COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut
The first case relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. state of Connecticut was confirmed on March 8, although there had been multiple suspected cases before that point which tested negative. As of February 3, 2021, there were 242,274 confirmed cases, 15,667 suspected cases, and 7,185 COVID-associated deaths in the state.[1]
| SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Pandemic in Connecticut | |
|---|---|
 Map of the outbreak in Connecticut by confirmed new infections per 100,000 people (14 days preceding February 8)
1,000+
500–1,000
200–500
100–200
50–100
20–50
10–20
0–10
No confirmed new cases or no/bad data | |
 Map of the outbreak in Connecticut by confirmed total infections per 100,000 people (as of February 8)
10,000+
3,000–10,000
1,000–3,000
300–1,000
100–300
30–100
0–30
No confirmed infected or no data | |
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Connecticut, U.S. |
| First outbreak | Wuhan, Hubei, China |
| Index case | Wilton |
| Arrival date | March 8, 2020 |
| Date | February 3, 2021 |
| Confirmed cases | 242,274 |
| Suspected cases‡ | 15,667 |
| Hospitalized cases | 837 (current) |
Deaths | 7,185 |
| Government website | |
| portal | |
| ‡Suspected cases have not been confirmed by laboratory tests as being due to this strain, although some other strains may have been ruled out. | |
| Part of a series on the |
| COVID-19 pandemic |
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.svg.png.webp){kind=small} COVID-19 Portal |
As of December 30, 2020, Connecticut has administered 54,727 COVID-19 vaccine doses, equivalent to 1.53% of the population.[2]
Timeline
| County [lower-alpha 1] | Cases [lower-alpha 2] | Deaths | Hosp. | Pop (2020) | Cases/100k | CFR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 / 8 | 223,422 | 6,594 | 1,098 | 3,574,097 | 6,251.1 | 2.95% |
| Fairfield | 65,725 | 1,830 | 248 | 916,829 | 6,964 | 2.78% |
| Hartford | 56,292 | 1,992 | 354 | 894,014 | 6,306 | 3.54% |
| Litchfield | 8,879 | 245 | 20 | 189,927 | 4,903 | 2.76% |
| Middlesex | 8,110 | 292 | 51 | 165,676 | 4,985 | 3.60% |
| New Haven | 56,512 | 1,694 | 299 | 862,477 | 6,589 | 3.00% |
| New London | 13,167 | 311 | 85 | 274,055 | 5,310 | 2.36% |
| Tolland | 5,967 | 124 | 9 | 152,691 | 3,954 | 2,08% |
| Windham | 6,951 | 102 | 32 | 118,428 | 5,940 | 1.47% |
| Updated January 18, 2021 Data is publicly reported by Connecticut Department of Public Health[3][4] |
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January–February 2020
In late-January, 2020, two students living in Connecticut were monitored for displaying coronavirus-like symptoms. The first student attended Wesleyan University in Middletown and was confirmed to not have the virus, and instead had a case of the flu on January 27.[5] The second student monitored for the virus was attending the 2020 Yale Model United Nations Conference at Yale University in New Haven, and was also diagnosed with the flu, not coronavirus, on January 31.[6] On January 28, a student from Uncasville who had traveled to China was suspected to carry the virus was confirmed not to, and was cleared to return to school on January 29.[7]
On February 6, the Connecticut Department of Public Health released a document with information intended for schools to prevent the spread of the virus. The document advocated for those who had been to China recently to self-monitor for 14 days, and that those exhibiting no symptoms after the 14-day period were able to return to their normal lives.[8][9]
In late February, greater precautions were undertaken by different organizations to be prepared for the eventual spread of the virus into Connecticut.[10] On February 25, the University of New Haven suggested that all students in Italy should return to the United States.[11] A laboratory in Rocky Hill was approved by the United States Centers for Disease Control to test for the coronavirus.[12]
March 1–2
On March 1, two of Connecticut's neighbors, Rhode Island and New York, were confirmed to have cases of the virus within, the states.[13] On the same day, both the Connecticut state governor Ned Lamont and the United States surgeon general spoke at a Connecticut Department of Public Health laboratory in Rocky Hill, which had been previously approved to test for the virus.[14] On March 2, two suspected cases of coronavirus in Connecticut were confirmed to be negative.[15]
March 3–4
Southern Connecticut State University suspended all institutionally-supported travel to nations including Italy, China, South Korea, and Japan on March 3 to try to prevent the spread of the virus.[16] On March 4, it was revealed that a Meriden-based company had begun research on a vaccine for SARS-Cov-2.[17]
March 5–6
On March 5, over 200 people in Connecticut were advised to self-monitor for symptoms.[18] An employee at Danbury hospital and Norwalk hospital was confirmed to have the coronavirus on March 6, which marked the first confirmed coronavirus case that could be linked to Connecticut. The person infected lived in New York however, and was quarantined in Westchester county, where she lived.[19]
March 7–8
On March 8, the first confirmed case in the state was reported in the town of Wilton. The patient was between the ages of 40 and 50 and was believed to have contracted the virus during a trip to California.[20]
March 9
A second positive case of coronavirus was confirmed on March 9. The patient was a female in her 60s who was a healthcare worker at Bridgeport Hospital.[21]
March 10
On March 10, governor Ned Lamont declared a civil preparedness and public health emergency in response to the coronavirus.[22]
March 13
On March 13, governor Lamont ordered all schools to close after March 16 until at least March 31.[23]
March 20
On March 20, governor Lamont signed an executive order directing Connecticut businesses and residents to "Stay Safe, Stay at Home."[24] The executive order was similar to other stay-at-home orders that were issued by different governors at the time.[25] Non-essential businesses were ordered to close and were subject to fines if they did not comply; individual citizens were not subject to fines for violating the order.[26]
March 24
