Daily coronavirus updates: As Connecticut’s COVID-19 numbers increase, Lamont says it’s not time to close schools, businesses; deaths now exceed 4,600 - Hartford Courant

Ned Lamont said Wednesday it’s not time to shut down schools and businesses as the state did in the spring.

Since then, the state’s COVID-19 metrics have continued to trend poorly.

Connecticut also reported nine new coronavirus-linked deaths Wednesday, bringing the state’s total to 96 in October — more than the total for August and September combined — and 4,604 overall during the pandemic.

In early October, just as Connecticut’s COVID-19 metrics were beginning to increase, the state entered a new phase of reopening, in which indoor dining capacity at restaurants was expanded to 75%, while restrictions were loosened for libraries, hair salons, places of worship, performance arts venues and more.

The United States has seen 227,320 COVID-19 deaths during the pandemic, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University