COVID-19 Outbreaks From Birthday Party, Summer Camp Cause Concern

CONNECTICUT — State health officials and Gov. Ned Lamont have issued a coronavirus transmission warning concerning three recent gatherings, which included a child's birthday party.

The party took place in June with about 50 attendees, resulting in 16 COVID-19 cases in the subsequent week, according to Dr. Deidre Gifford, acting commissioner of the Department of Public Health. The celebration started outdoors and then moved indoors. Unvaccinated attendees at this party were four times as likely to test positive than those who were vaccinated, with a total of six cases among 33 fully or partially vaccinated attendees and 10 cases among 13 unvaccinated attendees. Four cases were hospitalized as a result.

In July, a summer camp of about 50 campers and about 20 staff members experienced a COVID-19 outbreak, with 13 identified cases among campers. All staff have been vaccinated and no cases have been identified among staff. The campers are 11-14 years of age and their vaccination status is unknown.

Twenty-eight Connecticut residents have been identified as COVID-19 cases associated with an outbreak in Massachusetts. Twenty-six had traveled to COVID-19 hotspot Provincetown, and two had contact with a case that traveled there in July. Of those cases, 93 percent were fully vaccinated. None of the cases were hospitalized.

DPH is continuing to urge Connecticut residents to hold social gatherings with a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated should outdoors, and wear masks at indoor gatherings. Unvaccinated children are susceptible to COVID-19 and should get vaccinated before school starts, according to Connecticut health officials.

Vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals at high risk for complications from COVID-19, including those with compromised immune systems, diabetes, asthma, other lung diseases, pregnancy, or obesity, should avoid large indoor gatherings that may include a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health strongly recommends that unvaccinated residents get vaccinated as soon as possible to help stop the ongoing spread of the more-transmissible delta variant.

See also: Feds Investigating Death Of Construction Worker In CT

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