coronavirus in connecticut

The state will lift capacity restrictions for many businesses starting March 19, the governor announced Thursday, though guidelines on masks, spacing and cleaning protocols will remain in effect. Capacity limits will no longer apply in restaurants and non-theater indoor recreation, though there will still be an 11 p.m. curfew and an eight-person table limit. They are also lifting capacity restrictions…

More than 39,000 doses of the Johson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are expected to arrive in Connecticut this week, further bolstering the vaccination effort and allowing for more vaccination appointments this week, Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday. The governor also highlighted positive trends in the infection numbers, noting a four-month low in hospitalizations and a seven-day test positivity rate hovering…

People 55 and over and educators can now start making appointments to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Connecticut. Eligible educators and childcare providers include pre-K through grade 12 teachers, paraprofessionals, custodial staff, food service providers, school bus drivers and childcare providers as well as in-school administrative staff. This does not include individuals who are not required to work on-site in…

Governor Ned Lamont said he expects Connecticut will receive 30,000 Johnson & Johnson one-dose COVID-19 vaccines by Tuesday, March 2. The announcement comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the emergency use of the vaccine on Saturday. The Johnson & Johnson shot is now the third with emergency authorization to combat COVID-19 in the U.S. The 30,000…

Connecticut’s coronavirus positivity rate reached a low not seen in three and a half months at 2.32%, according to state officials. Out of over 43,000 tests performed since Wednesday, 1,003 came back positive. Hospitalizations decreased by 39, bringing the state’s total to 731, which is the lowest number of hospitalizations since mid-November. An additional 28 COVID-related deaths were reported. The…

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has announced the next group of people who will be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine, which will include teachers, school staff and child care providers. Currently, those age 65 and older are eligible for the vaccine as part of Phase 1B. Starting in March, those who work as preK-12 school staff and teachers, and professional child…

The state’s COVID-19 test positivity rate came in at 2.83% Tuesday, one of the lowest numbers seen in months and good news for the trendlines, Gov. Ned Lamont said. There were 20,485 new tests reported Tuesday and 580 new cases. Hospitalizations are down to 606 – a net decrease of 12. Two new deaths were reported, bringing the death toll…

The so-called “South African” variant of the COVID-19 virus has been detected in a Connecticut patient for the first time, according to the Department of Public Health. The B.1.351 variant was found in a Fairfield County resident between the ages of 60 and 70 who had not traveled recently. The person is currently hospitalized out of state, DPH said. Connecticut…

Connecticut’s coronavirus positivity rate remains steady at 3.58% as 68 more deaths have been reported since Friday. Hospitalizations continue to decline. With a net decrease of 12, there are now 815 people with the virus in Connecticut hospitals. A total of more than 6 million COVID-19 tests have now been completed in Connecticut. Out of over 122,000 tests, 4,367 came…

Connecticut’s coronavirus positivity rate decreased to 3.14% as 28 more virus-related deaths were reported since Wednesday. The state’s COVID-19 death toll is now 7,185. Out of just shy of 30,000 COVID-19 tests performed, 937 came back positive. A total of 257,941 people tested positive for the virus since it emerged. Hospitalizations continue to decline. With a decrease of 37, there…

Houses of worship can now hold up to 50% capacity with no limit and the curfew for restaurants has been extended as the COVID-19 positivity rate and hospitalizations continue to trend downward. For the first time in months, both the positivity rate and the number of hospitalizations have dipped. Previously, places of worship have had to cut down on their…

Four more cases of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, known as the UK variant, have been found in Connecticut.   Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday that public health officials have confirmed that the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 has been detected in four additional people in the state who recently tested positive for COVID-19. This brings the total number of confirmed cases of the…

The state of Connecticut’s COVID-19 positivity rate is 4.27 percent, Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday. The number of positive cases rose by 1,662 since Wednesday and another 48 people have died. The number of hospitalizations declined, down 55 from Wednesday. On Wednesday, the state’s COVID-19 test positivity rate came in at 6.29%, up from 5.65% the day before. On Tuesday,…

Connecticut is planning to initiate a “tiered approach” to scheduling the nearly 1.4 million residents who fall in Phase 1b of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The plan comes at the direction of Gov. Ned Lamont and focuses on vaccinating those resident most at risk for adverse health outcomes from the coronavirus first. As of Tuesday, a total of 220,820…

The state’s COVID-19 positivity rate once again decreased, this time to 4.37%, as 17 more deaths were reported since Wednesday. There is now a total of 6,553 COVID-related deaths. Of over 22,000 tests performed, 968 came back positive. The state’s 7-day rolling positivity rate average is 7% and is relatively steady, but trending upwards a bit, according to Gov. Ned…

People over the age of 75 can start making appointments to get the coronavirus vaccine as early as this week as the state gets ready to move into phase 1b of vaccine distribution. Starting Monday, providers will be able to fill vaccination appointments for those over the age of 75, according to Governor Ned Lamont. The governor said that starting…

Connecticut became the first state in the nation on Friday to vaccinate all nursing home residents in the state with the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to Gov. Ned Lamont. The governor spoke outside LiveWell, a long-term care facility in Southington, on Friday afternoon. LiveWell was the last facility in the state to receive its vaccinations. Lamont said…

A COVID-19 variant first found in the United Kingdom and believed to be more easily transmitted has arrived in New England, with Connecticut confirming two cases this week. The office of Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday the variant, known as B.1.1.7, was found in two people between the ages of 15 and 25 who reside in New Haven County….

A COVID-19 variant first found in the United Kingdom and believed to be more easily transmitted is now in Connecticut after the state confirmed two cases on Thursday, the governor’s office announced. The variant, known as B.1.1.7, was found in two people between the ages of 15 and 25 who reside in New Haven County, according to the state. One…

The state has now surpassed 200,000 positive COVID-19 cases and the positivity rate went down to 6.28%. Of over 52,000 tests performed since Wednesday, 3,304 came back positive. An additional 57 people died from the virus. The state’s COVID death toll is now 6,287. Hospitalizations decreased by 52 overnight. There are now 1,087 people hospitalized with the virus in Connecticut….