Daily coronavirus updates: Connecticut’s positivity rate exceeds 1% for third straight day, as DPH commissioner blames small gatherings
Connecticut’s rate of positive COVID-19 tests exceeded 1% for the third straight day Friday, as the state appears to be experiencing an uptick in coronavirus transmission following several months of extremely low numbers.
Gov. Ned Lamont on Friday reported 233 new cases out of 21,509 tests, for a rate of 1.1%. Connecticut’s positivity rate — the share of tests that come back positive — had held below 1% since mid-July before increasing this week.
The state reported 961 cases this week compared to 870 last week, despite conducting significantly fewer tests. The increase in cases and positivity comes just as school districts welcome students back to class — and as some shut down in response to positive COVID-19 tests.
Dr. Deidre Gifford, the state’s acting commissioner of public health, acknowledged the recent increase in cases and in positivity Friday but said she wouldn’t necessarily link those trends to students returning to classrooms.
