Covid-linked deaths continue to climb

Nearly 40 reported in the last week, the highest since May; positivity rate, hospitalizations drop

Connecticut on Thursday reported 39 coronavirus-linked deaths over the past week, the most in a seven-day period in more than three months.

Though COVID-19 deaths have continued to increase in Connecticut, the state has begun to see a plateau or even slight dip in its positivity rate, cases and hospitalizations, state numbers show. Experts expect Connecticut’s COVID-19 numbers to decrease soon, though they could spike again as the weather cools and activity moves indoors.

According to state data released Thursday, people who have not been vaccinated against COVID19 have been five times as likely to test positive for the disease and seven times as likely to die with it.

Cases and positivity rate: Connecticut on Thursday reported 684 COVID-19 cases out of 22,868 tests, for a positivity rate of 2.99%. The state’s sevenday positivity rate now stands at 3.36%, lowest since Aug. 16.

Connecticut has averaged 650 coronavirus cases a day over the past week, a figure that has held mostly steady in recent days.

Ninety-one of the Connecticut’s 169 municipalities currently qualify for the state’s “red alert” level, signaling at least 15 daily cases per 100,000 residents.

Six of the state’s eight counties are currently classified as having “high” COVID-19 transmission, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with Tolland and Middlesex Counties just short of that threshold.

Hospitalizations: As of Thursday, Connecticut has 357 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, down three from Wednesday and down 34 over the past 10 days.

According to the state, 80% of those hospitalized are either unvaccinated or of unknown vaccination status.

Deaths: The 39 coronavirus-linked deaths Connecticut reported Thursday marked the most in a seven-day period since mid-may. In total, the state has now recorded 8,394 COVID-19 deaths during the pandemic.

Deaths are considered a lagging indicator of COVID-19

transmission, meaning trends typically follow a few weeks behind cases and hospitalizations.

The United States has recorded 642,817 COVID-19 deaths, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University.

Vaccinations: As of Thursday, 73.8% of all Connecticut residents and 84.7% of those 12 and older had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 66.2% of all residents and 76% of those 12 and older were fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

COVID-19 vaccination in Connecticut has increased in recent months, as the state has seen more cases and schools and employers have increasingly mandated shots. Providers across the state administered more than 50,000 doses from Aug. 22-28, most in a week since late June.