Connecticut on Friday became the first U.S. state with 80% of residents age 12 and older fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marking a milestone in the state’s fight against the disease.
Connecticut ranks just ahead of Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine and Massachusetts as the state with the highest rate of vaccination among eligible residents.
Meanwhile, the state reported a COVID-19 positivity rate below 2% once again Friday, as well as a decline in hospitalizations. Connecticut’s coronavirus metrics have been largely flat in recent days, following a period of decline.
Cases and positivity rate
Connecticut on Friday reported 494 new COVID-19 cases out of 26,435 tests, for a positivity rate of 1.87%. The state’s seven-day positivity rate now stands at 1.98%, up slightly from earlier this week.
Connecticut has averaged 445 COVID-19 cases a day over the past week, roughly flat from the seven days prior. Among U.S. states, only Hawaii has recorded fewer recent cases per capita, according to New York Times data.
As of Friday, New Haven, Windham and New London counties were experiencing “high” levels of COVID-19 transmission as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while Connecticut’s five other counties were experiencing “substantial” transmission.
Hospitalizations
Connecticut now has 232 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, down from Thursday and roughly flat over the past week. Hospitalizations had declined through much of September before leveling off recently.
Hospital officials say the vast majority of those hospitalized with serious COVID-19 symptoms are unvaccinated.
Deaths
Connecticut reports coronavirus-linked deaths once a week. On Thursday, the state reported 40 COVID-19 deaths over the past week, bringing its total during the pandemic to 8,707.
The United States has now recorded 722,858 COVID-19 deaths, according to the New York Times.
Vaccinations
As of Friday, 77.6% of all Connecticut residents and 89% of those 12 and older had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 69.8% of all residents and 80.1% of those 12 and older were fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.
COVID-19 booster shots are currently available for recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine more than six months removed from their second dose who are 65 or older, have health conditions that leave them vulnerable to COVID-19 or work jobs that leave them at high risk.
Alex Putterman can be reached at aputterman@courant.com.
