Metrics show encouraging signs

Positivity rate dips to lowest since mid-august; two-thirds of residents fully vaccinated

Connecticut’s seven-day positivity level dipped to its lowest level since mid-august on Friday.

Though Connecticut continues to record high levels of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths relative to earlier this summer, recent trends suggest the state’s outbreak may be, ever so slightly, beginning to wane.

Cases and positivity rate: Connecticut on Friday reported 665 COVID-19 cases out of 24,349 tests, for a single day positivity rate of 2.73% — the lowest since Aug. 13.

The state’s seven-day positivity rate now stands at 3.24%, its lowest level since mid-august.

Connecticut has averaged 632

COVID-19 cases a day over the past week, down slightly from earlier this week.

Hospitalizations: As of Friday, Connecticut has 365 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, up eight from Thursday but down from last week. According to state numbers released Thursday, about 80% of those hospitalized in the state are unvaccinated or of unknown vaccination status.

Deaths: Connecticut reported 39 additional coronavirus-linked deaths Thursday, the most in a seven-day period since mid-may, bringing its total to 8,394 during the pandemic. The United States has recorded 644,468 COVID-19 deaths, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University.

Vaccinations: As of Thursday, 74% of all Connecticut residents and 84.9% of those 12 and older had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 66.3% of all residents and 76.1% of those 12 and older were fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.