As testing increases for coronavirus, percentage of CT infections goes down

As the state’s percentage of coronavirus tests shows steady declines in the infection rate, Gov. Ned Lamont is feeling better about the state’s slow-motion reopening.

With 305,996 people tested as of Monday, 44,092 were found to have COVID-19, a 14.4-percent rate. But in recent weeks, as the state has ramped up to more than 42,000 tests a week, the infection rate has declined. For instance, Monday’s 124 reported COVID-19 cases was from a sample of 5,715 tests, for an infection rate of about 2.17 percent.

Lamont, during his daily news conference from the State Capitol, said the total tested puts Connecticut among national leaders.

“We’re closing in on about 9 percent of our population, which probably puts us in the top 10 in terms of states’ per capita testing,” Lamont said. “Of particular interest to me is the positive rate. It shows you our trend is in the right direction. The trend line down towards 2 percent is extraordinary good news, not just for us, but our region. The positive rate is what is so important in terms of getting an idea of community spread; giving you an idea where COVID is in the general population.”

While percentages of COVID-19 cases are going down in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey Rhode Island and Connecticut, other states including Arizona, North Carolina, Texas and Florida that opened up their economies earlier, are seeing spikes in infections.

“Texas has the highest level of hospitalizations they’ve had in a couple of months,” Lamont said. “It’s just a reminder to wear the mask and retain your discipline, because you see what’s going on around the rest of the country.”

While Lamont’s executive orders currently allow 10 people to gather for outside events, the number will rise to 50 when the state moves into Phase 2 reopenings on June 17, followed by 100 in mid-July.

“Ninety five percent of our economy is open, but that is all subject to let’s see what happened over the last week or so, given the protests,” Lamont said of the forthcoming June 17 target. “So far, so good.”

Lamont said 13 additional fatalities brought the statewide total Monday to 4,084 since the state’s first COVID-19 death on March 17. The net hospitalizations

Monday declined by nine patients, bringing that total to 324.

On Sunday, there were an additional 16 fatalities reported while there remained 333 people hospitalized, the same as Saturday. Hospitalizations had declined daily since May 25, when 706 were hospitalized. The peak of those hospitalized with COVID-19 was 1,972 patients on April 22.

Lamont admitted that there are some “contradictions” in protocols, with mass demonstrations which resulted from the alleged suffocation death last month of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, triggering a national response against law enforcement misconduct and institutional racism. While the vast majority of participant wore masks, many protesters have not observed the six-foot social distance from others.

“We’re going to wait and see what impact that has on our positivity rate going forward,” Lamont said. “Those protests remind us that we’re battling two pandemics at the same time. You know, one is COVID that attacks the body and the other is racism that attacks the soul. It’s that response to George Floyd that represents the thousands of people who have been protesting peacefully, peacefully around the state of Connecticut.”

The irony, Lamont said, is that to people suffering from COVID-19 feel as if someone is trying to suffocate them. On Sunday, Lamont journeyed to Bridgeport for an outdoor worship service at Iglesia Bautista Emanuel on Grant Street, with about 100 worshipers.

“I was struck by the fact they were in their cars, they wore their masks, they were taking the protocol very very seriously and didn’t mind in the least, I don’t think, they were outside in a parking lot still enjoying a really important worship service,” Lamont said.

David Lehman, commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, said that business owners have been accepting the protocols they need to reopen on June 17.

“We’ve gotten a little bit of feedback, a lot less than we did in Phase 1, so it’s still early, but so far the rules have been well received,” Lehman said. “There will be some dialogue and we’ll continue to do that with industry as we get ready for the 17th.”

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT