Daily coronavirus updates: Connecticut issues Labor Day COVID alert over holiday gatherings; Sacred Heart tells students living in Bridgeport to stay off campus; statewide numbers continue positive trend

The Connecticut Department of Public Health on Friday issued a statewide alert urging residents to take COVID-19 safety precautions over Labor Day Weekend.

“As we celebrate the holiday, the Department of Public Health is reminding Connecticut residents that small gatherings of family and friends are a major source of infection,” said Deidre Gifford, acting DPH commissioner, in a statement. “If you are getting together with anyone who doesn’t live with you, please wear your mask, maintain social distance, wash your hands frequently, and use hand sanitizer.”

DPH directed its warning especially to young adults, who have accounted for a growing share of the state’s COVID-19 infections in recent weeks, particularly as college students have returned to campus.

Gifford said DPH will monitor restaurants and other public spaces for compliance with reopening rules.

Metrics down again

Connecticut’s COVID-19 metrics improved this week after a rise in cases last week causes some concern about a possible increase in transmission.

The state saw fewer cases and a lower positivity rate this week than last, along with fewer deaths and active hospitalizations.

The state on Friday announced 156 new coronavirus cases out of 19,431 tests, for a positivity rate of about 0.8%, in line with the average for the week. The state currently has 58 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 down seven from Thursday and down two from last Friday.

Connecticut continues to rank among the states with the fewest new coronavirus cases and lowest positivity rate, even as national numbers have remained high and new hot-spots have emerged.

The state recorded no new coronavirus-linked deaths Friday, freezing its total at 4,468. State numbers show three deaths this week, the fewest associated with the virus, the fewest in a given week since the pandemic began.

According to the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University, the United States has seen 187,347 COVID-19 deaths during the pandemic.

UConn, Sacred Heart report more cases

UConn reported six additional positive tests among students on its Storrs campus Friday, making 116 total cases since August 14.

The school currently has 67 Storrs students in isolation, with 178 isolation beds still available.

UConn has recorded a trickle of cases in recent days after announcing last week that an entire residence hall would be placed under quarantine to control a spreading outbreak.

Sacred Heart, meanwhile, has asked students living off-campus in Bridgeport to attend all classes from home and avoiding visiting the school’s campus. As of Thursday, the school had no cases on campus but 10 among students living off campus in Bridgeport.

“We know you miss socializing with your friends, having parties and going on outings. And, we know that it is not easy to be told to study from home,” Sacred Heart officials wrote in a notice to students. “But as with the spike in Danbury and now this flare-up in Bridgeport, we need to be highly cautious and proactive in our decisions.”

Alex Putterman can be reached at aputterman@courant.com.

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