At 3% positive, CT reaches another dangerous COVID-19 milestone and much faster than the last one – The CT Mirror

It took all summer and the first three weeks of fall for daily coronavirus infection test rates in Connecticut to climb back over 2% positive.

But it took only seven days until Tuesday to surpass 3%, prompting a worried appeal from Gov. Ned Lamont for public vigilance.

Were all going to have to be a little more disciplined, said the governor, who interrupted his own press conference on small business assistance to preview distressing infection statistics set to be released later Tuesday.

The rising infection levels also mean Connecticut wont be shifting to a slightly less-stringent travel quarantine program, the governor said.

And Lamont also said hes sticking with more lenient limits on business-related gatherings because he believes careless social gatherings are the chief culprits behind Connecticuts surging COVID-19 issues.

Its those small, informal interactions taking place now that are driving up numbers, the governor said, adding he understands residents are facing pandemic fatigue and have grown tired of the social distancing and other spread-control measures forced upon them since mid-March. It will be over a lot faster if you wear the mask and keep the distancing.

Lamont, who appeared at 1:30 at Lillys soul food restaurant in Windsor to announce a grant program, did not provide full numbers, which are expected later Tuesday.

But he said the daily infection rate for Monday which involves the share of coronavirus tests completed that day that turned up positive reached 3%.

Connecticut hadnt recorded a daily rate this high since June 5, when 4.4% or 358 of the 8,160 test results logged that day were positive.

And the latest report also means Connecticuts weekly infection rate a much more important COVID-19 metric for most healthcare experts has reached the 2% mark for the first time since early June.

For most of the summer, both daily and weekly infection rates hovered close to or less than 1%.

Lamont expressed concerns on Oct. 13, though, one day after Connecticut cleared the 2% mark for daily infections for the first time since mid-June.

The governor noted that the weekly rate at that time was about 1.5% and remained the lowest in the nation.

Five days earlier, on Oct. 8, Lamont went forward with the third phase of his plan to reopen business activity since widespread closures were ordered in March and April.

The latest round included permitting theaters and concert halls to reopen on a limited basis and increasing the indoor capacity of restaurants and event venues. Business leaders have said this is essential as New England weather turns crisp and customers might be wary about selecting outdoor seating.

Lamont stuck by the third phase of his reopening Tuesday, despite clearing the 3% infection level, but cautioned he would reconsider things if the rate approaches or clears 5%.

Lamont did recently empower 11 communities with high local infection rates most of which are located in eastern Connecticut to reverse the third phase of business reopening. To date, only Windham has chosen to do so.

The surging infection levels did prompt the governor Tuesday to reverse a plan hed announced just one day earlier, specifying when people arriving in Connecticut from other states might have to quarantine for 14 days.

Since July, Lamont has been requiring residents returning from vacation or visitors arriving here from other states to quarantine for 14 days if the state theyd left behind faced high infection levels according to either of two standards:

But Connecticut already is close to failing the second standard, so Lamont proposed a modestly easier test on Monday: Quarantines were to be required for visitors from a state that failed the 10 positive tests per 100,000 and also had a weekly infection rate in excess of 5%.

On Tuesday, though, Lamont said that after consulting with governors in New York and New Jersey whove been collaborating with Connecticut on this travel quarantine policy the original, more stringent, standards will remain in place.

Connecticut is not an island unto itself, Lamont said, noting that infection rates are escalating in the Northeast and elsewhere. This is happening around our country, and this is happening around our region.

The governor added that the rising infection level underscored the need for more relief to small businesses, which may have to struggle with limited customers and various restrictions through the winter and spring until a coronavirus vaccine has been developed and circulated.

The administration proposed a $50 million grant program for businesses with fewer than 20 employees or with an annualized payroll $1.5 million or less.

Businesses could receive a one-time grant of up to $5,000.

Small businesses are truly are heart and soul of this economy, said Department of Economic and Community Development Deputy Commissioner Glendowlyn Thames, who added that Connecticut has an estimated 50,000 businesses that fit this criteria, employing about 350,000 people statewide.

Thames said the goal is to provide assistance to roughly 10,000 businesses.

The program would be funded with federal coronavirus relief assistance. The state would begin accepting applications the week of Nov. 9 and provide grants by Dec. 30, Thames said.

Lamont launched a business loan program in late March using state funds. Originally budgeted at $25 million, it was doubled to $50 million but still fell far short of the demand for relief.

Despite doubling the programs budget, the administration closed the application period within two days after receiving requests for relief that quadrupled the available $50 million.

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At 3% positive, CT reaches another dangerous COVID-19 milestone and much faster than the last one - The CT Mirror