Not A Good Trend: East Haven's COVID-19 Infection Rate Is Rising

EAST HAVEN, CT — The COVID-19 case rate and positive test rates have increased in East Haven, keeping the town in the Red Zone for coronavirus infection, according to the state Department of Public Health.

And, of New Haven County's 28 cities and towns, East Haven has the seventh highest case rate with Ansonia, Seymour, Derby, Wolcott, Naugatcuk and Prospect at the top for the reporting weeks of Aug. 29 to Sept. 11, state health data shows.

Following a spike above 4.2 percent on Tuesday, the daily statewide coronavirus level dropped below 3 percent, where it has remained this week.

The number of residents hospitalized with COVID-19 has also kept on a slow descent since the end of August. There are now 325 patients in Connecticut hospitals being treated for the virus, down from an end-of-summer high of 391 on Aug. 24.

East Haven had an average of 18.8 daily cases per 100,000 residents and a positive test rate of 3.9 percent between Aug. 29 and Sept. 11, according to the state Department of Public Health. There were 17 average daily cases per 100,000 residents in the previous two-week reporting period. It’s important to note that a small number of cases can have a large impact on a municipal case rate, especially for small towns.

The total number of Red Zone towns in Connecticut — those with 15 or more cases per 100,000 — is 84, up one from last week. East Haven is in the Red Zone. The color codes correspond to guidance from DPH.

The statewide COVID-19 death rate continues to climb slowly, a lagging indicator of hospitalizations and infections. There were 31 coronavirus-associated deaths recorded in Connecticut last week, and 22 the week before.

The elderly continue to prove the most vulnerable to catching the virus, and being overcome by it. Of the statewide total of 8,416 COVID-19 fatalities, 7,734 have been age 60 or older.