LYME/OLD LYME — Despite the fact that January was the worst month to date in terms of total cases in both Lyme and Old Lyme, the Daily Data Report for Connecticut issued Thursday, Feb. 4, by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) for data as at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 3, gives some encouraging news.
It shows that Old Lyme’s COVID-19 cumulative case numbers since the pandemic began decreased by one to 264 compared with Wednesday’s number of 265.
Lyme’s cumulative total stayed constant at 77 in Thursday’s CT DPH report, the same number as in Wednesday’s report.
Additionally, Ledge Light Health Department (LLHD) issued their Weekly COVID Report yesterday, which LLHD Director of Health Stephen Mansfield prefaces with the words, “We are encouraged to see a moderate decrease in cases for the 3rd consecutive reporting period, and are hopeful that this trend will continue.”
He adds though, “The demand for vaccine still exceeds the available supply and will for some time,” and asks for our help, “… in continuing to promote other prevention methods such as mask wearing and social distancing.”
So here at LymeLine.com, we stress again to readers that the pandemic is not over yet and to keep the situation moving in the right direction, we must continue to wear masks, wash our hands and socially distance.
And in other positive news, the latest two-week case rate per 100,000 population, which was announced yesterday, Thursday, Feb. 4, has fallen in both Lyme and Old Lyme, which, in turn, reflects the fact that the number of cases has fallen in both towns over the two week-period.
The two-week case rate for the period 1/17 to 1/30 decreased (compared with the previous two-week case rate for 1/10 to 1/23) in Lyme from 24.4 to 21.4 and over the same period in Old Lyme from 48.5 to 38.8.
The same report shows that Old Lyme had 23 (27) cases in Week 1 and 17 (23) in Week 2 while Lyme had 5 (3) cases in Week 1 and 2 (5) in Week 2. (The previous Week 1 and 2 figures are shown in parentheses.) This data was updated Feb. 4, 2021.
Both Towns Still in ‘Red Zone’
Bringing us right back to reality though, the Daily Data Report for Connecticut issued Thursday, Feb. 4, by the CT DPH does however, shows that both Lyme and Old Lyme are still in the state-identified ‘Red Zone’, where they have been for the past several weeks.
As of the Feb. 4 report, eight towns in the state — Bridgewater, Canaan, Cornwall, Colebrook, Norfolk, Scotland, Union and Warren — are now in the ‘Gray Zone.’
- The red category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town exceeds 15.
- The gray category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town is less than five or less than five reported cases.
In all cases, this rate does not include cases or tests among residents of nursing home, assisted living, or correctional facilities.
Old Lyme – Confirmed Cases Down One
Old Lyme now has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 259 confirmed COVID-19 cases and FIVE probable cases, making a TOTAL of 264 cases.
This represents an DECREASE of ONE in the cumulative number of confirmed cases over the number reported Wednesday, Feb. 3, (265) and NO CHANGE in the number of probable cases over the number reported the same day.
The total number of Old Lyme residents tested is 4,453.
There have been two fatalities in Old Lyme.
Lyme – Confirmed Cases Unchanged
Lyme has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 72 confirmed cases and FIVE probable cases, making a TOTAL of 77 cases.
This represents NO CHANGE NO CHANGE in the number of confirmed cases or probable cases from the number reported Wednesday, Feb. 3.
There have been no fatalities in Lyme.
The total number of Lyme residents tested is 1,198.
Connecticut Hospital Occupancy
At the request of several readers, we are adding a new report today showing the respective rates of hospital occupancy at local hospitals. The data for this report is obtained from the Connecticut Hospital Occupancy Report published weekly by the CT DPH and extracted from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) facility-level data for hospital utilization aggregated on a weekly basis (Friday to Thursday).
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Editor’s Note: The state issues a COVID-19 metric report daily around 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, which includes current data up to the previous evening. In light of the serious rise in Coronavirus cases, we started a new weekday update reporting confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in Lyme and Old Lyme. The next CT DPH Daily Data Report for Connecticut will be issued in the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 5.
I appreciate that Lymeline continues to provide reliable and accurate information on Covid-19.
Can you verify the confirmed deaths in Old Lyme? State DPH records show three not two.
Also, the State’s school dashboard for period ending 2/4/2021 reflects cases at Mile Creek School and the High School. This should be reported.
Also, it is disappointing that the health district fails to provide more detailed (non-identifying) information on the sources of case increases in Old Lyme. Also, they have failed in scheduling vaccines in Old Lyme. Senior citizens should not be required to travel and wait in line. The performance of LLHD is underwhelming.
Administering vaccines can certainly be improved; however, it’s encouraging to see that on a national level we’re at 12% vaccinated. Every day more and more of our at-risk citizens are getting vaccinated.