CT Coronavirus Hospitalizations Top 400, Highest Since April

CONNECTICUT — The number of people with COVID-19 in Connecticut hospitals is at a 7-month high.

The state Department of Public Health released data Thursday indicating 414 residents have tested positive for the coronavirus, up 114 beds from just a week ago, 29 from yesterday, and the highest number of admissions since April 26, 2021.

It's important to note that not all of those were suffering from symptoms of the infection. Some were hospitalized for other reasons and tested positive for the virus while under the facility's care, but may be asymptomatic.

Of the 414 patients in Connecticut hospitals with COVID-19, 90 people caught the infection after having completed their vaccine series.

Most of those hospitalized (118) are in New Haven County.

Forty-four residents have died from COVID-19 over the past seven days, according to DPH. The coronavirus death toll in the state is currently 8,909.

The second U.S. case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus was reported by health officials in Minnesota on Thursday. The man had recently returned from attending a convention in New York City at the Javits Center from Nov. 19-21. He had developed mild symptoms on Nov. 22 and sought COVID-19 testing on Nov. 24; his symptoms have since resolved.

Under current New York City rules, everyone 12 and older are required to show proof of vaccination before entering the Javits Center and other indoor venues in the city.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she's been coordinating with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Javits management and Minnesota officials, and that the infection "is not cause for alarm."

"No confirmed cases in the state of New York, however we are very cognizant of the fact that is very likely soon that someone is going to test positive for this," she said.

Like the California omicron patient reported Wednesday, the new case had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

While the World Health Organization has classified omicron as a variant of concern, epidemiologists have still not been able to confirm whether it is more contagious, if it makes people more seriously ill, or how vaccine resistant it might be.

But even absent any conclusive data, the presence of the new variant was enough to rattle the markets Wednesday, and prompt changes in the federal government's international travel restrictions.

The Biden Administration announced Thursday that travelers coming to the U.S. will have to test for the virus within a day of departure, regardless of vaccination status. Currently, the testing window is 72 hours for vaccinated travelers. Federal health officials will also require travelers to wear masks through mid-March on planes, buses and trains, and at domestic transportation hubs such as airports and indoor bus terminals. That restriction had been due to expire on Jan. 18.

The nationwide tabulation of coronavirus cases in hospitals by the CDC lags by a few weeks. The agency's latest data show the seven-day average: for Nov. 10–16 was 5,456. This is a 5.4 percent increase from the prior seven-day average (5,176) from Nov. 3–9.