Positivity rate hits lowest level in six months in Connecticut

Vaccine demand down 50% in recent weeks

The daily COVID-19 test positivity rate dropped to the lowest point in nearly six and a half months on Thursday, Gov. Ned Lamont’s office reported, with 1.34% of 36,200 tests coming back positive.

The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 decreased by four to 403, including nine at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital and two at Westerly Hospital, and four people died from COVID-19, bringing the state’s total deaths from the coronavirus to 8,084.

Nursing homes in Connecticut reported 14 cases and two deaths among residents from April 21 to 27.

The low positivity rate comes as more people are getting inoculated with vaccines, with more than 1.3 million Connecticut residents now fully vaccinated.

But Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe said overall demand for the vaccine is down 50% over the past couple of weeks, and while the state’s vaccine allocation this week was 100,000 doses, providers ordered half that.

“Nationwide, we’re in a position now where we have more supply than demand,” he said.

He said since scarcity is no longer an issue, the state Department of Public Health has made it clear to providers that “they should not let concerns about wastage get in the way of vaccinating every single person we can find who’s interested in getting vaccinated,” meaning they should open a new 10-dose vial even if they don’t have 10 people to inoculate.

Lamont noted that among people over 65, demand for the vaccine started to flatten once close to 80% of people had been vaccinated, whereas it tapered off around 60% among those ages 45 to 54 and is flattening out around 45% for those ages 16 to 44.

Efforts to incentivize vaccinations among younger people include the #CTDrinksOnUs campaign, in which participating restaurants offer a free drink with the purchase of food from May 19 to 31 to people who are vaccinated, and a “student skip day” for high school students to get vaccinated.

Lamont said he’s thinking about expanding vaccine incentives to sporting events and concerts, throwing out the idea of preferred seating or an accelerated line.

As for those under 16, Geballe said the administration is “eagerly awaiting” Food and Drug Administration review of data Pfizer submitted from its clinic trial of kids ages 12 to 15, and he wants to see that happen before providers take down mass vaccination sites.

Geballe said there’s no time frame for taking down mass vaccination sites, and it will be based on demand. At that point, he said, vaccinations would be happening on a smaller basis at pharmacies, local clinics and events.

Changes coming Saturday

Lamont commented, “Because people are getting vaccinated, we are getting back to a new normal, which is really good to see.”

More business restrictions are being lifted in May. Starting Saturday, restaurants and entertainment venues can remain open until midnight; outside, alcohol can be served without food and there will be no limits on table size.

Come May 19, all remaining restrictions will be lifted except the indoor mask mandate, the Connecticut State Department of Education said in interim guidance Tuesday.

Lamont and health care officials also touted the special enrollment period for Access Health, the state’s health insurance exchange, which runs from Saturday until Aug. 15. This is happening because of additional subsidies provided through the federal American Rescue Plan.

More people will qualify for tax credits, and those who already qualify may see higher benefits. Lamont said more than half of current customers will pay under $16 a month, and individuals making under $19,000 will pay a $0 premium and $0 deductible.

Access Health CEO James Michel is encouraging customers to contact the call center at (855) 805-4325 on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. or visit accesshealthct.com.

He said about 200,000 Connecticut residents are still uninsured, while another 10,000 are insured off the exchange and have the potential to join the exchange.

People who contact Access Health in May to take advantage of increased benefits will see changes to their account in June, Michel said, whereas those who are eligible but don’t reach out automatically will see savings in July.

Between the beginning of the special enrollment period and loosened business restrictions, Lamont said, “Saturday’s a good day.”