COVID-19 Variant Updates
Last week, the CT Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that Connecticut is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 activity.
As a result of this uptick in cases, the CDC has listed six Connecticut Counties – Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, Tolland and Windham Counties – in the High/Orange category as part of its weekly COVID-19 Community Levels update. Only Fairfield and New London Counties are listed in the Medium/Yellow category.
Recently released data from the CDC shows that a new Omicron subvariant, XBB 1.5 now makes up 80% of these new cases.
While DPH reports that this variant is highly transmissible, it has been reported as less deadly. Although symptoms reported are less severe, officials still advise us to take certain precautions to mitigate the spread, keep our loved ones safe and protect our most vulnerable residents.
What You Can Do:
- Schedule a vaccine and updated booster appointment
- There are also numerous pop-up mobile vaccination van clinics
- Order free COVID-19 self-test kits
- Utilize all resources in the DPH COVID-19 toolbox
Our greatest protection against the virus remains the COVID-19 vaccine and the bivalent booster that has been shown to minimize the spread and effects of the highly transmissible Omicron variant. In addition, the DPH has recently recommended that residents consider wearing a mask while in public indoor spaces as a precautionary measure.