Press Releases

03/18/2021

Governor Lamont Provides Update on Connecticut’s Coronavirus Response Efforts

Latest Data as of 5:00PM on Thursday, March 18, 2021

(HARTFORD, CT) – As the State of Connecticut continues taking actions in response to the global spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Governor Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2021:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, and tests in Connecticut. It is important to note that these newly reported updates include data that occurred over the last several days to a week. All data in this report are preliminary, and data for previous dates will be updated as new reports are received and data errors are corrected.

County-by-county breakdown of current COVID-19 hospitalizations:

For a series of interactive graphs and maps that provide additional data, including metrics related to age, gender, and race/ethnicity, as well as data broken down by every town and city in Connecticut, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”

Data updates on vaccine administration in Connecticut

The following data represents the total number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered in Connecticut, as reported to the state as of today:

*NOTE: A total of 36,208 doses of the single-dose J&J vaccine are included in each category

So far, 62 percent of Connecticut’s population over the age of 55 has received at least one dose, including:

• 78 percent of those over the age of 75;
• 74 percent of those between 65 and 74; and
• 46 percent of those between 55 to 64.

In total, 33 percent of all adults in Connecticut over the age of 16 have received at least one dose.

Those who are currently eligible to receive the vaccine under Connecticut’s COVID-19 vaccination program include all individuals over the age of 55, as well as all healthcare personnel, medical first responders, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, residents and staff of select congregate settings, and preK-12 school staff and professional childcare providers. Over the coming weeks, eligibility will expand based on age according to the following schedule:

• March 19, 2021: Scheduling opens to ages 45 to 54
• April 5, 2021 (tentative): Scheduling opens to ages 16 to 44

Information on Connecticut’s COVID-19 vaccination program is available at ct.gov/covidvaccine.

Data updates on variants in Connecticut

The following data contains the cumulative number of SARS-CoV-2 variants that have been reported among Connecticut residents as of today:

• B.1.1.7: 283 cases
• B.1.351: 7 case
• P.1: 1 case
• B.1.427: 1 case
• B.1.429: 3 cases

The B.1.1.7 variant was first detected in the United Kingdom; the B.1.351 variant was first detected in South Africa; the P.1. variant was first detected in Brazil; and the B.1.427 and B.1.429 variants were both first detected in California.

For a town-by-town breakdown of where in Connecticut each of the patients involved in these cases reside, see page 7 of this week’s extended COVID-19 data report.

Weekly update on the impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes and assisted living facilities

The following documents contain the weekly data regarding each of the nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Connecticut that have reported positive cases of COVID-19 among their residents. The data is presented as it was reported to the state by each of the facilities.

Weekly update of the Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Alert Map: 108 of 169 municipalities in red zone alert level

The Connecticut Department of Public Health today released its weekly COVID-19 Alert Map, which indicates that 108 of 169 towns and cities in Connecticut are currently in the red zone alert level, the highest of the state’s four alert levels.

The color-coded zones include:

• Red: Indicates case rates over the last two weeks of greater than 15 per 100,000 population
• Orange: Indicates case rates between 10 to 14 cases per 100,000 population
• Yellow: Indicates case rates between 5 and 9 per 100,000 population
• Gray: Indicates case rates lower than five per 100,000 population

The weekly alert map is also accompanied by a chart that provides guidance on recommended actions based on the alert levels for individual residents; institutions such as schools, houses of worship, and community organizations; and municipal leaders and local health directors.

The COVID-19 Alert Map is updated every Thursday afternoon and can be found in the Data Tracker page of the state’s coronavirus website at ct.gov/coronavirus.

Governor Lamont signs executive order on COVID-19

Governor Lamont today signed an executive order related to the declarations of public health and civil preparedness emergencies that he enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Order No. 10D enacts the following provisions:

• Relaxation of capacity limits for religious, spiritual, or worship gatherings: Removes capacity limits for religious, spiritual, and worship gatherings effective Friday, March 19, 2021, provided that all persons present at any such gathering wear masks, except for designated speakers speaking from designated safe locations, and a distance of no less than six feet is maintained between people who do not live in the same household.
• Repeal of mandatory travel advisory and self-quarantine requirements: Repeals the previously issued mandatory travel advisory and self-quarantine requirements, effective Friday, March 19, 2021. The Connecticut Department of Public Health continues to recommend limiting travel to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

In addition to these executive orders, the Department of Economic and Community Development has updated the sector rules to relax certain capacity and other restrictions, effective March 19, 2021, in accordance with the governor’s previous announcement.

Providing information to Connecticut residents

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus. Residents can also subscribe to text message alerts from the state by texting the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.

Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Anyone who is out-of-state or requires a toll-free number can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 by dialing 1-800-203-1234. This is intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms are strongly urged to contact their medical provider.

Twitter: @GovNedLamont

Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Email
• Print