Lamont to Give Update as COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Expands

Connecticut's COVID-19 positivity rate increased to 4.45% and 14 more deaths have been reported, according to state officials.

Hospitalizations are down by 21, bringing the total below 500 to 492.

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The state's coronavirus death toll now stands at 7,900.

During a news conference Thursday, Governor Ned Lamont said Connecticut ranks as number 35 in coronavirus deaths per capita across the nation.

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Of over 35,000 tests performed since Wednesday, 1,580 came back positive.

Every resident of Connecticut who is 16 years old and up is now eligible to get a coronavirus vaccine.

Today is the first day that everyone 16 years old and up who lives, works or goes to school in Connecticut are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

People 16 and Up Now Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccines in CT

"This is a demographic that's been waiting for this opportunity for a couple months now and I think they're really happy about it," Lamont said.

The governor said a total of 130,000 appointments made to get the coronavirus vaccine today. He said the state expects vaccine supply to exceed demand by the end of April.

Just shy of 2 million vaccines have already been administered across Connecticut. This includes roughly 1.25 million first and single doses and approximately 734,000 second doses.

Below is a breakdown of percentages of people who've received the vaccine by age group:

65 and up: 81%
45 and up: 65%
16 and up: 43%

The vaccines available in Connecticut include Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, but the only vaccine approved for 16- and 17-year-olds is Pfizer.

Individuals who are 16 and 17 years old are reminded that they should only sign up for a clinic that is offering the vaccine made by @Pfizer, as that is the only vaccine at this point that has been approved for those ages by the @US_FDA.
— Governor Ned Lamont (@GovNedLamont) April 1, 2021

With more than one million people now eligible to get a vaccine, the governor is urging people to be patient when trying to book an appointment.

Tips: How to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment in CT

New COVID-19 Variant Cases Reported

State officials released a breakdown of how many COVID-19 variants have been reported in Connecticut.

B.1.526 (first detected in New York): 88 cases
B.1.525 (first detected in Africa and Europe): 10 cases
P.2 (first detected in Brazil): 7 cases
B.1.1.7 (first detected in the United Kingdom): 469 cases
B.1.351 (first detected in South Africa): 6 cases
P.1 (first detected in Brazil): 2 cases
B.1.427 (first detected in California): 30 cases
B.1.429 (first detected in California): 90 cases

An expert in the field of infectious diseases talked with NBC Connecticut about the COVID-19 variants that are infecting people and why the vaccines will protect against them.

More more information on coronavirus variants detected in Connecticut, click here.