13 more virus-linked deaths in CT

There have been another 13 deaths associated with coronavirus in Connecticut, according to data released by the state on Saturday.

Those 13 additional deaths push the statewide total number of virus-linked deaths to 4,251 since the pandemic started in March.

But 22 more Connecticut residents have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus. That leaves 150 virus patients currently hospitalized in the state as of Saturday.

There have been 158 more confirmed cases of the virus out of 11,772 tests performed, the data showed.

Those increases mean 45,715 cases have been reported in the state, and there have been 389,703 tests performed.

Saturday’s numbers continue a trend that the state has seen for weeks, with hospitalizations on the decline and percentage of tests performed coming back positive shrinking.

Despite this positive trend in numbers, there are still guidelines in place as the state reopens.

As Connecticut continues to see warm temperatures, residents are urged to not break social-distancing rules at places like state park beaches. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said, beyond reductions in parking capacity, it will also close beaches for the day — or longer, if needed — if visitors can’t follow guidelines.

Phase 2 of Connecticut’s reopening came on Wednesday, with the return of indoor dining, gyms and fitness centers, personal services such as nail salons and tattoo shops, formal events, outdoor amusement parks, libraries, pools and social clubs, hotels and motels, movie theaters, museums and aquariums.

On the eve of Wednesday’s reopening, Gov. Ned Lamont expanded the size of gatherings allowed indoors and outdoors — from 10 indoors to 25, and from 25 outdoors to 100. By mid-July, the governor said, outdoor gatherings could expand to as many as 250 people.

Businesses and activities continue to have strict guidelines in terms of social distancing and mask-wearing.

This Monday, some summer camps in Connecticut will have opening day. Lamont has outlined a plan that limits group sizes and adds health procedure requirements. Resident camp operations, like sleep-away camps, have not been permitted to open this summer.

The state is still a few weeks away from the start of summer school classes, which have been scheduled to begin July 6.