Monthly Archives: April 2021

April 23 Daily COVID-19 Update: Both Towns Report One New Case Each Taking Cumulative Totals to 105 for Lyme, 332 for Old Lyme

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash

LYME/OLD LYME — The Daily Data Report for Connecticut issued Friday, April 23, by the Connecticut Department of Public Health(CT-DPH) for data as at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 22, shows that both Lyme and Old Lyme increased by one new case each since the previous day. Old Lyme’s cumulative total of cases since the pandemic began is now 332 while Lyme’s is 105.

These Daily Reports are not issued by CT DPH on Saturdays or Sundays and therefore Monday’s data includes new cases from both weekend days. The next new report will be issued in the afternoon of Monday, April 26.

Old Lyme – Cumulative Cases Up One

The April 23 Daily Data Report for Connecticut for data as at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 22, shows that Old Lyme has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 323 confirmed COVID-19 cases and NINE probable cases, making a TOTAL of 332 cases.

This represents INCREASE OF ONE in the cumulative number of confirmed cases and NO CHANGE in the number of probable cases compared with those reported the previous day.

The total number of Old Lyme residents tested is 5,114, an increase of five over Thursday’s number of 5,109.

Lyme – Cumulative Cases Up One

Lyme has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 97 confirmed cases and 8 probable cases, making a TOTAL of 105 cases.

This represents INCREASE OF ONE in the cumulative number of confirmed cases and NO CHANGE in the number of probable cases compared with those reported the previous day.

The total number of Lyme residents tested is 1,379, a increase of three over Thursday’s number of 1,376.

Two-Week Case-Rate Zones

The report issued Friday, April 23, by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) for the average daily rate of new cases of COVID-19 by town during the past two weeks shows a significant improvement for the state as whole state, but with individual results going in the wrong direction.

The number of towns in the state in the Red (highest) Zone for two-week new case rates has fallen from 132 last week to 112 this week. Both Lyme and Old Lyme remain in the Zones in which they were last week.

Old Lyme is now one of the 28 towns in the Orange (second highest) Zone remaining in that Zone for the third week in a row. Last week, there were 15 towns in this Zone so this is good news as more towns fall out of the Red (highest) Zone.

Lyme is in the Gray Zone for two-week case rates, recording a sixth straight week in the lowest zone. Twenty-one towns were in this zone last week but unfortunately, that number has fallen to 19 this week. (Four zones are specified by the CT DPH — see details below.)

Overall, the number of towns in each zone is shown below with the previous week’s number in parentheses:

  • 19 (21) towns are now in the (lowest case rate) Gray Zone
  • 10 (1) are in the (lowest but one) Yellow Zone
  • 27 (15) are in the (second highest case rate) Orange Zone.

All the remaining 113 towns are in the Red Zone — last week’s number was 142.

Lyme joins 18 other towns in the Gray (lowest rate) Zone: Bozrah, Bridgwater, Canaan,  Colebrook, Cornwall, Eastford, Franklin, Hampton, Hartland, Kent, Norfolk, Salisbury, Scotland, Sharon, Sprague, Union, Voluntown, and Warren. Twenty-one towns in the Gray Zone reflects a significant and encouraging increase in the number of towns in that category over last week’s number of 13.

The Yellow (second lowest rate) Zone now has 10 towns: East Lyme, Durham, Hebron, Ledyard, Lisbon, North Stonington, Simsbury, Somers, Stafford, and Stonington.

Old Lyme joins 26 other towns in the Orange (second highest rate) Zone : Ashford, Brooklyn, Burlington, Chester, Colchester, Enfield, Essex, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, Groton, Hebron, Lebanon, Middlefield, Montville, Newington, Old Saybrook, Pomfret, Portland, Salem, South Windsor, Suffield, Vernon, Waterford, Willington and Winchester.

  • The Gray category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town is less than five or less than five reported cases.
  • The Yellow category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town is between five and nine reported cases.
  • The Orange category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town is between 10 and 14.
  • The Red category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town exceeds 15.

In all cases, this rate does not include cases or tests among residents of nursing home, assisted living, or correctional facilities.

This report is issued daily, but only updated weekly on Thursdays. The most recent report was updated Thursday, April 15; the next updated report will be issued in the afternoon of Thursday, April 22.

More Detail on Two-Week Case Rates: Lyme Down, OL Constant

LLHD Director of Health Stephen Mansfield

On Thursday, April 22, Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) also issued their latest weekly report of COVID data for the municipalities within their District.

Ledge Light Director of Health Stephen Mansfield prefaces the report with the comment, “Although the number of new cases remains stable, our contact tracers continue to report clusters associated with daycares, schools, and workplaces, and transmissions linked to social gatherings and sporting events.”

