the pandemic began. Those new cases were identified out of a total of 10,790 tests — yielding a daily positive test rate of 1.26%. That rate is a key metric in tracking the spread of the virus in the community, measuring the proportion of new cases to total tests.
Since early July, the state’s positivity rate has mostly stayed below 1%, with occasional blips above that threshold. But on Sept. 9, Connecticut’s rate of positive tests hit 1.5% and it has not dipped back below 1% since then — marking the first time since late June that the positivity rate has stayed above 1% for so long.
At a Monday press conference, Gov. Ned Lamont acknowledged the high rate recorded over the weekend, but noted that it still isn’t as high as the positivity rates in hot spot states such as South Dakota. That state, which hosted the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August, currently has a positivity rate of more than 16%, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
Also on Tuesday, the state reported zero new coronavirus-related deaths. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the state has seen a total of 4,485 coronavirus-related deaths. The Coronavirus Research Center at Johns Hopkins University reported Tuesday evening that COVID-19 has killed 195,501 U.S. residents.
Some of the state’s rising numbers can be partially attributed to the resumption of school and the reopening of college campuses.
Over the last several weeks, new cases have been reported at UConn, Central Connecticut State University and other colleges. A number of schools across the state have closed shortly after reopening because of positive cases.
With cold weather on the way, experts are also watching for the possibility of a second wave in Connecticut. Local experts warn that school reopenings, pandemic fatigue and indoor gatherings could contribute to a spike in Connecticut’s infections that could also coincide dangerously with flu season.
Emily Brindley can be reached at ebrindley@courant.com.
