Connecticut daily COVID rate rises to 8.6 percent
With COVID-19 cases on the rise and the holiday season in full swing, Connecticut medical professionals say it’s a critical time to focus on mental health.
Gov. Ned Lamont said Connecticut’s daily infection rate on Tuesday reached 8.6 percent — the highest since the state began conducting broad-based testing.
The 2,414 new cases were found in 27,918 tests, while 40 more people were hospitalized and there were 18 more deaths associated with COVID-19. There are now 1,223 people hospitalized and there has been a total of 5,242 deaths.
The high daily positivity rate comes as state officials are expecting the first doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech to be authorized and delivered for use as early as next week.
On Tuesday, Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old woman in the U.K., became the first person in the world to receive a vaccine that has been tested and approved, the Associated Press reported.
The U.K. authorized the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine last week ahead of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The agency is expected to
review the vaccine candidate for an emergency use authorization on Thursday, according to a timeline from Lamont’s office. If the vaccine is approved, the first estimated 31,000 doses would be available in Connecticut beginning next Monday.
In a preliminary report Tuesday, the FDA found the vaccine seems to be safe and more than 90 percent effective based on data collected by Pfizer, the Associated Press reported. The vaccine was also found to be effective regardless of race, age and other health factors.
A second vaccine candidate developed by Moderna is right behind and is expected to be authorized about a week later.
Meanwhile, the high demand for testing has pushed the state past 3.5 million COVID-19 tests in recent days.
On Tuesday, Mohegan Sun announced it would open a garage testing site in partnership with Yale New Haven Health. The site will be open to the public by appointment.
“The drive-thru site was selected to provide more community testing in the Uncasville region, but also to allow Mohegan Sun team and tribal members access to fast, safe COVID-19 testing,” a press release said.
The vaccine will be available with no out-of-pocket costs for both those without insurance and people with insurance plans that are compliant with the Affordable Care Act, Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais reminded residents Tuesday.
In a statement, Mais said he urged “grandfathered and nonACA compliant health insurance plans to follow suit and remove financial barriers to COVID-19 vaccines for individuals, workers and their families.”
While many hope the vaccines will bring a return to normalcy, Lamont and Connecticut medical professionals on Tuesday warned of the pandemic’s effect on mental health.
“We need you now more than ever,” Lamont told the mental health experts during a virtual discussion.
Jennifer Croce, who works with a mobile crisis intervention team through United Community and Family Services, said the nonprofit helps intervene with juveniles in crisis across Connecticut.
UCFS works with youths up to the age of 18 and can be reached by calling 211. The services offered by UCFS are free and available 24/7.
“We have noticed that, unfortunately, we have had kids with a higher tendency to harm themselves to have thoughts about harming others,” during the pandemic, Croce said. “This is in part due to isolation and that loss of connection with their peers.”
Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, commissioner of the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, said Connecticut typically sees an average of eight deaths by suicide among youth under the age of 18. She said the state has already reached that number, with four of them occurring in October.
Lamont also acknowledged that gun violence is at “generational highs in a lot of our cities,” adding that they are a reflection of some of the fatigue and frustration of the isolation throughout the pandemic.
Delphin-Rittmon stressed the importance of 211 and the resources available for state residents. She said as the pandemic continues, everyone is feeling the impact.
“Fatigue of COVID-19 is challenging and ... the holidays can bring up stress as well,” Delphin-Rittmon said.
Tyler Booth, chief operating officer at InterCommunity Health Care, said as infection rates grow and people get nervous about their safety, it’s important that residents remember many resources can be accessed from the safety of their home.