Trends in short
- As of January 2, more than 4.2 million people have received a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. Over 13 million doses of vaccines have been delivered to states, territories, and federal agencies that are charged with distribution.[1]
- The rate of new COVID-19 cases in the US has fallen 1% over the past two weeks. However in the past week there has been a daily average of 212,965 new coronavirus cases per day.[2] The country may also experience a post-holiday surge or cases due to the delayed nature of COVID-19 symptoms presenting themselves and delays in testing and results due to the holidays.
- New coronavirus cases in Connecticut have risen in the past two weeks. The state is currently seeing an average of 2,482 new cases per day, compared to 2,289 cases per day two weeks ago.[3]
- The number of daily COVID-19 cases are falling slightly in Rhode Island. The state is seeing an average of 840 new cases per day this week compared to 999 cases per two weeks ago.[4]
International case numbers
- 85,229,481 COVID-19 cases worldwide; 1,845,408 deaths; 47,941,443 recovered.[5] 12,368,187 vaccines have been administered in 30 countries.[6]
- The United States continues to have the highest number of COVID-19 cases at 20,640,214 cases. India has the second highest number of cases with 10,340,469 cases, Brazil third with 7,733,746, and Russia fourth with 3,226,758.[7]
- Comparatively fewer cases in India and Brazil are likely related to testing. In India, a faster but less reliable method of testing for COVID-19 has gained popularity and fewer tests are being conducted overall in comparison to other countries.[8] Similarly, case numbers are expected to actually be much higher than reported in Brazil but testing lags far behind the rate of testing in other countries.[9]
- The new variant of COVID-19 first discovered in the United Kingdom is now prevalent throughout London and southeast England. It has also been detected in other countries including the United States. Other COVID-19 variants have been identified in South Africa and Nigeria. None of the variants appear to cause more severe illness though do spread more easily.[10]
Distribution of new coronavirus cases and deaths worldwide each week (from The World Health Organization COVID-19 Weekly Situation Update, as of 12/29/2020).[11]
US National case numbers
- 20,640,214 cases of coronavirus confirmed by lab tests, 351,590 deaths, and more than 5,700,000 recovered cases. 252,904,789 total tests have been conducted.[12]
- 5,306,797 people have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.[13]
- The highest-risk states in the country are currently Arizona, California, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Arizona, which is seeing 8,864 new cases per day, has seen a 37% increase in COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks.[14]
- December saw the highest number of COVID-19-related deaths in the United States, surpassing those in April. 57,638 people in America died, an average of 2,506 deaths per day compared to an average of 1,842 deaths per day in April at the beginning of the pandemic.[15]
- The US COVID-19 testing system is now processing about 2 million tests daily, enough to test those who have symptoms of COVID-19, a smaller number of those who believe they may have come into contact with someone who is carrying coronavirus, and essential workers.[16] It is still not enough to detect a significant number of asymptomatic carriers who are still thought to be the greatest contributors to the spread of COVID-19. The inability to effectively test a large portion of asymptomatic people is complicating the country’s ability to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Risk in population
COVID-19 deaths reported to National Center for Health Statistics as of December 30, 2020[17]
| Age group | Total number of deaths | Percentage of reported deaths |
| 0-24 | 585 | 0.19% |
| 25-44 | 7,485 | 2.48% |
| 45-54 | 14,496 | 4.81% |
| 55-64 | 35,981 | 11.93% |
| 65-74 | 64,355 | 21.33% |
| 75+ | 178,777 | 59.26% |
Provisional Death Counts for COVID-19 by Demographic Characteristics as of December 30, 2020[18]
| Population Total | |
| Female | 45.79% |
| Male | 54.21% |
| White | 41.20% |
| Black | 14.90% |
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 0.40% |
| Asian | 9.50% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0.10% |
| Hispanic | 31.90% |
| Other | 2.00% |
Known cases in Connecticut (call 211 or text “CTCOVID” to 898211 for information)
- As of January 4, 2021 there were 196,968 confirmed and probable cases (+34,186 from December 17), 1,149 hospitalizations (-18 from December 17), and 6,192 deaths (+611 from November 22). 4,487,992 patients have been tested in the state with a 7.66% daily positivity rate.[19]
- All eight counties have seen at least a 16.5% increase in case counts in the past two weeks.
