COVID-19 Positivity Rate in Connecticut Jumps to 6.1%, 11 More Red Alert Towns

Connecticut's positivity rate increased to 6.1% overnight, which is the highest rate since June 1, according to Gov. Ned Lamont.

"There's no good news in these numbers," Lamont said during Thursday's press conference. "It's going to get worse before it gets better, but we're going to weather it together."

An additional 1,319 people have tested positive for COVID-19 since Wednesday. Almost 22,000 tests were performed.

Hospitalizations have also increased. With 12 more net hospitalizations in Connecticut, the toll is now 321.

Five more deaths have been reported. The state's death toll is now 4,609.

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"I look hard to find a silver lining and I can't find it in these numbers," Lamont said.

On Wednesday, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Connecticut was 3.4%. Thursday's positivity rate is up just shy of three percent from what it was Wednesday.

The state's average positivity rate for the week is 3.1%.

"Let's face it. We've gone from one to two to three, and this 6.1 may be a harbinger of things to come," Lamont said.

The state is taking action to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as numbers continue to rise.

The governor said the state is working to evaluate winter sports and test nursing home staff more aggressively.

All nursing home staff will undergo COVID-19 testing weekly and if there are any cases, residents will also be tested weekly.

Lamont also said state officials are working to enforce COVID-19 gathering and mask requirements. Officials will increase their focus on targeting high-risk activity and violations.

11 More Towns Now in Red Alert

There are now 30 towns under red alert status in Connecticut, which is an increase of 11 from last week.

The state has started a color-coded alert system that places each city and town in a category based on its COVID-19 rate.

Red is the highest alert level and municipalities in that category have the option to roll back to a more restrictive phase two of reopening rather than remain in phase three, which the state is in now.

Below are the state's Red Alert towns:

• Ansonia
• Bridgeport
• Canterbury
• Cromwell
• Danbury
• East Hartford
• Ellington
• Franklin
• Griswold
• Groton
• Hartford
• Killingly
• Lisbon
• Middlebury
• Middlefield
• Montville
• New Britain
• New London
• North Canaan
• Norwalk
• Norwich
• Old Saybrook
• Plainfield
• Sprague
• Stamford
• Waterbury
• Waterford
• Watertown
• Windham
• Wolcott

The towns in bold were recently added.

Red Alert towns account for about one-third of the state at this time, Lamont said.

There are also 53 towns under Orange Alert status. Below is a list of those towns:

• Andover
• Avon
• Beacon Falls
• Berlin
• Bethany
• Bethel
• Bethlehem
• Bloomfield
• Bristol
• Brookfield
• Brooklyn
• Burlington
• Colchester
• Derby
• Durham
• East Hampton
• East Haven
• East Lyme
• Fairfield
• Farmington
• Hamden
• Ledyard
• Marlborough
• Manchester
• Meriden
• Middletown
• Monroe
• Naugatuck
• New Haven
• North Branford
• North Haven
• Plainville
• Prospect
• Salem
• Seymour
• Sherman
• South Windsor
• Stratford
• Thomaston
• Tolland
• Torrington
• Vernon
• Voluntown
• Wallingford
• West Haven
• Wethersfield
• Windsor
• Woodbridge
• Woodstock

The governor announced that Orange Alert towns will also have the option to revert to phase 2. Lamont said 38% of towns are currently under Orange Alert status.

A total of about 70% of all Connecticut towns are under either Red or Orange Alert, Lamont said.

Lamont was asked on Thursday morning when the state would need to get stricter and when it might be time to do something on a statewide basis, like in the spring, when many businesses were closed due to the pandemic.

Lamont said he hopes that will not be necessary.

"We're doing everything we can to keep things open," Lamont said, adding that the parks and beaches will remain open.