CT Still On Track To Contain Coronavirus But There Are Concerns

CONNECTICUT — For the past month or so the headlines concerning Connecticut and the coronavirus have been trending very positive. At one point recently, the state had the lowest infection rate in the country and it remains among the lowest in the nation.

The number of hospitalizations, which once almost reached 2,000 recently fell below 100, and this is despite 95 percent of the state's economy reopening on June 17.

And the group, Covid Act Now, still reaffirms that Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont are on track to contain the disease. The group bases its findings on contact tracing, hospital capacity, testing and daily case and death numbers.

Again, all of this is great news for Connecticut but what could be concerning is that New York and New Jersey were also considered to have contained the coronavirus up until this week. Those two adjacent states have been dropped and are now listed as "medium-risk level."

As we are all too aware, anything negative involving the coronavirus and New York potentially means bad news for Connecticut. Connecticut saw its cases skyrocket a couple of weeks after a surge of cases was reported in Westchester County in early March.

What is still comforting to Connecticut right now is that Massachusetts and Rhode Island are still on track to contain the coronavirus, according to COVID Act Now.

COVID Act Now says today that "Connecticut is on track to contain COVID. Cases are steadily decreasing and Connecticut’s COVID preparedness meets or exceeds international standards."

Connecticut's current infection rate is just 0.69 and anything under 1 is considered very good. Connecticut's positive test rate is 0.80 which is also very low and only 13 percent of the state's ICU beds are currently full, according to COVID Act Now.

Connecticut also received a perfect score on its ability to execute contact tracing.

"Per best available data, Connecticut has 860 contact tracers," according to the report. "With an average of 94 new daily cases, we estimate Connecticut needs 470 contact tracing staff to trace all new cases in 48 hours, before too many other people are infected. This means that Connecticut is likely able to trace 100% of new COVID infections in 48 hours."

The report estimates that by Aug. 2 Connecticut will have just 16 hospitalizations from COVID-19 as long as everything remains the way it currently is. Gov. Ned Lamont has stated that bars won't reopen in July, which was originally planned.

If Lamont were to fully reopen the state, COVID Act Now is projecting the state will have 212 hospitalizations by Aug. 2.

If you're wondering, the state's highest single infection date was March 17 and on April 23, 39.1 percent of people tested had a positive result.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton offered some simple but also sage advice for us this 4th of July holiday weekend.

"Enjoy the weekend folks! But, wear your masks. Practice social distancing. Wash your hands. It ain't over yet."

See also: Immediate Future Of Bars In CT Decided By Lamont

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What does COVID Act Now say about New York/New Jersey

"COVID in New York is spreading in a slow and controlled fashion, and New York's COVID preparedness meets international standards," the group said. "If this trend continues, New York may eventually achieve herd immunity, though this may take years."

The authors say the same thing for New Jersey.

In New York City, phase three of reopening is expected to start Monday, though a plan to include indoor dining in that was scrapped as the national resurgence of the virus continued.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned Wednesday that coronavirus "storm clouds" were gathering over New York City as compliance over safety measures was slipping.

New Jersey restarted a series of businesses and activities on Thursday, though a plan to include indoor dining was scrapped as the national resurgence of the virus continued.

>>>Read the full Connecticut report at COVID Act Now.