#VaxTheValley
New Haven County was designated by the CDC on Thursday as a ‘high transmission’ area of COVID-19.
“The high transmission category — which is the most severe as defined by the CDC — is 100 or more cases per 100,000 people or a positivity rate of 10 percent or higher over the past seven days,” the Connecticut Department of Health said in a prepared statement Thursday.
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to prevent serious illness or hospitalization. Connecticut’s high vaccination rate is the reason people aren’t dying or in the hospital at the rate that was happening in the winter of 2020. Click here to look for a vaccine clinic near you.
Additional links and info about vaccinations are also posted later in this article.
Health officials on the federal, state, and local level are recommending people wear masks while indoors at public places, including people who are fully vaccinated. There is no vaccine available for people under the age of 12.
The recommendations come because of the rise in COVID-19 cases across the U.S. because of the Delta variant, which is highly transmissible.
A recent outbreak in Cape Cod showed that people vaccinated can still spread COVID-19, a cause of concern among parents with children under 12 who have health issues. Scientists said the outbreak also showed how COVID-19 vaccines prevent serious illness.
Also on Thursday, Gov. Lamont issued an executive order giving towns and cities the option to require masks at indoor public spaces. As it stands, only unvaccinated people are required to wear masks indoors. Masks are already required in places such as medical facilities — and private business owners have the option to require masks.
The latest COVID-19 data from the state shows positive cases are on the rise locally.
The data released Thursday covers July 18 through July 31.
Click here for a thorough report from the state, don’t just read this article and what it highlights.
In that time period, Derby went from eight positive tests in week one to 13 positive cases in week two.
Ansonia went from five positive cases in week one to 22 cases in week two.
The state Department of Health uses a per capita rate to designate a town a COVID-19 ‘hot spot.’ Any town that has a per capita rate of 15 or more is considered a COVID-19 ‘hot spot,’ and is colored red in the state’s weekly COVID-19 map. The map doesn’t include nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
As of Thursday, Derby’s per capita rate was 12.2 and Ansonia’s was 10.3.
Noting the rise of cases across the state, Ansonia government is requiring people to wear masks in city-owned buildings. Click here for a Valley Indy story.
Here is more local COVID-19 data from the state, including the number of positive cases and the per capita rate. Again, the info covers July 18 through July 31 and was released Thursday (Aug. 5).
No town has a per capita rate making it a “hot spot.”
Oxford
Week 1 cases: 7
Week 2 cases: 9
Rate: 8.6
Naugatuck
Week 1 cases: 11
Week 2 cases: 25
Rate: 8.3
Shelton
Week 1 cases: 25
Week 2 cases: 22
Rate: 8.2
Beacon Falls
Week 1 cases: 3
Week 2 cases: 4
Rate: 8
Seymour
Week 1: 5
Week 2: 11
Rate: 7
The statewide positivity rate on Thursday was 2.72, compared to May, when it had dipped under 1 percent.
Vaccination Data
Percentage of Population Locally With At Least With One Vaccination Dose
Derby: 70.1
Shelton: 65.7
Oxford: 64
Seymour: 61.8
Beacon Falls: 61.4
Naugatuck: 58
Ansonia: 53.5
Let’s Do This, Already
VACCINATIONS ARE READILY AVAILABLE IN THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY, INCLUDING YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY.
Click here for the state’s ‘vaccine finder.’
The Naugatuck Health District on Bank Street in Seymour hosts vaccine clinics every Friday, according to the NVHD website:
“MODERNA VACCINES AVAILABLE (18+) EVERY FRIDAY 10 – 12pm! NEW CLINIC LOCATION 100 BANK STREET (REAR ENTRANCE OF NVHD BUILDING). WALK-INS WELCOME OR SCHEDULE IN VAMS,” according to the website.
From state Rep. Kara Rochelle’s Facebook page: “You can also call CT’s Vaccine Appointment Assist Line from 8am-8pm, seven days a week, to get assistance with finding a convenient vaccine location: 877 – 918-2224.”
If you’re outside the lower Naugatuck Valley, Griffin Health has mobile clinics happening. That’s where you can get a shot and some freebies, such as tickets to Quassy, Beardsley Zoo, gift cards to Dunkin Donuts and more. To learn about the date, location, and freebies, click this link.
Griffin Health is running clinics at 10 Progress Drive in Shelton and 727 Rubber Ave. in Naugatuck.
“The Shelton location is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. The Naugatuck location is open from 12 to 6 p.m. on weekdays, from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays,” according to the Griffin Health vaccination website.
