LYME/OLD LYME — The Daily Data Report issued Monday, May 16, by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) shows a total of 39 new, confirmed COVID-19 cases in Old Lyme and eight in Lyme.
These cases raise Old Lyme’s cumulative case total to 1223 from 1184 on May 13, and Lyme’s to 300 from 292, also on May 13.
This total of 39 cases is the second highest single day case total for Old Lyme for the entirety of the pandemic. The highest number recorded ever during the pandemic was 59 on Jan . 10, 2022. Today’s number if inflated because CT DPH does not issue reports over the weekend, but this situation is the same for every Monday during the pandemic
April 5, 2022 was the most recent day on which no new cases were reported in either town.
Prior to March 25, Lyme had gone for 23 consecutive days with no new cases being reported. Two new cases were reported in Lyme on March 25.
Prior to April 5, the most recent day on which no new cases were reported in either Lyme or Old Lyme was March 24. There were also no new cases on March 9 and 4, and Feb. 24. The previous date prior to Feb. 24 when no new cases were reported in either town was Dec. 12, 2021.
Statewide Situation – Weekly Update
This map, updated May 12, 2022 shows the average daily rate of new cases of COVID-19 by town during the past two weeks. Both Lyme and Old Lyme remain in the Red (highest) Zone. One hundred and fifty eight (158) towns (representing a total of 93.5% of the state) are now found in the Red Zone. Only cases among persons living in community settings are included in this map; the map does not include cases among people who reside in nursing home, assisted living, or correctional facilities. Map: Ver 12.1.2020 Source: CT Department of Public Health Get the data Created with Datawrapper.
On Thursday, May 12, the (CT DPH) also released its latest weekly COVID-19 Alert Map (pictured above), which indicates that 158 municipalities are now in the Red (highest of four) Zone for case rates. These towns in the Red Zone include both Lyme and Old Lyme.
This number has increased by 13 over the 145 towns recorded in the Red Zone last week, thus increasing the number of towns in the Red Zone to 93.5% of the state.
This total of 158 Red Zone towns is moving rapidly towards the Jan. 27, 2022 number, when the total was 168 out of 169 towns.
As of May 12, 2022, all nine towns in the Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) remain in the Red Zone. The LLHD is no longer issuing reports with updated Case Rates and other metrics.
The CT DPH will issue an updated map of the zones Thursday, May 19 — the map is updated weekly on Thursdays.
The color-coded zones on the map above are:
Red: Indicates case rates over the last two weeks of greater than 15 per 100,000 population
Orange: Indicates case rates between 10 to 14 cases per 100,000 population
Yellow: Indicates case rates between 5 and 9 per 100,000 population
Gray: Indicates case rates lower than five per 100,000 population
CDC Categorizes New London, Fairfield Counties at Medium Risk: All Other Counties are High
Map issued May 13 by the CDC showing Community Levels in Connecticut. Map courtesy of CDC.
On May 13, the CDC listed six Connecticut counties in the “High” category as part of its COVID-19 ‘Community Levels’ Map (see above). Only Fairfield and New London Counties are listed in the “Medium” category.
The COVID-19 Community Levels map—which was launched in late February—informs CDC recommendations on prevention measures, such as masking and testing. The guidelines include a color-coded system available on the CDC website of “Low,” “Medium” and “High.”
This approach focuses on preventing hospitals and health care systems from being overwhelmed and directing prevention efforts toward protecting people at high risk for severe illness.
“This latest update comes as no surprise considering the trajectory that this latest omicron sub-variant is taking,” said Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD. “And I cannot stress enough that the tools to combat this virus are in place and easily accessible. These include vaccines, first and second boosters, Test to Treat locations, therapeutics, self-tests and state-supported testing.
Residents who live in New London (which includes Lyme and Old Lyme) and Fairfield Counties—which is listed in the Yellow/Medium Category—who are at high risk for severe illness in these counties should talk to their health care providers about when they need to wear a mask and take other precautions. These residents should also stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if they have symptoms.
Residents living in the High/Orange categories—Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, Tolland and Windham Counties—should wear a mask indoors in public; stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if they have symptoms. Additional precautions may be needed for residents who are at high risk for severe illness.
Ledge Light Health District continues to focus its vaccination efforts on homebound populations and providing initial vaccinations and boosters to individuals, who were vaccinated previously. Information about vaccination opportunities can be found at https://llhd.org/coronavirus-covid-19-situation/covid-19-vaccine/.
An explanation of the new CDC Community Levels tool by Thomas Gotowka can be found at this link.