- Confirmed and probable cases[20]
- Fairfield County: 58,959 cases, 1,755 deaths
- Hartford County: 49,560 cases, 1,900 deaths
- Litchfield County: 7,885 cases, 232 deaths
- Middlesex County: 7,047 cases, 258 deaths
- New Haven County: 50,290 cases, 1,584 deaths
- New London County: 11,616 cases, 264 deaths
- Tolland County: 5,225 cases, 113 deaths
- Windham County: 5,676 cases, 86 deaths
Cumulative Cases and Deaths in CT with Percent Increase from Previous Reporting Period by County
| County | Jan. 4 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 8 | Nov. 23 | Nov. 6 |
| Fairfield Cases (% increase) Deaths (% increase) | 58,959 (16.5) 1,755 (7.8) | 50,614 (12.5) 1,628 (3.2) | 44,980 (27.5) 1,577 (6.8) | 35,272 (27.6) 1,477 (1.9) | 27,65 (19.8) 1,450 (1.2) |
| Hartford Cases (% increase) Deaths (% increase) | 49,560 (22.0) 1,900 (9.6) | 40,611 (17.7) 1,733 (4.1) | 34,516 (30.6) 1,664 (6.0) | 26,424 (29.5) 1,570 (3.4) | 20,409 (15.5) 1,518 (3.3) |
| Litchfield Cases (% increase) Deaths (% increase) | 7,885 (22.0) 232 (13.2) | 6,515 (17.7) 205 (12.6) | 5,569 (44.5) 182 (13.8) | 3,853 (42.5) 160 (8.1) | 2,704 (22.4) 148 (3.5) |
| Middlesex Cases (% increase) Deaths (% increase) | 7,047 (31.3) 258 (13.2) | 5,367 (18.4) 228 (6.0) | 4,534 (35.0) 215 (7.5) | 3,358 (43.8) 200 (1.0) | 2,335 (19.3) 198 (0.5) |
| New Haven Cases (% increase) Deaths (% increase) | 50,290 (20.5) 1,584 (11.2) | 41,723 (16.8) 1,425 (6.7) | 35,720 (34.6) 1,336 (11.1) | 26,531 (32.3) 1,202 (5.1) | 20,053 (20.0) 1,144 (1.6) |
| New London Cases (% increase) Deaths (% increase) | 11,616 (29.9) 264 (25.1) | 8,940 (21.9) 211 (11.6) | 7,335 (31.2) 189 (16.0) | 5,592 (29.3) 163 (8.7) | 4,326 (17.1) 150 (7.1) |
| Tolland Cases (% increase) Deaths (% increase) | 5,225 (24.5) 113 (13.0) | 4,197 (17.0) 100 (16.3) | 3,588 (27.1) 86 (19.4) | 2,824 (41.8) 72 (5.9) | 1,991 (14.6) 68 (0.0) |
| Windham Cases (% increase) Deaths (% increase) | 5,676 (36.7) 86 (68.6) | 4,153 (26.2) 51 (41.7) | 3,290 (42.2) 36 (33.3) | 2,313 (37.3) 27 (28.6) | 1,685 (19.7) 21 (16.7) |
Connecticut Cumulative Statistics by Month for Age and Race/Ethnicity
| COVID Cases (Deaths) by Age | Jan. 4 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 8 |
| 0 – 9 cases (deaths) | 9,264 (1) | 7,292 (1) | 6,110 (1) |
| 10 – 19 cases (deaths) | 19,142 (1) | 15,582 (2) | 13,523 (1) |
| 20 – 29 cases (deaths) | 33,520 (7) | 27,872 (5) | 24,576 (6) |
| 30 – 39 cases (deaths) | 30,471 (29) | 25,172 (26) | 22,082 (26) |
| 40 – 49 cases (deaths) | 27,560 (87) | 22,857 (79) | 20,011 (77) |
| 50 – 59 cases (deaths) | 30,580 (280) | 24,986 (239) | 21,833 (229) |
| 60 – 69 cases (deaths) | 21,494 (781) | 17,664 (703) | 15,479 (658) |
| 70 – 79 cases (deaths) | 12,058 (1,364) | 10,089 (1,218) | 8,896 (1,157) |
| 80+ cases (deaths) | 12,824 (3,642) | 11,231 (3,308) | 10,411 (3,172) |
| COVID Cases (Deaths) by Race/Ethnicity | |||
| Hispanic cases (deaths) | 32,285 (600) | 27,869 (526) | 24,868 (494) |
| American Indian or Alaskan Native cases (deaths) | 313 (3) | 269 (3) | 227 (2) |
| Asian or Pacific Islander cases (deaths) | 2,085 (71) | 1,780 (64) | 1,577 (57) |
| Black cases (deaths) | 14,472 (802) | 12,984 (756) | 11,787 (739) |
| Multiracial cases (deaths) | 7,736 (94) | 4,317 (56) | 3,082 (47) |
| Other cases (deaths) | 9,047 (34) | 6,234 (25) | 5,167 (24) |
| White cases (deaths) | 59,527 (4,493) | 49,960 (4,084) | 43,767 (3,906) |
| Unknown cases (deaths) | 71,503 (95) | 59,369 (67) | 52,5004 (58) |
