State COVID deaths, hospitalizations jump

NEW HAVEN — COVID deaths increased by 55 and hospitalizations jumped by 45 over the last 24-hour reporting period, Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday.

There were 2,038 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 reported overnight, bringing the total in the state to 172,743, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health. The daily positivity test rate was 5.43 percent. A total of 1,200 people are currently hospitalzed.

Across the state, 5,791 people have died of a confirmed or probable case of the virus during the outbreak, Lamont said.

This includes 1,486 people in New Haven County, 1,169 in Fairfield County, 232 in Middlesex County and 214 in Litchfield County.

Coronavirus vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are being shipped to communities in Connecticut, including New Haven, where the city was expected to receive 1,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine on Wednesday, which would be given to emergency medical personnel.

According to spokesman Gage Frank, New Haven officials handed out approximately 8,000 masks to Fair Haven residents, where cases of the disease have recently become more common, on Wednesday.

Lamont said Wednesday that 16,487 doses of vaccine had been administered across the state.

As the holiday has neared, officials and medical personnel have urged people to stay within their immediate households for Christmas, noting the possibility of

transmitting the disease.

“Our very, very strong advice is that people stick to their core groups. And I know it’s hard,” said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker. “People are feeling really lonely right now. But we’ve got to focus on many Christmases and Thanksgivings and holidays to come... We’ll have many more opportunities to celebrate together, and it’s better to not put people at risk now, because we want to keep people in our hearts and our lives for many years to come.”

Milford Health Director Deepa Joseph also advised that people stay home unless absolutely necessary, but said those who do travel should wear masks, distance and either stay outside or ventilate the area as much as possible.

“(W)hile I completely understand that it feels like it’s been a long time ... I hope people can hang on a little bit longer,” said Joseph.