Statewide Situation – Daily Update
The state’s COVID-19 Daily Positivity Rate broke the 10% watershed on May 4 at 10.32%. It has now broken the 13% mark — the May 16 Rate of 13.05% is down marginally from the May 13 Rate of 13.71%, which was the state’s highest recorded COVID-19 Daily Positivity Rate since Jan. 25, 2022 when the Rate stood at 13.74%.
On May 16, the number of COVID-related hospitalizations increased to 331 from the 323 recorded on May 13.
In contrast, on Jan. 12, 2022, the number of COVID-related hospitalizations was 1,939.
Of those hospitalized on May 16, the number not fully vaccinated was 104 (representing 31.42%).
The total number of COVID-related deaths in Connecticut held at 10,914 on May 16, according to The New York Times.
The next Daily Data Report will be issued by CT DPH Tuesday, May 17, around 4 p.m.
Increase in Cases in Lyme & Old Lyme Since August 2021
The cumulative total of confirmed cases for Old Lyme has now increased by 780 since Wednesday, Nov. 10, when the total stood at 443 — that number had stood unchanged for a week since the previous Thursday, Nov. 4.
On Aug. 26 — which was the day Lyme-Old Lyme Schools started the new academic year — Old Lyme’s cumulative case total stood at 372, meaning there have now been 851 new cases there since that date.
Meanwhile, Lyme’s cumulative total on Aug. 26 was 114 indicating 186 new cases have also been confirmed there during the same period.
Ledge Light Health District Update
The LLHD is no longer issuing weekly updates unless there is, “any significant change in case rates, hospitalizations, etc.”
On April 14, LLHD sent LymeLine.com this press release issued by CT DPH the same day. It begins: With the current uptick of COVID-19 cases—coupled with the upcoming schedule of spring holidays and family gatherings—the Connecticut Department of Public Health is reminding residents of the tools currently in place to help contain the spread of the virus.
The new Community Levels tool created by the CDC can be viewed at this link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html
Ledge Light Health District continues to focus its vaccination efforts on homebound populations and providing initial vaccinations and boosters to individuals, who were vaccinated previously. Information about vaccination opportunities can be found at https://llhd.org/coronavirus-covid-19-situation/covid-19-vaccine/.
An explanation of the new CDC Community Levels tool by Thomas Gotowka can be found at this link.
COVID testing opportunities can be found at COVID-19 Testing | Ledge Light Health District (llhd.org)
The following link provides centralized access to Connecticut COVID data: https://data.ct.gov/stories/s/COVID-19-data/wa3g-tfvc/
Fatalities Due to COVID-19 in Lyme, Old Lyme
There has been one COVID-related fatality of a Lyme resident: a 57-year-old male passed away Nov. 16, 2021. On Nov. 30, the state finally included this fatality in its data
Four COVID-related fatalities have now been reported in Old Lyme. The first two fatalities from Old Lyme, which were reported in 2020, were a 61-year-old female and an 82-year-old male.
Details of the third and fourth fatalities, which were reported respectively in 2021 and on Feb. 4, 2022, have not been made available.
COVID-19 Situation in LOL Schools
Under new state protocols for schools, Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools are no longer required to carry out contact tracing.
LOL Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser explained the latest developments in LOL Schools COVID protocols in an email dated April 1 to the school community, saying, “As noted in my email of February 17, 2022, beginning April 1, 2022 we will no longer report daily COVID-19 cases in the schools.”
He then stated, “For the remainder of this school year, that information will be complied on a weekly basis and will be available on our website at the following link: https://www.region18.org/parents/covid-data.”
Details published to date show the following number of positive cases in LOL Schools by week.
April 3-9: 0
April 10-16: 0
April 17-23: Spring Break
April 24-30: 7
May 2-7: 27
May 8-14: 41
The total number of cases recorded in Lyme and Old Lyme for the week May 8-14 was 51, indicating the majority of cases had a connection to Lyme-Old Lyme Schools.
For a summary of cases in LOL Schools between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2022, visit this link.
View a full listing of cases between 8/26/21 – 12/23/21 at this link.
LYME — On Saturday, May 21, Lyme Public Library hosts acclaimed photographer Skip Hine from 2 to 3 p.m. to discuss his new book Memories in Hine Sight: My Life with a Camera.
AREAWIDE —
OLD LYME — The Old Lyme Historical Society Inc. (OLHSI) presents a talk on the History of Artisan Tiles this evening, Thursday, May 12, at 7 p.m. at the Society’s building at 55 Lyme St. in Old Lyme.
ESSEX, CT – 
OLD LYME — Today, Sunday, May 8, between 12 and 2 p.m., Duck River Garden Club is selling hanging baskets, geraniums and succulents at 50% discount from their annual plant sale.