CT Red Zone Map: 30+ Towns Out Of Red Zone

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut like the majority of the country continues to see its coronavirus metrics moving in the right direction. The per capita infection rate and number hospitalized for the virus are less than half of their recent peaks. The state’s colored coronavirus warning map is also looking less red these days.

Gov. Ned Lamont has also loosened some coronavirus restrictions lately. Most recently he increased spectator limits for youth sports. He also indicated that he is talking with fellow governors about some potential modifications to travel restrictions.

Meanwhile, the state is making progress in the vaccination effort with plans to open eligibility to a larger portion of residents.

However, there is still concern that highly contagious coronavirus variants could throw a wrench in the state’s progress. White House senior coronavirus advisor Andy Slavitt said there is some short-term concern about the variants and that they could lead to increased infections. Long-term there is less concern because current vaccines are still highly effective against variants and could be modified if need-be in the future with relative ease.

Connecticut averaged 27.8 daily coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents between Jan. 31 and Feb. 13 — the previous two-week average was 36.1.

Red zone map less red

More towns are dropping off the state’s red alert level for coronavirus infections. Towns fall into the red zone when average daily cases exceed 15 per 100,000 population over a two-week average — 138 of 169 towns are still in the red zone, but this is an improvement from a point where nearly every town except a few sparsely populated ones were red.

The color codes correspond to guidance from the state Department of Public Health about various activities.

Orange (10-14): Bethany, Canton, Deep River, Essex, Farmington, Goshen, Granby, Haddam, Hebron, Kent, Lebanon, New Hartford, Old Lyme, Portland, Sherman, Southbury, and Winchester.

Yellow (5-9): Pomfret, Redding, Salisbury, and Woodbury.

Gray (less than five): Barkhamsted, Bridgewater, Canaan, Cornwall, Eastford, Franklin, Hartland, Norfolk, Scotland, and Warren

Vaccines

Connecticut ranked 5th among states for the number of residents vaccinated with at least one dose per capita as of Feb. 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been about 822,000 vaccine doses administered in total with 558,000 being first doses. Around 16 percent of residents have received at least one dose.

Connecticut currently allows vaccinations for frontline health care workers, medical first responders, some congregate setting residents and staff and people over the age of 65. Gov. Ned Lamont said he would announce new information this coming week regarding expanded eligibility in the near future. Current state plans call for frontline essential workers and people with certain pre-existing conditions to be next on the list.

Schools

More than 56 percent of public school districts were operating predominantly fully in-person as of Feb. 12, according to the state Department of Education. Another 37 percent are operating on a hybrid basis and only 6 percent are predominantly fully remote.

Coronavirus cases among students and staff have also been in decline with 437 identified cases among students and 127 among staff between Feb. 11 and 17.