Latest COVID-19 Map Paints The Lower Valley Red

Derby, Naugatuck, Shelton and Seymour were added to the state’s list of COVID-19 ​“red alert” zones Thursday. The communities join Ansonia, which was added to the list last week and remains in the map’s red zone.

Please click this link and then scroll down to explore the map.

The designation means the average daily COVID-19 rates in those communities have been at least 15 cases per 100,000 people per day for two weeks. The data shows that Ansonia’s rate has been increasing.

The number of COVID-19 red towns has been growing each week. At a press conference Thursday, Gov. Ned Lamont said about 60 percent of the state’s population live within the red zones. Last week there were 30 red alert towns. There are now 68.

The nearby towns and cities of Bridgeport, Stratford, Monroe, Woodbridge, Hamden, Prospect, New Haven and West Haven are all on the list, too.

The red designation means a public health advisory will be issued. Residents are advised to take steps to limit COVID-19 transmission by limiting trips outside the house and avoiding gatherings with non-family members.

Local governments are advised to use the reverse 911 system to alert residents of the designation and to cancel public events. In addition, local governments are advised to limit public gathering points.

School superintendents are expected to huddle with local health districts to see if learning should move online, according to guidelines from the state health department.

Lamont said schools aren’t thought to be spreading COVID-19 compared to smaller, private gatherings — a notion that was supported by Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House’s COVID coordinator, during a visit to Connecticut in October.

To that end, Lamont said private gatherings, indoor or outdoor, would be capped at 10 people. That includes upcoming Thanksgiving activities. When asked how the state could enforce that limit, Lamont pointed out the rule is in place to keep the public safe and that people would follow it.

Click here for the latest COVID-19 data from the state.

The mathematical formula the state uses to put together its color-coded map is explained in the document embedded at the bottom of this story.

Between Oct. 18 and Oct. 31, Ansonia had 71 positive COVID tests, for a rate of 27.1 per 100,000 people. The previously reported rate for Ansonia was 19.5. Currently, the Prendergast School building is closed and learning has gone online after COVID exposures there.

(Reminder: 15 gets a municipality in the ​“red” zone)

Naugatuck had 84 positive COVID-19 tests, for a rate of 19.2 per 100,000 people, according to the state.

Seymour had 41 cases between Oct. 18 and Oct. 31, for a rate of 17.7. The town’s recreation department has already prohibited the use of playing fields in town, according to a thread on the Office of First Selectman’s Facebook page. The Bungay School building in Seymour is closed, learning is happening online.

Derby had 30 cases between Oct. 18 and Oct. 31, for a rate of 17.1

Shelton had 89 cases for a rate of 15.5 per 100,000 population.

Beacon Falls, with 7 cases in two weeks, has a rate of 8.1, which is in the ​‘yellow’ zone. Oxford is ​“orange” with a rate of 10.3.

The state uses the per 100,000 rate for a realistic comparison of rates among differently-sized towns and cities.

Shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday, the Connecticut Department of Health issued a statewide public health advisory because of rising COVID-19 cases.

The advisory, which is a public health recommendation and is embedded below, is effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6.

It recommends ​“all Connecticut residents to stay home between the hours of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in order to reduce the risk of further viral transmission.”

In addition, the advisory applies to every Connecticut resident, except 1) those who are essential workers who must leave home in order to go to their jobs; and 2) anyone who must leave their home on an emergency basis to seek medical care or to purchase medical supplies, food or groceries.

The data shows that Connecticut, while in better shape COVID-wise than other parts of the country, is very much in a second COVID-19 wave:

The complete list of ​“red alert” communities:

· Ansonia

· Berlin*

· Bethel*

· Bethlehem*

· Bozrah*

· Bridgeport

· Bristol*

· Brookfield*

· Brooklyn*

· Chaplin*

· Clinton*

· Danbury

· Derby*

· East Granby*

· East Hampton*

· East Hartford

· East Haven*

· East Windsor*

· Ellington

· Franklin

· Griswold

· Groton

· Hamden*

· Hampton*

· Hartford

· Killingly

· Ledyard*

· Meriden*

· Middlebury

· Middlefield

· Middletown*

· Monroe*

· Montville

· Naugatuck*

· New Britain

· New Haven*

· New London

· Newington*

· North Branford*

· North Canaan

· North Haven*

· North Stonington*

· Norwalk

· Norwich

· Plainfield

· Plainville*

· Plymouth*

· Prospect*

· Putnam*

· Seymour*

· Shelton*

· Southington*

· Sprague

· Stamford

· Stratford*

· Thomaston*

· Tolland*

· Wallingford*

· Waterbury

· Waterford

· Watertown

· West Haven*

· Wethersfield*

· Windham

· Windsor*

· Wolcott

· Woodbridge*

· Woodbury*

*Newly added to the red-level alert list this week

The towns of Canterbury, Cromwell, Lisbon, and Old Saybrook were in the red zone last week and have been downgraded to the orange zone this week, according to the state.

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