New Haven County has become the first county in Connecticut to be added to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s list of areas with high COVID-19 community transmission.
That means there are at least 100 COVID-19 cases for every 100,000 residents.
Connecticut’s other seven counties remain classified as areas of “substantial” community transmission, with at least 50 cases per 100,000 residents.
As a result of those transmission rates, the CDC recommends all state residents wear masks indoors.
Meanwhile, the state Department of Public Health announced seven communities — East Hampton, Easton, Hampton, Hartford, Hartland, North Stonington, and Thomaston — have reached the state's “red zone alert level” for COVID-19 infections. It’s the highest of the state’s four alert levels, indicating case rates over the past two weeks are greater than 15 per 100,000 population.
Last week, four communities — Bozrah, Hartland, Salem, and Sprague — had reached the red zone alert level.