CT Health Officials Sound Alarm Over 3 COVID-19 Outbreaks

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont and the state's top health official have issued a statement expressing concern with three recent COVID-19 outbreaks among vaccinated and unvaccinated people in Connecticut.

The recent outbreaks include:

Thirteen cases in association with an overnight summer camp in August this year. This included seven campers, four staff members and two family members of campers. Out of the six cases that were eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine (the staff members and family members), two of them were fully vaccinated. Campers had most daily activities outside, but slept inside cabins at night.

A group home experienced a cluster of 17 cases, including 14 residents and three staff members in August. None of the staff members were fully vaccinated, while 12 of the residents were fully vaccinated. Of this group of 17, four residents and one staff member were hospitalized. Of the five hospitalized individuals, two of the residents and the staff member were unvaccinated. There was "inconsistent masking" within this facility, according to DPH.

An August party of 11 attendees resulted in five COVID-19 cases. Two family members—who were not at the party—were in close contact with one of the party-goers who tested positive, and they were then diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these seven total cases, six were unvaccinated. The party was held outdoors with no masking or physical distancing, according to DPH. This cluster resulted in the cancellation of school sports teams’ practices to curb transmission.

All three outbreaks were marked by the presence of unvaccinated people, inconsistent mask usage, indoor activities, and transmission of the illness to family members and others who did not participate in the activities that led to the initial outbreak, according to the statement from DPH.

As of Sept. 9, the CDC has listed five Connecticut counties in the “High Transmission” category of COVID-19 including Hartford, Litchfield, New Haven, New London and Windham Counties. The High Transmission category—which is the most severe as defined by the CDC—is 100 or more cases per 100,000 people or a positivity rate of 10 percent or higher over the past seven days.

Fairfield, Middlesex and Tolland counties are classified by the CDC as being in the "Substantial Transmission" category, defined as 50 to 100 cases per 100,000, or a positivity rate between 8 and 10 percent over the past seven days.

Because the entire state of Connecticut continues to be classified under either "substantial" or "high" transmission, indoor gatherings should include masks regardless of vaccination status, according to the statement from DPH.

Dr. Deidre Gifford, senior advisor to the Governor for Health and Human Services and acting commissioner of the Department of Public Health, also recommends that unvaccinated children get vaccinated at the earliest opportunity as they are susceptible to COVID-19.

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