Connecticut coronavirus hospitalizations have decreased as the positive test rate remains below 1%.
Net hospitalizations have decreased by one. Total hospitalizations in the state are now 56.
Of 15,452 coronavirus tests performed since yesterday, 130 people tested positive. That is a positivity rate of about 0.8%.
Two new deaths have been reported, bringing the death toll to 4,465.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health on Friday evening issued a COVID-19 alert for Danbury after a recent spike in cases. After seeing a positivity rate of roughly 7% earlier this week, Danbury is now seeing about a 5% positive test rate, according to Gov. Ned Lamont.
Any nursing homes that have been free of new COVID-19 cases for 14 days will now be able to increase visitation, Lamont said.
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On Wednesday, Lamont, as well as Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of New York and Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey released a joint statement criticizing the change in guidance from the CDC and added that they will not be changing their testing priorities.
“This 180-degree reversal of COVID-19 testing guidelines is reckless, and not based on science and has the potential to do long-term damage to the institution’s reputation,” the statement from the governors says.
They said the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have not shared their scientific rationale for the change in policy, which “threatens the robust testing regimes our states have worked tirelessly to stand up with our federal partners.”
“Health experts recommend testing close contacts of individuals with COVID-19 to identify and prevent asymptomatic spread. This type of robust testing by our states has been a key factor in our success so far to flatten the curve in the tri-state area,” the governors wrote. “New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will continue to follow the advice of health experts to contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19, and therefore will not be changing our guidance that prioritizes testing for this population.”
