NORTH BRANFORD, CT – A coronavirus outbreak involving the highly contagious strain from the United Kingdom was linked to a large family gathering in North Branford, officials said Monday.
The outbreak prompted the quarantine of the North Branford High School hockey team.
“While positive cases of COVID-19 have declined since the post-holiday boom, we need to remind our residents to remain vigilant, especially in light of the COVID-19 variant now present in Connecticut,” Michael Pascucilla, Director of Public Health for the East Shore District Health Department, said in a statement.
He added that it should serve as a reminder for people to rethink plans for meetings for the Super Bowl this weekend and St. Patrick’s Day next month.
“We are in a position where we are starting to see some hope as the number of vaccinations increases,” said Pascucilla. “While we thank our community for helping us follow the COVID-19 precautions, we will only be successful if all people remain diligent in following the recommendations to slow the spread of the virus. These measures will help our community help protect against a widespread outbreak. ”
He stressed the importance of social distance, wearing a mask, and limiting interaction with people outside your home.
The news came as the number of coronavirus infections in the state fell and the Ned Lamont government relaxed some restrictions.
On Monday, the state reported 3,941 new coronavirus cases, 73 deaths, and a positive test rate of 3.86 percent over the past three days. The average of the seven-day positive test dropped below 4 percent for the first time in months, Lamont said.
Lamont said on Monday that he will abolish the 100-person limit for religious ceremonies and extend the restaurant’s curfew from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.