CT Coronavirus Hospitalizations, Infection Rate Spike Tuesday

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut saw its largest single-day jump in coronavirus hospitalizations in months Tuesday with a net increase of 17 patients, bringing the total to 92.

COVID-19 hospitalizations were last above 90 patients July 2, according to data from the state Department of Public Health. Hospitalizations increased the most in Hartford County, with a net gain of six patients, followed by New Haven County with five and Fairfield with four.

Hospitalizations were still far removed from the state’s peak of nearly 2,000 patients in mid-April.

Another troubling statistic announced Tuesday was a positive coronavirus test rate of 1.75 percent. There were 182 positive cases identified out of 10,380 tests. The state’s positive test rate dipped below 1 percent over the weekend after days above 1 percent, but Tuesday’s rate was the highest in some time.

Gov. Ned Lamont said at a news conference Tuesday that he believes the daily numbers were a short-term issue and not related to schools or colleges, according to the Hartford Courant.

Connecticut’s third reopening phase is scheduled to begin Oct. 8. It will bring indoor dining capacity up to 75 percent from its current limit of 50 percent. It will also bring increased capacity to indoor and outdoor private commercial gatherings such as wedding receptions.

The White House Coronavirus Task Force noted in its weekly report Sept. 27 that transmission is continuing at some colleges in Connecticut. Sacred Heart University reported 87 cases over seven days, which was 9 percent of the state total. The report was obtained by the Center for Public Integrity.

Danbury also continues to be a source of infections, according to the task force. International travel appears to be a risk factor. Yale has sequenced virus samples from 27 Danbury cases and found several chains of transmission.

The biggest single-day increase in total cases by town were:

1. New Britain: 23
2. Danbury: 14
3. Norwich: 12
4. Bridgeport: 11
5. New London: 11
6. Hartford: 10
7. West Hartford: 7
8. East Hartford: 4
9. Stamford: 4
10. Windham: 4

The biggest two-week increase in total cases by town were:

1. Danbury: 173
2. Hartford: 158
3. Norwich: 118
4. Waterbury: 113
5. New Britain: 108
6. Bridgeport: 105
7. Stamford: 85
8. Fairfield: 73
9. Windham: 69
10. East Hartford: 50

Below are the town figures with total cases to date: