COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations increase

Here are the most important things to know about the coronavirus in Connecticut:

Connecticut COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations rise

On Monday, the state announced 1,191 new cases, 12 more deaths and 11 new hospitalizations. The positivity rate (the percentage of total tests that are positive) has decreased to 1.7. percent from 2.4 percent on Friday.

Study shows organ damage in some hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Anew study of patients who have been in the hospital with a COVID-19 infection “suggests a potential link between chronic inflammation and ongoing organ damage among survivors,” as Reuters reports. About 60 percent of patients showed abnormalities of the lungs, 29 percent had kidney issues, 26 percent had heart problems and 10 percent had abnormalities in the liver.

CVS is hiring 15,000 workers to help handle vaccines

CVS is adding 15,000 workers across the United States to handle

vaccinations for both the flu and a potential rollout of a coronavirus vaccine, the company said in a statement. “We’re estimating a much greater need for trained pharmacy technicians this year given the continued presence of COVID-19 in our communities,” said Lisa Bisaccia,

CVS’ chief human resources officer.

Notre Dame: Virus-related lockdowns prevent thousands of deaths linked to pollution

Astudy from researchers at Notre Dame University showed that virusrelated lockdowns in China and Europe prevented tens of thousands of deaths related to pollution. Researcher Paola Crippa and her colleagues looked at the average number of deaths associated with pollution, the number of similar deaths that happened during pandemic lockdowns and the decrease in airborne particulate matter. The study estimated that 24,200 deaths associated with particulate matter were prevented in China, and another 2,190 pollution-related deaths were avoided in Europe, compared to the average.

WHO trial finds that COVID-19 associated drugs did not clearly impact patient outcomes

The WHO Solidarity trial found that four drugs — Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, Lopinavir and Interferon — have “have little or no effect,” on hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Research found that none of these drugs clearly reduced mortality, initiation of ventilation or hospitalization duration.

Zsolt Czegledi / Associated Press A bottle containing the drug Remdesivir is held by a health worker at the Institute of Infectology of Kenezy Gyula Teaching Hospital of the University of Debrecen in Debrecen, Hungary on Thursday.