Future CT Coronavirus Restrictions To Keep Schools Open: Lamont

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont on Wednesday reiterated one of his top priorities is to keep schools open as long as possible during the coronavirus pandemic.

Lamont and governors in nearby states have been communicating regularly about possible new coronavirus restrictions.

“One thing we feel very strongly about, whatever restrictions we have to take, we are doing it so we can keep our schools open,” he said in a video message on Twitter.

He reiterated his message that a school building is one of the safest places to be during the pandemic and that transmission of the virus within a school building remains rare.

He thanked, teachers, custodial staff, paraprofessionals and food service staff for their continued work.

The state Department of Education released a memo that discouraged school systems from preemptively switching to remote learning after Thanksgiving.

Connecticut had 2,042 new coronavirus cases reported Wednesday and a positive test rate of 5.98 percent. The state is on track to break 100,000 cases since the pandemic began by the end of the week. Connecticut broke 50,000 cases Aug. 2.

There was a net gain of 39 hospitalizations Wednesday for a total of 816. Another 13 deaths were reported, increased the total to 4,784.

The towns with the most new reported cases in the past day are:

1. Bridgeport: 139
2. Hartford: 136
3. Stamford: 112
4. Waterbury: 111
5. New Britain: 84
6. New Haven: 73
7. Danbury: 69
8. Norwalk: 62
9. Meriden: 61
10. Wallingford: 42

The towns with the most new reported cases over the past week are:

1. Bridgeport: 875
2. Hartford: 676
3. Waterbury: 629
4. Stamford: 505
5. Danbury: 485
6. Norwalk: 414
7. New Haven: 397
8. New Britain: 370
9. Meriden: 339
10. Wallingford: 242