CT COVID-19 Cases Sharply Increase, Flu/RSV Still High

CONNECTICUT — Reported COVID-19 cases jumped up in Connecticut following the Thanksgiving holiday. The increase comes at a time when the state is also battling a particularly bad flu season and high levels of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections.

The state Department of Public Health reported 3,109 cases over seven days on Thursday. There were 2,223 cases in the prior seven-day report, which ended right before Thanksgiving. It was the first time since mid-October that Connecticut reported more than 3,000 weekly cases.

There were 413 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Thursday, which was an increase of 68 patients from the prior Thursday. The hospital census is the highest it’s been since Oct.26. Overall, nearly 86 percent of inpatient hospital beds are in use in Connecticut as of Thursday, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. About 7 percent are in use for COVID-19

Another 15 COVID-19 associated deaths were reported Thursday, which brought the state total to 11,587.

RSV, flu continue to challenge health system

This winter season will be the first where COVID-19, flu and RSV are competing with each other, DPH Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani said in a news briefing earlier this week. Flu and RSV arrived earlier this season. COVID-19 will likely peak sometime in January or February, hopefully after flu and RSV.

Nationally, the number of detected RSV cases dropped after a couple of months of constant growth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases levels appear to be dropping in Connecticut as well, Juthani said Monday. Hartford County has been hit the hardest by RSV.

“Although the burden is still there, we are starting to see a plateau in Hartford County, and certainly a reduction when we look at the state overall,” Juthani said.

RSV typically causes a cold-like illness, but cases can be severe for some younger children.

Most kids get RSV before their second birthday, but COVID-19 precautions meant that many young children weren’t exposed in the last few years, said Yale Medicine pediatric infectious disease Dr. Thomas Murray in a news release.

“Right now, the problem really is just the volume of sick children. Kids can get quite sick from it, but we know how to help them,” he said. “Children are admitted to the hospital for extra oxygen or other supportive measures such as positive pressure to help with breathing and keep the lungs open.”

Connecticut had high levels of flu activity the week ending Nov. 19, according to the CDC’s latest available information. New Jersey and New York City have very high flu activity levels at that time.

There have been 153 flu hospitalizations to date this season in Connecticut, according to DPH. There were 3,935 cases between Nov. 20-26. One flu-related death has been reported so far this season.

Fairfield County has the highest levels of flu activity, with 1,190 cases during the current week; New Haven County came in second at 954 reported cases.

COVID-19 town-by-town cases counts below, or click here.