Official: Local decline in COVID cases ‘a sign of good things to come’

MIDDLETOWN — The city has recently experienced a dip in the number of COVID cases, a trend the acting health director sees as most likely due to the waning delta strain.

The most recent state data, reported Thursday, covering the period from Sept. 19 to Oct. 2, indicates Middletown reported 36 positive cases during each of the past two weeks — an 11 percent average infection rate per 100,000 people.

Like Middletown, most of Connecticut, with the exception of two eastern counties, are reporting the same, Kevin Elak told Common Council members at Monday’s meeting. He said the results are “certainly a big improvement.”

“We hope this is a sign of good things to come, where we are seeing the delta wave starting to recede,” he added.

However, he’s still urging people to wear masks and social distance in public — whether they’re vaccinated or not. “We’re still at a point where the spread is quite rapid,” Elak said.

With the holidays and colder weather on the horizon, when people spend more time indoors, he added, the situation could worsen.

Middletown has one of the highest vaccination rates among municipalities in the state, with percentages “steadily increasing” by age, Elak said. Those in the 12-to-17 range are in the low 50th percentile, and individuals 65 and older are nearly 100 percent vaccinated.

Elak said his office has been working with the public school system to convey to parents the importance of their kids taking the shot.

“That will mean less time out of school, and people enjoying things like sports and extracurriculars; not having to quarantine if there’s an exposure at school.”

The state Department of Public Health reported Thursday a total of 14,419 COVID cases statewide among fully vaccinated people have been confirmed. Of the more than 2.3 million people in the state who have completed their vaccine series, 0.61 percent have contracted the virus, the data shows.

Middletown tracks cases by each of its 12 census tracts, and further breaks that down by age.

“We’re looking at where the numbers are lagging behind a little,” the acting health director said.

Recent vaccine clinic efforts are being funded with an equity grant received in late spring, he said. “We’re partnering with Cross Street AME Zion Church to make sure distribution is equitable. We’ve been quite successful in improving the numbers in town,” Elak told councilors.

Middletown recently launched its own drive-up, saliva-based testing area at Cross Street AME Zion Church, which uses the Branford-based Wren Laboratories test invented in conjunction with laboratory director Mark Kidd.

The health department recorded a milestone Aug. 28 during the Zion Church backpack giveaway. Volunteers and staff celebrated 10,000 vaccines administered since December 2020.

Those who are 65 or older who received their last shot at least six months prior are eligible for the Pfizer booster, as are those in some other categories, such as individuals with underlying conditions or who work in at-risk industries, he added.

For information about COVID, vaccines, testing and vaccination locations, visit middletownct.gov. For Middletown’s latest COVID summary, go to bit.ly/3ln0128.