Daily coronavirus updates: Connecticut reports lowest COVID-19 positivity rate since last summer

Connecticut on Monday reported its lowest COVID-19 positivity rate since last summer — and one of its lowest of at any point during the pandemic.

More than two weeks after lifting nearly all coronavirus-related restrictions, Connecticut continues to see fewer COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths, an encouraging sign as the state heads for what experts say should be a relatively virus-free summer.

Cases and positivity

The state reported 197 new COVID-19 cases out of 35,968 tests since Friday, for a positivity rate of 0.55%, lowest on a given day since last Aug. 18 and fifth lowest of any day during the pandemic.

The state’s seven-day positivity rate now stands at 0.75%, the lowest since Aug. 12.

Connecticut has averaged 98 cases a day over the past 14 days, fewest over any two-week period since late August.

Hospitalizations

As of Monday, Connecticut has 72 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, down 10 from Friday and fewest since Sept. 24.

Hospital officials say most patients sick with COVID-19 have not been vaccinated.

Deaths

The state reported seven coronavirus-linked deaths over the weekend, bringing the state’s total to 8,253 during the pandemic.

The United States has now recorded 597,854 COVID-19 deaths, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University.

Vaccination

As of Monday, 64% of all Connecticut residents and 74% of those 12 and older have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 55% of all residents and 63% of those 12 and older are fully vaccinated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those numbers have ticked up slowly in recent weeks, as demand for vaccination has waned.

Key trends

Connecticut is back to the low levels of COVID-19 transmission it experienced last summer. Experts say the numbers are likely to remain low at least until the coming fall.

Alex Putterman can be reached at aputterman@courant.com.