He stresses, however, “Although we are making great strides with our COVID vaccination program, it is still imperative that we remain diligent in our mitigation strategies.”

The latest two-week case rates announced Thursday, April 22, (from 4/4 to 4/17) have decreased in Old Lyme and held constant in Lyme.

The two-week case rates are as follows:

  • Old Lyme from 12.6 to 10.7
  • Lyme from 6.1 to 6.1

The same report shows that the case numbers in Week 1 and Week 2 respectively and recorded for the period 4/4 to 4/17  (compared with the previous two-week case rate for 3/28 to 4/10 shown in parentheses) are as follows:

  • Lyme had 1 (1) cases in Week 1 and 1 (1) in Week 2
  • Old Lyme had 8 (5) cases in Week 1 and 3 (8) in Week 2

This data was updated April 22, 2021. The next Ledge Light Weekly Data Report for its District will be issued in the afternoon of Thursday, April 29.

Vaccination Rates

At the request of several readers, we have started a new section reflecting the status of community vaccination rates in Lyme and Old Lyme. The data is taken from the COVID-19 Vaccinations by Town report published by CT-DPH, which is published roughly weekly.

Lyme is ahead of Old Lyme in terms of the percentage of its total population that have received a first dose, with 75.09 percent vaccinated compared with 65.78 percent in Old Lyme.

The percentages for both towns for the age segments 65-74 and 75+ are very encouraging with Lyme now having 108.76 percent of seniors 75 and above having received their first dose and 97.61 percent of the same age segment having received it in Old Lyme.

The detailed data below is the most recent and was updated April 15. As at April 23, this data has not been updated since April 15.

Old Lyme
Total population:  7,306
Estimated population age 65-74:  1,067
Estimated population age 75 and above:  794

[table id=12 /]

Lyme
Total population:  2,316
Estimated population age 65-74:  372
Estimated population age 75 and above:  274

[table id=11 /]

Three Fatalities in Old Lyme Since Pandemic Began, None in Lyme

According to the report mentioned above, there have now been THREE fatalities in Old Lyme. Asked Tuesday, Feb. 9, for details of this third fatality, Ledge Light Health Department Director of Health Stephen Mansfield responded, “We have not been notified of any recent deaths in Old Lyme. Keep in mind that that report is compiled by the Connecticut Department of Public Health; deaths are not reportable to local health districts.”

He added, “I can’t speak for their data sources.”

The two fatalities from Old Lyme previously reported in 2020 were a 61-year-old female and an 82-year-old male.

No fatalities have been reported in Lyme.

Connecticut Hospital Occupancy

At the request of several readers, we have added a new report showing the respective rates of hospital occupancy at local hospitals. The data for this report is obtained from the Connecticut Hospital Occupancy Report published weekly by the CT DPH and extracted from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) facility-level data for hospital utilization aggregated on a weekly basis (Friday to Thursday).

The most recent report is dated Feb. 19 and covers the two-week period from 2/12 to 2/18. No subsequent updates have been issued.

[table id=10 /]

Editor’s Note: The state issues a COVID-19 metric report daily around 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, which includes current data up to the previous evening. In light of the ongoing rise in Coronavirus cases, we publish a new weekday update reporting confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in Lyme and Old Lyme. 

Halls Rd. Improvements Committee Hosts Ceremony to Celebrate Installation of New Benches, All Welcome

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The new benches on the west abutment of the old bridge road off Halls Rd. A ceremony celebrating their installation will be held today.

OLD LYME — The Halls Road Improvements Committee (HRIC) hosts a ceremony this afternoon, Saturday, April 24, at 1 p.m. to celebrate the installation of two, new park benches, which have been donated to the town for Halls Rd.

This map shows the area where the benches are located.

 The ceremony will be held on the west bridge abutment of the old bridge road off Halls Rd. The rain date is Saturday, May 1.

All are welcome — the HRIC is hoping for a large crowd!

RTP Estuary Center Hosts Summer Camp Open House at Former Bee & Thistle Inn, Today

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OLD LYME — On Saturday, April 24, join the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center (RTPEC) for a Summer Camp Open House at the Center’s new summer camp location at the former Bee and Thistle Inn.

Drop-in anytime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and tour the facility at 100 Lyme Street in Old Lyme. Masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed. This event is free with no registration required.

Meet summer camp staff who will be ready to answer all your questions. There will also be fun activities such as scavenger hunts, natural egg painting and a build-your-own bird feeder workshop.

Summer Camp at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center is where science, nature, and art combine with fun. While each session has a natural science focus, children will be busy discovering animals and plants, conducting hands-on experiments, making new friends, and enjoying outdoor activities.

