22 New Cases of Coronavirus UK Variant Found In CT: Here's Where

CONNECTICUT — The state Department of Public Health has identified 22 additional cases of the B.1.1.7 coronavirus strain — the so-called "U.K. Variant" — identified in Connecticut, bringing the statewide total to 42.

Specimen collection dates from these newly identified cases were from between Jan. 12 and Feb. 3, and the ages of the people infected range from 5 to 90.

The DPH's battle against the new, virulent strain has been described as a race against time. It appeared on our shores around the same time as the coronavirus vaccine became widely available, but it is 50-70 times more contagious than the strain that locked the state down last spring.

The 22 newly identified cases are residents of the following towns:

• Fairfield (1)
• Greenwich (1)
• Hamden (1)
• Madison (1)
• Meriden (1)
• New Britain (1)
• New Haven (2)
• North Branford (1)
• Oxford (2)
• Prospect (1)
• Seymour (1)
• Shelton (1)
• Southbury (1)
• Stratford (1)
• Torrington (1)
• Thomaston (2)
• Waterbury (1)
• West Haven (1)
• Woodbridge (1)

On the positive side, the number of state residents hospitalized with the coronavirus continued to drop sizably on Friday as the daily positivity test rate eased another tenth of a point, to 2.22 percent.

There are 674 COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization in the state on Friday, 57 fewer than the day before.

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Connecticut reported 838 new cases Friday, 165 fewer than Thursday's tally. An additional 27 deaths associated with COVID-19 were reported, bringing the state toll up to 7,381.

The state has vaccinated 10.7 percent of its population as of Thursday, and 58.3 percent of those aged 75 and over.

More coronavirus vaccine providers are coming online in Connecticut as the state continues to ramp up its vaccination efforts. Walgreens, CVS and Walmart are some of the most recent providers to begin offering the vaccine or who will offer it in the near future.