State records another 1,000 virus cases in a single day

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

Connecticut announced Friday an additional 1,065 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with a positivity rate (the percentage of tests that are positive) of 3.6 percent. There were 22 additional hospitalizations, for a total of 402 COVID patients currently in the hospital, and 15 more deaths, bringing the total number of COVIDrelated deaths in the state to 4,671.

CDC lifts no-sail order (with one caveat)

The CDC has lifted its no-sail order, giving cruise ships the green light to sail again, with one important caveat: No passengers. In April, the CDC issued a no-sail order and it maintains cruise ships pose a greater threat to disease transmission than other settings. Now, the agency has issued a phased approach to resumption of activities, starting with “simulated voyages designed to test cruise ship operators’ ability to mitigate COVID-19,” followed by a return to passenger operations after certification.

Danish minks could pose COVID-19 threat to humans

Acoronavirus mutation found in Danish minks has infected 12 people in Denmark, according to local news sources. The mutated virus variant reportedly has a lower resistance to antibodies, making potential vaccines less effective, according to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. “We have a great responsibility toward our own population, but with the mutation that has now been found, we have an even greater responsibility for the rest of the world as well,” Frederiksen said this week.

Masks don’t inhibit oxygen during exercise, research says

Canadian researchers have found that wearing a face mask does not reduce the body’s ability to get oxygen during exercise. In terms of oxygen levels in the blood or muscles, “No differences were evident between wearing or not wearing a mask, according to the study published this week by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan. “Wearing a face mask during vigorous exercise had no discernable detrimental effect on blood or muscle oxygenation and exercise performance in young, healthy participants.”

Study: wealthier people able to socially distance more

Astudy published this week in the journal Nature shows wealthier people are more likely to practice social distancing. “Residents of low-income neighborhoods were more likely to work outside the home compared to residents in higher-income neighborhoods,” the study says.