Timeline: COVID-19 in CT, from day 1 to Dec. 31
It arrived in Connecticut in March, almost immediately robbing local residents of all sense of normalcy, as it had already done in other parts of the world.
Schools were quickly shut down. So were bars, restaurants, hair salons, casinos, churches and more. Large gatherings were frowned upon then outright banned.
From the start, the coronavirus pandemic was like nothing many had ever seen before.
Within months, wearing masks became commonplace with stores stocking their shelves with them and many sewing their own. Markings began appearing on the floors of grocery stores, department stores and other businesses, warning shoppers and clients to practice social distancing.
People began washing their groceries upon arriving from the store, until new information showed the virus was more transmittable through the air than through surfaces as initially thought.
Ten months later, the pandemic has changed society as we know it, with bar owners still unable to open their doors, state officials discouraging families and friends from group activities of any kind and businesses operating on a curfew — an effort to prevent late night gathering of crowds.
Here’s a look back at the state’s journey through the worst pandemic since 1918.
May
The total number of confirmed
5
COVID-19 infections in Connecticut reaches 30,000. Governor extends cancellations of in-school classes for the remainder of school year.
Gov. Lamont’s stay-at-home order 20 is lifted, Connecticut begins phase 1 of a three-phase plan to reopen
The total number of confirmed 22
COVID-19 infections in Connecticut reaches 40,000.
Deaths in the United States from 30
the coronavirus reach 100,000.
June
World Health Organization begins 5 encouraging people to wear face masks.
COVID-19 cases in the United States surpass 2 million.
Phase 2 begins. Indoor dining, hotels and gyms are allowed to open, with restrictions.
Connecticut releases a preliminary 25 back-to-school plan for the 2020-2021 school year.
July
Lamont suspends Phase 3
6 reopening for bars and public gatherings as cases surge nationally.
18
U.S. death toll from the coronavirus hits 140,000.
August
3
Tropical storm Isaias makes landfall in Connecticut.
Connecticut marks three straight 6 days with no COVID-related deaths.
UConn pauses football activities 20 after six players test positive for COVID-19.
September
Metrics begin to show the 11 coronavirus increasing in Connecticut.
Connecticut is levying $100 fines 15 for not wearing masks and higher fines for large gatherings.
Gov. Ned Lamont appoints a state 21 commission to plan distribution of a COVID vaccine.
23
October
1 2
Deaths from COVID-19 in the United States reach 200,000.
President Donald Trump tests positive for the coronavirus.
Connecticut reports 460 new COVID cases in one day.
Connecticut’s positivity test rate 14 for the coronavirus jumps to 2.4 percent for the day, a level not seen since June.
The state sees more than 400 20 new COVID-19 infections, pushing the infection rate to 3 percent.
The death toll attributed to 28
COVID-19 in Connecticut tops 4,600.
Connecticut’s COVID-19 positivity 30
rate reaches 6.1 percent.
November
With COVID-19 cases surging, Gov. 2
Ned Lamont reverses the state’s reopening, limiting restaurants to 50 percent capacity and no more than eight people at a table.
Lines at the polls are long as
3 mask-wearing voters come out in droves to vote during the pandemic.
Pfizer reports its COVID-19 vaccine 9 showed more than 90 percent effectiveness in late-stage trials.
Several Connecticut school
21
districts move students into extended distance learning due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases and the number of people who are quarantined.
23 December
9
Emergency use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is granted.
15
Connecticut hits 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Connecticut’s daily infection rate reaches 8.6 percent.
The first patients in Connecticut receive Pfizer’s COVID vaccine.
A second vaccine candidate 17 developed by Moderna goes before the FDA for emergency use authorization.