Hospitalizations increase slightly

Deaths continue to climb; Fairfield still hardest-hit county

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have ticked upward slightly, according to statistics released by Gov. Ned Lamont’s office Monday. There were 706 people being treated in Connecticut hospitals for the illness caused by the coronavirus, five more than Sunday.

The slight increase comes after days of declining hospitalizations and on the first weekend after the state began its gradual reopening of what were deemed nonessential businesses. Confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to climb as more and more people are able to be tested for the illness.

The Lamont administration said that COVID-19 cases increased by 405 to 40,873; tests administered increased 7,590 to 221,726 and COVID-19-related deaths increased 49 to 3,742.

The state has dramatically increased testing in recent weeks and has surpassed its first phase goal of 42,000 tests per week. Connecticut is aiming for 100,000 tests per week by this summer.

Nationally, the number of COVID-related deaths is expected to reach 100,000 in coming days. As of Monday evening, about 98,000 people had died from COVID-19, according to

Johns Hopkins University.

The latest Connecticut data released Monday could cover several days to a week, the governor’s office said.

Fairfield County remains the hardest hit of Connecticut’s eight counties, with 15,213 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,221 laboratory confirmed coronavirus-related deaths. Lamont’s office said 233 Fairfield county residents are hospitalized.

New Haven and Hartford counties have the largest number of cases after Fairfield County. There are 11,017 lab confirmed cases in New Haven County and 9,841 in Hartford County, with 922 lab confirmed COVID-19 deaths in New Haven County and 1,187 in Hartford County.

Hospitalizations are higher in New Haven County at 253. There are 166 people hospitalized in Hartford County.

In Middesex County, there are 1,012 cases, 138 deaths and 29 people hospitalized, and in Tolland County 812 cases, no hospitalizations and 56 deaths.

Crowds force DEEP to close state parks

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was forced to close several state parks due to crowding on Memorial Day.

Among the parks closed because the parking lots reached capacity were

Southford Falls State Park in Southbury, Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, Paugussett State Forest in Newtown, Wadsworth Falls State Park in Middletown and Kettletown State Park in Southbury. Some parks reopened as space became available in parking lots.

David Owens can be reached at dowens@courant .com.