- The Yale New Haven Health System currently has 333 hospitalized patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis, cases have steadily decreased across the health system. For context, at the height of the April peak in cases 750 patients were hospitalized.
- Yale New Haven Health Hospital currently has 156 patients, 54 of whom are in the ICU and 27 of whom are on ventilators. Greenwich Hospital currently has 36 patients, Westerly Hospital has 11, Bridgeport Hospital has 86, and Lawrence and Memorial Hospital has 44.
Connecticut developments
- Connecticut is currently in phase A1 of vaccine distribution, under which all persons serving in healthcare settings with the potential for exposure to COVID-19, long-term care facility residents, and first responders can receive vaccination.[21] This plan, however, does not prioritize within these categories, which may cause equity issues in which front-line personnel do not receive a vaccine ahead of people with less risk of exposure. Approximately one third of 1A individuals, 75,946, have been vaccinated as of January 4th, making Connecticut one of the few states who have vaccinated more than 2% of its residents.[22]
- Connecticut has followed federal recommendations for phase 1A but for phase 1B will modify the recommendations by adding more groups. Phase 1B will include frontline essential workers, those over age 75, and Connecticut will add residents of congregate settings (those who live in homeless shelters and the state’s prison).[23]
- A new travel advisory effective December 19 will require all travelers (except from NJ, NY, RI) to quarantine for 10 days or test negative.[24]
- Connecticut is using a contact tracing phone application. Phones that are running the app link data on which phones have come into close proximity to data on COVID-19 diagnoses to send an alert to those phones that their users have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Currently, only about 20% of cellphones in Connecticut are using the app but wider use could lead to more automated contact tracing efforts.[25]
Known cases in Rhode Island (call 401-222-8022 for information)
- As of December 30, 2020[26]
- 87,949 confirmed cumulative cases (+10,137 from 12/30/20; a 13.03% increase in the two-week period)
- 1,974,498 total tests conducted (+157,138 from 12/30/20)
- 17,020 people have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 426 patients currently hospitalized (-33 from 12/30/20)
- 61 patients currently in ICU (+5 from 12/30/20)
- 1,777 deaths in the state (+152 from 12/30/20)
Rhode Island developments
- Rhode Island has begun to vaccinate state residents and more than 17,000 people have already received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Under Phase 1 of the state’s vaccine distribution plan, high-risk workers in hospitals were the first to be vaccinated. Nursing home residents, home health workers, and first responders are now beginning to be vaccinated as well.[27]
- Twenty healthcare workers affiliated with the Lifespan hospital network in Rhode Island were the first group of people to receive the second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the state.[28]
- Saje Kitchen, a restaurant in Providence, was shut down indefinitely for breaking the state-mandated curfew on New Year’s Eve.[29] Rhode Island is currently in Phase III of its reopening plan which still limits the number of indoor diners in restaurants to 50% capacity and requires early closure times. Retail stores, houses of worship, gyms, and indoor recreation areas also face limitations aimed at curtailing the spread of COVID-19.[30]
CovidTracker 