Delta Variant Driving 'Breakthrough' Cases, But Not Many Deaths

CONNECTICUT — Although the delta variant of the coronavirus now spreading through the state is much more contagious and likely to "break through" protections afforded by the vaccines, the latest data released from the Department of Public Health doesn't indicate it has been particularly fatal.

Three new COVID-19-associated deaths were reported in the past week, bringing the toll to 8,296 for the pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a sharp drop-off in COVID-19-associated deaths nationwide in the last week of July after a two-week upswing just prior.

The Delta upgrade that makes it more likely to break through the protections normally afforded by vaccines is obviously concerning public health officials. In Connecticut, the rate of cases among vaccinated residents increased by nearly 12 cases per 100,000 population from June to July.

Although the number of breakthrough cases in the state is on the up-tick, and pretty much in synch with the rapid spread of the delta variant, it's important to note that the number of deaths among vaccinated residents in Connecticut is still low, and dropping. Even the death rate among the unvaccinated dropped below 1 percent in July.

Gov. Ned Lamont has named the state's hospitalization rate as its most useful metric for determining the kind of lifestyle-altering executive orders that were common in the spring, and those numbers have been climbing since the middle of last month. The good news overnight is that COVID-19 hospitalizations in Connecticut dropped eight beds, to 155 patients.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are reporting the current 7-day moving average of daily new U.S. coronavirus cases (66,606) increased 64.1 percent compared with the previous 7-day moving average (40,597).

In Connecticut, the daily coronavirus positivity rate dropped below 3 percent. It has hovered in the 2-3 percent ranged since the last week in July.

Another 492 cases were confirmed overnight, following 18,065 tests. There are 357,345 Connecticut residents who have contracted the virus since the start of the pandemic.

See Also: Major Retailers Requiring Masks In Connecticut: See The List

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