Monroe Coronavirus Cases Continue To Drop

MONROE, CT — Connecticut has made astounding progress in driving down coronavirus infections and hospitalizations to levels not seen since the early fall.

The state averaged 8.4 daily infections per 100,000 residents between May 2 and 15 and the positive test rate was 1.9 percent, according to the state Department of Public Health. The previous two-week rate was 12.2 cases per 100,000.

Monroe had 6.2 average daily cases per 100,000 residents and a positive test rate of 2.40 percent. There were 7.7 average daily cases per 100,000 residents in the previous two-week reporting period.

Monroe recorded 5 new coronavirus cases between May 13 and 20, according to DPH’s preliminary data.

Around half of Connecticut’s total population is fully vaccinated; 60 percent have received at least one dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than seven out of every 10 adults has received at least one dose. The number of newly vaccinated people have slowed down significantly in Connecticut in recent weeks.

In Monroe 9,686 residents have been fully vaccinated as of May 19, which is about 50 percent of the total population — in total 59 percent of the town population has received at least one dose, according to DPH.

Additionally, Monroe First Selectman Ken Kellogg on Friday issued the following COVID-19 update:

CASE RATE UPDATE
• Monroe’s 2-week rolling case rate has dropped to an average of just over 1 new case per day.
• Our 2-week case is 6.2 cases per 100,000 population.
• As of yesterday’s report, Monroe has had 1,411 cases, and 15 deaths, since the start of the pandemic.

VACCINATION
• Thanks to the Monroe Health Department and our Emergency Management team for successfully incorporating Monroe students age 12 and over during this week’s vaccination clinic.
• We continue to offer vaccination clinics for adults age 18 and over on Wednesdays. Appointments may be made through VAMS, but are no longer necessary. Walk-ins are welcome from 9am – noon.

TESTING
• The Town will have a drive-through test clinic on Wednesday, May 26, from 10a-2p at the Stevenson Fire Station. Due to the significant reduction in demand for testing since mid-April, this will be our last scheduled drive-through test clinic.
• Testing continues to be offered at both urgent care centers in Monroe.

CHANGES IN STATE RULES
As most are aware, the Governor issued the new Executive Order this week, confirming the following changes in state rules:
• All remaining business and other Sector Rules have been lifted, with certain exceptions regarding mask-wearing.
• While masks are not required outdoors, unvaccinated individuals must continue to wear masks indoors, and universal masks are still required in certain settings, such as healthcare facilities, transit, schools, and childcare facilities.
• Individual businesses may choose to require universal masking within their establishment.

"It’s my hope that this week’s full, and hopefully final, re-opening of our state marks a new beginning, as we get even closer to a return to normal. I will continue to provide regular, written updates on our website, our Facebook page, and through local media and email. I will be suspending CodeRED pandemic updates by phone, unless there is important or time-sensitive information to share.

"My thanks to our emergency management team and to all our dedicated staff and volunteers who worked throughout this pandemic, and to the Monroe community for coming together during some very challenging times."