CT Coronavirus Numbers 'Bounce Around' As Vaccine Rolls Out

CONNECTICUT — Coronavirus cases and deaths soared this past week — just before they inexplicably plummeted — as the rollout of the vaccine began its transition into the next phase.

Another 41 coronavirus-related deaths were reported Friday, bringing the state total up to 6,594. Worse still, Connecticut recorded a staggering 10.72 percent positive coronavirus test rate Tuesday, which is the highest daily rate since the second wave began in Connecticut and the highest daily rate since late May. Then on Thursday, the numbers looked more like November, with a positive test rate of 4.37 percent, a net 30-patient drop in hospitalizations.

"I'm having a hard time coming up with a rhyme or reason for why these numbers are bouncing around," Gov. Ned Lamont said. Connecticut's seven-day per capita case count is the 15th highest in the country, according to the New York Times coronavirus tracker.

Many thought we were out of the woods, having placed the long-dreaded post-Thanksgiving and post-Christmas coronavirus spikes and surges finally behind us. But last Monday, Lamont warned the next couple of weeks could become another flashpoint, with university students coming back and more public schools going back to the classroom.

Connecticut's cities are no longer the big per-capita infection hotspots they were when the state first started charting its coronavirus red zones. That doesn't mean their positivity rates have dropped, just that the number of infections in the smaller towns have continued to climb.

As of Thursday, only Canaan, Cornwall and Warren weren't classified by the state Department of Public Health as coronavirus red zones, which exceed 15 daily coronavirus cases per 100,000 people over a two-week average. The health department uses the per-capita figures as the main gauge of the state's coronavirus situation.

The coronavirus vaccine promises to turn those red zones back to orange and yellow, but it's not happening soon. As of Friday, 166,722 people in Connecticut have received their first vaccine dose and another 17,162 have received both doses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The phase 1a population included front-line health care workers and nursing home and assisted living residents and staff. The first round of vaccinations administered to every nursing home in the state has been completed. The Pfizer vaccine requires 2 doses, separated by at least 3 weeks, according to CDC.

Connecticut will get a bonus 50,000 coronavirus vaccine doses this week as a reward from the federal Department of Health and Human Services for getting the vaccine administration program off to a good start, Lamont said Thursday. That amounts to around an extra week's worth of doses.

No matter how many bonus vials the state receives, it still needs to get the medicine into residents' arms, and those efforts are ramping up. Connecticut will officially start vaccine appointments for people over 75 on Monday — residents were allowed to make appointments starting Thursday. During phase 1b, the state's focus will be on vaccinating the people most at risk for severe illness or death from the coronavirus along with issues of equity and health disparity in communities.

Just remember not to pay anyone anything when you do get around to receiving the vaccine. The bar for lowlife activity was raised a tick on Monday when state officials warned residents of possible vaccine-for-money scams. Lamont warned against "bad actors" who would "interfere with our efforts to ensure our residents are healthy."

If you suspect a vaccine fraud or scam is being perpetrated in your town, report it to the state Department of Consumer Protection by using the department website or email. Suspicious activities related to distribution practices can also be reported to local law enforcement or local public health officials.

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