Masks Should Be Worn Indoors In 7 CT Counties, CDC Says, As COVID Deaths Rise

CONNECTICUT — The number of COVID-related deaths reported by the Connecticut Department of Public Health this week is nearly double the previous week.

Another 60 residents died from the virus in the past seven days, up from 33 over New Year's week and 37 the week before that. The state COVID-19 death toll stands at 11,803.

On the positive side, the number of residents hospitalized this week with the virus has dropped by about the same number. With 63 fewer beds claimed by COVID patients, DPH is reporting 698 residents are currently in the hospital with COVID-19.

The number of cases has also fallen. The state reported 3,702 coronavirus infections over seven days, a drop of 1,048 cases beneath last week's tally. The weekly positive test rate was also lower on the week, from 17.36 percent to 13.05 percent this week. The actual number of cases is likely higher, as many at-home positive test results go unreported.

Globally, nearly 2.9 million new cases and over 11,000 deaths were reported in the week of Jan. 2-8, according to the World Health Organization. This represents a reduction in weekly cases and deaths of 9 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

And Then There Was One

In new data posted Friday, the CDC has added Fairfield County to the High/Orange category as part of its COVID-19 Community Levels Map. Only New London County remains at the Yellow/Medium alert level.

Connecticut has no mask mandates. The COVID-19 Community Levels map—which was launched earlier this year—informs CDC recommendations on prevention measures, such as masking and testing. The guidelines include a color-coded system available on the CDC website of “Low,” “Medium,” and “High.”

People living in the counties designated in the High/Orange category are advised to wear a mask indoors in public, stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, and get tested if they have symptoms. Additional precautions may be needed for residents who are at high risk for severe illness.

Residents of New London County who are at high risk for severe illness should talk to their health care providers about when they should consider wearing a mask and any other precautions they should consider taking, according to state health guidelines.

As of Jan. 4, 2023, a total of 313,959 cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated persons in Connecticut have been identified, according to state health officials. Those cases account for 10.43 percent of the nearly 2.8 million people in the state who are fully vaccinated.

Below are the town-by-town COVID-19 case counts for the past week.