State officials are optimistic that the supply of vaccines will soon reach a level to meet demand, Governor Ned Lamont said Thursday at a news conference.
Connecticut COVID-19 Vaccine Update
To date, the state has administered 1,258,847 total doses, with 445,231 people completely vaccinated. The state reports that 76% of those aged 75 and over have had at least one dose, 67% of those aged 65-74 and 32% of those aged 55-64.
Overall, 29% of adults over the age of 16 have been vaccinated.
The state encourages people who have booked vaccine appointments further to check if they have a better appointment and get more doses to the state.
“I think in six weeks you will find everyone who wants a vaccine will have that option,” Lamont said.
The governor also said they are still lagging behind in their targets for higher-risk populations.
“We still have some work to do to reach our poorest populations,” Lamont said Thursday.
The state’s goal is to administer 25% of vaccines to residents of 50 socially vulnerable zip codes or SVI, while right now they are touching about 20%.
Officials said they are working with local leaders in different towns and cities on outreach strategies, including mobile clinics set up in senior centers and churches, door-to-door campaigns to get people to sign up for vaccines and calls. outgoing phone calls to offer people the opportunity to ask questions to make sure they are ready to get vaccinated.
Latest Connecticut coronavirus numbers
The positivity rate of the Connecticut COVID-19 test reached 2.36% on Thursday.
On Thursday, 31,185 new tests were reported, with 735 returning positive. There are currently 383 people hospitalized with the virus, a net decrease of seven. Nine deaths were reported.
The governor noted that the state has seen a decrease in the number of tests administered, from an average of about 300,000 a week to about 200,000. He also noted that while the positivity rate ranges from 2-3%, positive cases tend to be younger people with less risk of hospitalization and death.
The briefing comes as Connecticut and the rest of the nation mark a year since the pandemic closures began.
Looking at strategies to support education
The state is expected to receive approximately $ 1.1 billion in educational funding from the American Rescue Plan, money that the state intends to spend on three key areas: improved summer learning and enrichment, college credit learning, and internships. summer. They will also focus on re-engaging students in social activities they have lost on leaving the classroom.
However, while officials say it is critical to return students to the classroom, they say the level of comfort will be a big challenge.
“The most basic thing is to feel safe going back to a school environment. We hope that as educators are vaccinated and there are also more families in this space, there will also be a sense of reincorporation as we approach the social isolation, “said State Department of Education interim commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker.
Funding for mental health initiatives
The state will also receive funding for mental health, which will focus on increasing school behavioral health programs, support for substance abuse programs, funding for juvenile suicide prevention, and resolution of other needs arising from the pandemic.
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Commissioner Miriam Delphin-Rittmon said the additional funding will allow them to expand existing programs and offer more support services, but it is key for the public to know that resources are available. For more information on existing services, click here.