Hospitalizations Rise, New CT Town-By-Town COVID-19 Updates Released

CONNECTICUT — Reported Covid-19 cases in Connecticut were similar to levels from a week ago, but hospitalizations continued to increase.

Connecticut reported 4,798 cases over seven days Thursday and a positive test rate of 11.75 percent. There were 4,789 cases reported in last week's reported and a positive test rate of 11.79 percent.

The number of patients hospitalized with Covid-19 increased by a net of 24 patients to 352 since last Thursday. The state also reported another 28 deaths, bringing the state total up to 11,130.

New Haven County has moved back to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's medium "yellow" community level after spending a week in the "orange" high level. Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex and Litchfield counties are in the medium level; the rest of the counties are in the "green" low warning level. Residents of counties in the high warning level are advised to wear masks while indoors in public places.

State departments of Health and Education announced new Covid-19 guidance ahead of the school year. The new guidance, "test, mask go," suggests allowing students who experience mild cold symptoms to go to school.

Students shouldn't go to school if they test positive, have a fever and/or have a recent known Covid-19 exposure. Students who are experiencing mild symptoms should wear a mask until symptoms resolve. The new guidance aims to keep students in school as much as possible and is optional for school districts.

Nationally, reported case numbers have dropped six percent over the last 14 days, according to the New York Times' coronavirus tracker. Hospitalizations are up 3 percent and deaths up 11 percent during the same period.

The number of known cases is undercounted since home tests became more available and popular, according to the New York Times, but the general known cases trend means infections rates have likely stabilized.

President Joe Biden recently experienced Covid-19 rebound positivity after taking the antiviral Paxlovid, according to White House physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor. His only symptom is an occasional cough, and he is following isolation protocol.

Check out town-by-town case counts below or click here.