Each week campers will participate in week-long projects on a topic relevant to the week’s theme. Campers ages 5 to 11 will participate in a hands-on curriculum tailored to meet each child’s interests and skills.

For more information, visit https://www.ctaudubon.org/rtp-summer-camp/.

Stroll Gil Boro’s Sculpture Grounds to Celebrate International Sculpture Day

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A view across Gil Boro’s Sculpture Grounds looking towards Studio 80.

OLD LYME — This Saturday, April 24, the world will join in celebration of sculpture during the 7th annual International Sculpture Day, or ISDay.

The International Sculpture Center (ISC) invites artists, educators, collectors, curators and art enthusiasts across the globe to join in celebrating sculpture virtually. Take a minute to share images of your work, a favorite work by another sculptor, exhibitions, and any other way you celebrate sculpture.

Be sure to share the #ISDay hashtag on social media to be featured on sculpture.org and the ISC Instagram pages.

Three works by Gilbert Boro can be seen in this photo.

Here in Old Lyme, you will find Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds, where nationally- and internationally-renowned sculptor Gilbert Boro lives and works. His beautiful property at 80-1 Lyme St. comprises 4.5 acres that roll gently down to the Lieutenant River.

There are more than 120 sculptures on display in the grounds, the majority created by Boro himself. It would be the perfect place to visit on ISDay.

Sculptor Gil Boro in his studio in Old Lyme.

The studio and indoor facilities are closed to the public until further notice due to Covid-19, but individuals are still welcome to stroll the grounds, enjoy nature and view the public artwork outdoors.

Admission is free from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily but visitors must practice social distancing and other infection reduction strategies as outlined by the CDC. 

Sculptor Gil Boro has always encouraged visitors to touch and engage with the artwork, however, at this time, he asks that you refrain from all physical contact with the sculptures.

For more information on Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds, visit this link.

April 22 COVID Update: Lyme, Old Lyme Stay in Same Two-Week Case Rate Zones as Last Week; Old Lyme’s Cumulative Total Unchanged at 331, Similarly Lyme’s at 104

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This map, updated April 22, shows the average daily rate of new cases of COVID-19 by town during the past two weeks. The Town of Old Lyme remains in the Orange (second highest) Zone, while Lyme stays in the (lowest) Gray Zone. (Only cases among persons living in community settings are included in this map; the map does not include cases among people who reside in nursing home, assisted living, or correctional facilities.)

LYME/OLD LYME — The report issued Thursday, April 22, by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) for the average daily rate of new cases of COVID-19 by town during the past two weeks shows a significant improvement for the state as whole state, but with individual results going in the wrong direction.

The number of towns in the state in the Red (highest) Zone for two-week new case rates has fallen from 132 last week to 113 this week. Both Lyme and Old Lyme remain in the Zones in which they were last week.

Old Lyme is now one of the 28 towns in the Orange (second highest) Zone remaining in that Zone for the third week in a row. Last week, there were 15 towns in this Zone so this is encouraging news as more towns fall out of the Red (highest) Zone.

Lyme is in the Gray Zone for two-week case rates, recording a sixth straight week in the lowest zone. Twenty-one towns were in this zone last week but unfortunately, that number has fallen to 19 this week. (Four zones are specified by the CT DPH — see details below.)

Overall, the number of towns in each zone is shown below with the previous week’s number in parentheses:

  • 19 (21) towns are now in the (lowest case rate) Gray Zone
  • 10 (1) are in the (lowest but one) Yellow Zone
  • 27 (15) are in the (second highest case rate) Orange Zone.

All the remaining 113 towns are in the Red Zone — last week’s number was 142.

Lyme joins 18 other towns in the Gray (lowest rate) Zone: Bozrah, Bridgwater, Canaan,  Colebrook, Cornwall, Eastford, Franklin, Hampton, Hartland, Kent, Norfolk, Salisbury, Scotland, Sharon, Sprague, Union, Voluntown, and Warren.

The Yellow (second lowest rate) Zone now has 10 towns: East Lyme, Durham, Hebron, Ledyard, Lisbon, North Stonington, Simsbury, Somers, Stafford, and Stonington.

Old Lyme joins 26 other towns in the Orange (second highest rate) Zone : Ashford, Brooklyn, Burlington, Chester, Colchester, Enfield, Essex, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, Groton, Hebron, Lebanon, Middlefield, Montville, Newington, Old Saybrook, Pomfret, Portland, Salem, South Windsor, Suffield, Vernon, Waterford, Willington and Winchester.

  • The Gray category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town is less than five or less than five reported cases.
  • The Yellow category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town is between five and nine reported cases.
  • The Orange category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town is between 10 and 14.
  • The Red category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town exceeds 15.

In all cases, this rate does not include cases or tests among residents of nursing home, assisted living, or correctional facilities.