Soldiers from the Connecticut Army National Guard's 102nd Infantry Regiment began distributing personal protective equipment to medical facility personnel at the New Britain Armory. Members of the 1st and 2nd Governor's Foot Guard and 2nd Governor's Horse Guard assembled a mobile field hospital at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut.[27]
March 27
Dr. Cory Edgar, 48, of the University of Connecticut Health Center was arrested and charged with a breach of peace misdemeanor for coughing on and hugging coworkers. Edgar is in good health and is not believed to have COVID-19.[28] Sen Chris Murphy (D-CT) said that administration officials turned down an offer of congressional funding made on February 5.[29]
March 28
President Trump decided against imposing a broad two-week lockdown on New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut; however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) advised residents of the region not to travel except for essential purposes.[30]
April 11
Connecticut National Guard workers put up a Field Hospital with 646 beds at the Connecticut Convention Center.[31]
May 20
Connecticut began Phase 1 of a three phase plan to reopen Connecticut. Phase 1 allowed museums and zoos (outdoors only), offices, restaurant (outdoors only), retail and malls, outdoor recreation, and university research.[32]
June 1
Two of Connecticut's largest employers, Mohegan Sun Casino and Foxwoods Resort Casino, reopened. While Lamont publicly urges casinos to stay closed, due to the sovereign nature of the tribal nations that own the casinos, they are able to open before similar businesses are allowed in Connecticut.[33] The state erects electric signs on roads leading to the casinos discouraging people from going.[34]
Hair salons and barbershops are allowed to open.[32]
June 17
Connecticut began phase 2 of reopening. Indoor dining, hotels, and gyms were allowed to open.[35]
July 2020
On July 6, Governor Lamont indefinitely postponed the phase 3 reopening scheduled for July 20, citing the surge in cases following other states reopening. Although Connecticut had met its contact tracing goals and had not seen an increase in cases, the move was done in coordination by a comparable policy change in New Jersey where case numbers were increasing.[36][37]
On July 20, the state public health laboratory announced it had identified a flaw in the test system that resulted in 91 false positive tests in 90 patients over the previous month.[38]
On July 21, the governor announced that travelers from states with a high burden of virus would be required to fill out a health questionnaire and quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Connecticut. Noncompliance could result in a $1,000 fine.[39][40]
October 2020
The postponed phase 3 reopening began on October 8. Existing limits on gathering capacities were relaxed. Indoor performing arts venues were reopened at 50% capacity. Bars and nightclubs remained closed.[41]
November 2020
With an increasing case load, the Phase 3 reopening was scaled back to new "Phase 2.1" rules on November 6. The rules included mandatory 10:00 pm closing times for in-person dining, entertainment and recreation venues, and indoor and outdoor events.[42][43] The Connecticut State Department of Public Health advised a voluntary curfew from 10:00 pm–5:00 am.[44][45]
December 2020
Following FDA Emergency Use Authorization, the first vaccinations with the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were administered to health care workers were administered on December 14.[46] On December 18, the first nursing home residents were vaccinated.[47] Administration of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine began on December 21.[48]
January 2021
On January 4, 2021, healthcare workers began receiving the scheduled second vaccination doses to complete the series.[49]
February 2021
On February 1, the mandatory closing time for dine-in restaurants was moved from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. The mask, social distancing, and 50% capacity limit on houses of worship was left unchanged, but the numerical cap on group size was lifted.[50]
Impact
Sports
In college sports, the National Collegiate Athletic Association canceled all winter and spring tournaments, most notably the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, affecting colleges and universities statewide.[51] On March 16, the National Junior College Athletic Association also canceled the remainder of the winter seasons as well as the spring seasons.[52] In addition, CIAC, which regulates high school athletics in the state canceled winter championship tournaments and is reported to currently be discussing the future of spring sports.
IMSA a motorsport league cancelled their race at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville for the 2020 season only due to government restrictions in the state.
Unemployment
Over 30,000 unemployment claims have been filed between Friday, March 13, and Tuesday, March 17 in Connecticut.[53] Many of these unemployment claims have been associated with the laying-off of employees of businesses unable to afford to maintain their entire staff during the outbreak, as well as due to the closure of businesses reliant on public and social interactions such as bars and gyms.[54][55]
Xenophobia and racism
In response to racism surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, Connecticut governor Ned Lamont stated during a speech at the Connecticut Department of Public Health's laboratory in Rocky Hill, "there is no link between race or ethnicity and the spread of coronavirus. Viruses do not discriminate."[15]
Education
Governor Ned Lamont signed an executive order requiring the closure of all Connecticut public schools on March 17 until May 20; it was eventually extended for the rest of the school year. Most public schools were already closed. March 13–14[56] Lamont also encouraged private schools and other non-public schools to follow the same schedule.[57] Many colleges in Connecticut switched to virtual learning.
See also
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut. |
- U.S. state and local government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States – for impact on the country
- COVID-19 pandemic – for impact on other countries
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- "More Than 5.6 Million Shots Given: Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker". Bloomberg. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
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