CT Officials Warn Of Possible Coronavirus Spreading Scenarios

CONNECTICUT — Seemingly safe and small informal gatherings with family, friends and coworkers are helping drive coronavirus infections in Connecticut and the U.S., according to federal and state officials.

Much of the spread in Connecticut is happening when people let their guard and masks down, especially during informal gatherings, said State Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford. The rule of thumb should be that people wear a mask when they are with anyone from outside their immediate household, including extended family members.

“...they think well I’m related, so it’s ok to take off the mask and we are seeing spread happening there,” Gifford said.

Gifford’s warning Monday echoed a similar message from White House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx.

Birx appeared at the University of Connecticut Hartford campus last week to warn people that the Northeast was seeing similar metrics that occurred right before a severe uptick of cases in the South. Recent contact tracing data from Utah suggests that around 80 percent of infections occur during small informal gatherings, particularly among asymptomatic people.

There have also been instances of coronavirus spreading in carpooling situations where coworkers take off their masks while sharing a ride to work, Gifford said.

For the most part people keep their masks on while at work, but a notable exception is when people have to eat lunch. Gifford suggested that people eat outside whenever possible and to stagger lunch shifts so not as many people are in a cafeteria or break room at once. Distancing should be maintained to the greatest extent possible.

Gifford and Gov. Ned Lamont were in New London County Monday to encourage people to take advantage of free testing as the southeastern part of the state continues to be a hotspot of coronavirus infections.

Connecticut’s positive test rate was still around 1.4 percent over the weekend, Lamont said. The state has performed around 150,000 coronavirus tests in the past week.

“That means we can keep an eye on what’s going on... you ramp that up right here in New London to make sure that we’re ahead of the curb,” Lamont said, adding that anyone who had symptoms or simply wanted to get tested should get tested.

Some towns in New London County are seeing infection rates far beyond the state’s average. Norwich and New London

The state rapid response testing team was active throughout the the weekend to bolster testing locations in the southeastern part of the state. The Ledge Light Health District is organizing testing through Oct. 24. People don’t need to have coronavirus symptoms to be tested or have a doctor’s order. Testing is free and insurance won’t be billed. More than 700 people were tested over the weekend through the health district’s efforts.

See also: Baby Found In Dumpster In Connecticut, Police Investigate

New Report Shows CT A Top State For Those Fleeing Coronavirus

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-New London) said what is happening in New London County is the reason the country needs another federal coronavirus relief bill.

“In the discussions that are still ongoing in Washington one of the biggest issues that’s still a gap is getting the number we need for testing, tracing and treatment” Courtney said.

Lamont announced that he will sign an executive order in the coming days that would give local officials in coronavirus hotspots discretion to roll back to phase two of the state’s reopening phase. Connecticut entered its third reopening phase Thursday, which brought increased indoor capacity to restaurants and personal services along with larger gathering sizes for private commercial events like weddings.