This report is issued daily, but only updated weekly on Thursdays. The most recent report was updated Thursday, April 22; the next updated report will be issued in the afternoon of Thursday, April 29.

More Detail on Two-Week Case Rates: Lyme Down, OL Constant

LLHD Director of Health Stephen Mansfield

On Thursday, April 22, Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) also issued their latest weekly report of COVID data for the municipalities within their District.

Ledge Light Director of Health Stephen Mansfield prefaces the report with the comment, “Although the number of new cases remains stable, our contact tracers continue to report clusters associated with daycares, schools, and workplaces, and transmissions linked to social gatherings and sporting events.”

He stresses, however, “Although we are making great strides with our COVID vaccination program, it is still imperative that we remain diligent in our mitigation strategies.”

The latest two-week case rates announced Thursday, April 15, (from 4/4 to 4/17) have decreased in Old Lyme and held constant in Lyme.

The two-week case rates are as follows:

  • Old Lyme from 12.6 to 10.7
  • Lyme from 6.1 to 6.1

The same report shows that the case numbers in Week 1 and Week 2 respectively and recorded for the period 4/4 to 4/17  (compared with the previous two-week case rate for 3/28 to 4/10 shown in parentheses) are as follows:

  • Lyme had 1 (1) cases in Week 1 and 1 (1) in Week 2
  • Old Lyme had 8 (5) cases in Week 1 and 3 (8) in Week 2

This data was updated April 22. The next Ledge Light Weekly Data Report for its District will be issued in the afternoon of Thursday, April 29.

Old Lyme – No Change in Cumulative Cases

The Daily Data Report for Connecticut issued Thursday, April 22, by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT-DPH) for data as at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, shows that Old Lyme has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 322 confirmed COVID-19 cases and NINE probable cases, making a TOTAL of 331 cases.

This represents NO CHANGE in the cumulative number of confirmed or probable cases compared with those reported the previous day.

The total number of Old Lyme residents tested is 5,109, an increase of twoover Wednesday’s number of 5,107.

Lyme – No Change in Cumulative Cases

Lyme has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 96 confirmed cases and 8 probable cases, making a TOTAL of 104 cases.

This represents NO CHANGE in the cumulative number of confirmed or probable cases compared with those reported Wednesday, April 21.

The total number of Lyme residents tested is 1,376, a decrease of one over Wednesday’s number of 1,377.

Vaccination Rates

At the request of several readers, we have started a new section reflecting the status of community vaccination rates in Lyme and Old Lyme. The data is taken from the COVID-19 Vaccinations by Town report published by CT-DPH, which is published roughly weekly.

Lyme is ahead of Old Lyme in terms of the percentage of its total population that have received a first dose, with 75.09 percent vaccinated compared with 65.78 percent in Old Lyme.

The percentages for both towns for the age segments 65-74 and 75+ are very encouraging with Lyme now having 108.76 percent of seniors 75 and above having received their first dose and 97.61 percent of the same age segment having received it in Old Lyme.

The detailed data below is the most recent and was updated April 15. As at April 23, this data has not been vaccinated since April 15.

Old Lyme
Total population:  7,306
Estimated population age 65-74:  1,067
Estimated population age 75 and above:  794

[table id=12 /]

Lyme
Total population:  2,316
Estimated population age 65-74:  372
Estimated population age 75 and above:  274

[table id=11 /]

Three Fatalities in Old Lyme Since Pandemic Began, None in Lyme

According to the report mentioned above, there have now been THREE fatalities in Old Lyme. Asked Tuesday, Feb. 9, for details of this third fatality, Ledge Light Health Department Director of Health Stephen Mansfield responded, “We have not been notified of any recent deaths in Old Lyme. Keep in mind that that report is compiled by the Connecticut Department of Public Health; deaths are not reportable to local health districts.”

He added, “I can’t speak for their data sources.”

The two fatalities from Old Lyme previously reported in 2020 were a 61-year-old female and an 82-year-old male.

No fatalities have been reported in Lyme.

Connecticut Hospital Occupancy

At the request of several readers, we have added a new report showing the respective rates of hospital occupancy at local hospitals. The data for this report is obtained from the Connecticut Hospital Occupancy Report published weekly by the CT DPH and extracted from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) facility-level data for hospital utilization aggregated on a weekly basis (Friday to Thursday).

The most recent report is dated Feb. 19 and covers the two-week period from 2/12 to 2/18. No subsequent updates have been issued.

[table id=10 /]

Editor’s Note: The state issues a COVID-19 metric report daily around 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, which includes current data up to the previous evening. In light of the ongoing rise in Coronavirus cases, we publish a new weekday update reporting confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in Lyme and Old Lyme.