CT Coronavirus Updates: 180 New Cases Reported

CONNECTICUT — The state Department of Public Health reported Wednesday another 180 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours. Since the pandemic began, there have been 52,220 reported cases across the state.

As colleges and universities open up this week, DPH officials are crossing their fingers that the back-to-school behavior of Connecticut students won't lead to quarantines or premature closings.

Schools across the country are experimenting with new restrictions limiting keg parties, road trips and outside guests on campus. Forbes' Michael Nietzel called such efforts futile.

At a news conference Wednesday with higher education officials, Gov. Ned Lamont said he didn't want to become known as "Governor Killjoy," but would push school officials to work hard to keep Connecticut colleges safe and open during the fall.

Contract tracing from the extensive testing being done on residents is enabling health officials to track with almost granular accuracy the movements of the infected, so if there are any "super-spreader" parties, the DPH will know. Over 1,095,000 tests for COVID-19 have been logged in Connecticut, 15,312 in just the past 24 hours.

COVID-19 hospitalizations showed a drop of two beds in Wednesday's report from the DPH, bringing current patients to 57. No new deaths have been reported from the virus; the overall death toll is 4,463.

Town-by-town coronavirus figures across Connecticut: