(HARTFORD, CT) – As the State of Connecticut continues taking actions in response to the global spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Governor Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2022:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of newly reported data on COVID-19 in Connecticut from the past 7 days.

To read the full data report, visit data.ct.gov/coronavirus and click the button labeled, “Data Report.” That website also contains several other data reports, including on the topics of vaccinations, schools, nursing homes, child care, congregate settings, and economic impact.

Data updates on vaccine administration in Connecticut

The following data was reported to the CT WiZ immunization information system as of September 6, 2022.

Total number of people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19:

Percent of people with at least one dose by age group:

• >95% of those 65+
• >95% of those between 55-64
• 92% of those between 45-54
• 91% of those between 35-44
• 88% of those between 25-34
• 85% of those between 15-24
• 73% of those between 10-14
• 50% of those between 5-9
• 10% of those between 0-4

To locate a vaccination clinic in Connecticut, visit ct.gov/covidvaccine.

Data updates on breakthrough cases in Connecticut

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is reporting that as of September 7, 2022, a total of 274,154 cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated persons in Connecticut have been identified. Those cases account for 9.95% of the more than 2.7 million people in the state who are fully vaccinated.

For more data on breakthrough cases in Connecticut, see pages 5 and 6 of this week’s extended COVID-19 data report.

Data updates on variants in Connecticut

The following data contains the cumulative number of SARS-CoV-2 variants that have been identified among Connecticut residents as of today:

Variants of concern

• Omicron: 21,178 cases

Variants being monitored

• Alpha: 2,525 cases
• Beta: 23 cases
• Gamma: 137 cases
• Delta: 16,289 cases
• Epsilon: 60 cases
• Zeta: 1 case
• Eta: 10 cases
• Iota: 718 cases
• Kappa: 2 cases
• Mu: 84 cases

For more information on variants, see pages 7 and 8 of this week’s extended COVID-19 data report.

Pandemic EBT food benefits distributed to more than 71,650 schoolchildren

Special food assistance benefits under the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program were distributed last week to more than 71,650 schoolchildren who are clients of the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) and who qualified for P-EBT benefits during the 2021-2022 school year. Approximately $3.4 million in benefits were provided statewide, with an average benefit of $45.90 per child.

This is the first distribution of the larger $118.1 million in food benefits going to more than 287,000 schoolchildren in Connecticut covering the 2021-2022 school year and subsequent summer period through the federal P-EBT program.

Specifically:

• On August 29, 2022, DSS began depositing P-EBT benefits onto the existing electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to households of more than 71,650 schoolchildren currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Temporary Family Assistance (TFA); or HUSKY Health/Medicaid Programs. EBT cards were issued to households that have not previously received an EBT card from DSS. The EBT card will arrive with instructions on how to activate them and access the food benefits.
• This current distribution does not include children who attended a school participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, in which all children receive free meals. Those benefits are expected to be distributed to non-DSS clients beginning on a date in mid-September to be announced.
• Families will see a single benefit deposit covering the entire 2021-2022 school year. A separate benefit deposit covering the summer period is expected later this year.
• Benefits will differ from student to student and depend on the learning model due to COVID-19 the child was in each month of the 2021-2022 school year.
• The average benefit amount in this distribution is $45.90 per child.

The Pandemic EBT benefits are administered in Connecticut by DSS, in cooperation with the State Department of Education. Federal support is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.

For more information, visit portal.ct.gov/p-ebt.

Providing information to Connecticut residents

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus. Residents can also subscribe to text message alerts from the state by texting the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.

Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Anyone who is out-of-state or requires a toll-free number can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 by dialing 1-800-203-1234. This is intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms are strongly urged to contact their medical provider.