Health & Fitness
Lamont Urges Patience As CT Enters New Coronavirus Vaccine Phase
2,680 new COVID-19 cases were reported Sunday, along with a daily positive test rate of around 2.6 percent for the past seven days.
CONNECTICUT — The state entered a new phase in its vaccine roll-out Monday, and opened up appointment sign-ups for people between the ages of 55 and 64.
It was tough sledding for many of the newly-qualified residents, as roughly 600,000 more people became eligible for the vaccine, and the state typically receives around 100,000 first vaccine doses weekly. Phone lines and the online Vaccine Administration Management System were overloaded from early Monday morning onward.
Gov. Ned Lamont, urging patience, estimated it will take a few weeks to go through the age bracket assuming that around 70 percent of people want the vaccine.
Find out what's happening in Across Connecticutfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"To ease the burden on the online and phone systems, we urge residents 55 and older to consider waiting a few days before seeking an appointment if they are able to do so," Acting Public Health Commissioner Deidre Gifford said. "New appointments will become available each week and this will help reduce stress on the system in the early days of the roll-out."
Lamont also had a blunt response to some isolated reports about unused vaccine not being utilized.
Find out what's happening in Across Connecticutfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
I absolutely refuse to let unused shots go to waste. Since day one, all Connecticut COVID-19 vaccine providers have been instructed to administer any leftover shots to any available person at the end of the day. Let’s get them in people’s arms so they can be put to good use.
— Governor Ned Lamont (@GovNedLamont) March 1, 2021
The state Department of Public Health reported 2,680 new coronavirus cases Sunday and a daily positive test rate of 2.35 percent, or around 2.6 percent for the past seven days.
Four hundred seventeen patients are currently hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, 34 fewer than at the start of the weekend, continuing the overall downward trend.
Another 29 residents died from COVID-19-associated ailments, bringing the death toll to 7,651 since the start of the pandemic.
The communities with the most new cases reported over the past 24 hours are:
1. New Haven: 166
2. Bridgeport: 130
3. Stamford: 129
4. Waterbury: 123
5. Norwalk: 102
6. Hartford: 91
7. Danbury: 81
8. Meriden: 66
9. Fairfield: 53
10. Greenwich: 49
See Also: Lamont Hints At Changes To CT Restaurant Capacity Limits
- CT Vaccine Rollout Begins For Teachers, Ages 55+: What To Know
- Coronavirus Case At High School Puts Sports Team Into Quarantine
The communities with the most coronavirus cases reported over the past week are:
1. New Haven: 328
2. Waterbury: 288
3. Bridgeport: 259
4. Stamford: 252
5. Norwalk: 247
6. Hartford: 180
7. Danbury: 157
8. Meriden: 129
9. Stratford: 127
10. Enfield: 118
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