MONROE, CT — Connecticut’s COVID-19 cases rose to a record 20-plus percent positivity rate and Monroe’s two week rolling average stands at 34 new cases per day, according to First Selectman Ken Kellogg.
“The State is reporting that over 90 percent of cases in Connecticut is the omicron variant,” he said in a pandemic update Thursday. “While the overall disease continues to be less severe for those fully vaccinated and boosted, there are some who have experienced a more serious breakthrough illness.”
“Those unvaccinated continue to be at highest risk, and currently represent 68 percent of hospitalizations,” Kellogg continued. “This very high number of overall cases has contributed to total hospitalizations in the State that are the highest since the spring of 2020.”
Rapid self-test kits
The town will distribute approximately 1,000 additional COVID-19 tests received from the State. These kits are intended for those households that did not receive a kit during our first distribution, are unable to find an alternative testing location, and have a known exposure or who are symptomatic, according to Kellogg.
“In order to reduce traffic backup onto local roads, pre-registration for a specific arrival time will be required for this next distribution,” he said.
Kits will be distributed this Sunday, Jan. 9, at Jockey Hollow Middle School. Registration will open today (Friday, Jan. 7) at 8 a.m. through a link on the town’s website. Registration is limited to one kit per household and vehicle. Each kit will contain two tests.
“You will be required to show your registration confirmation and identification showing Monroe residency,” Kellogg said. “Please arrive at your scheduled time, as we will have sufficient kits for those who have registered.”
In addition to these test kits, a limited number of tests have been received for use by Monroe Public Schools.
The first selectman reminds residents that both urgent care facilities in Monroe, DOCS Medical Group and Hartford HealthCare, are offering COVID-19 testing by appointment. Both facilities had several appointments available as of earlier Thursday.
Booster clinics
“We continue to offer booster clinics by appointment,” Kellogg said. “Signup is also through our website and is refreshed every Friday at noon for the following week.”
