CT Coronavirus Updates: Positive Test Rate Sharply Declines

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut recorded its lowest positive coronavirus test rate since early November in another sign that the post-holiday bump in cases may have subsided.

Connecticut reported 1,267 cases Tuesday and a single-day positive test rate of 3.67 percent. Net coronavirus hospitalizations stayed the same at 1,068. Another 23 deaths were reported, bringing the state total up to 6,934.

Gov. Ned Lamont said there have been decreases in the state's rolling positive test rate and per-capita cases. But he worries about the highly infectious United Kingdom variant strain. There were eight confirmed cases in Connecticut as of Monday, but the total is likely much higher, he said.

Politico on Tuesday reported states will receive a 16 percent increase in coronavirus vaccine doses starting next week.

“Hallelujah," Lamont said on CNN Tuesday night. "We have the demand. We could fill that five times over."

Governors will also get vaccine allocation forecasts from the federal government three weeks in advance instead of just one week, according to Politico. That will make it much easier for Connecticut and its vaccine administrators to staff vaccine sites in advance instead of scrambling on a week-to-week basis, Lamont said.

“Get us the doses," Lamont said. "We’ll get people vaccinated.”