Long Lots COVID-19 Testing Site Quiet This Week; State’s Overall Testing Up; Weekly Testing Down 50% Compared to Thanksgiving
The Hartford Healthcare COVID-19 testing site at 47 Long Lots Road was empty this morning (pictured), and according to employees, that’s been the case for several weeks. “In the early morning, maybe 20 cars will be in line. But after, just one or two at a time show up” one of the frontliners described. “I think people are just tired of it, of COVID and being tested.”
Just three months ago, the line at the drive-thru site breached the entrance to the campus, causing traffic delays on Long Lots Road and prompting Westport Police to station officers on site for traffic control. Hundreds waited from their cars to get tested, some days those waiting could expect to sit for over three hours.
More testing options have become available in Westport, including walk-in clinics as well as at-home tests. With the increase in easier ways to become tested, this quarter - which includes the Christmas and New Year holidays - is on-track to have the highest amount of tests administered compared to the Spring and Fall, however data shows testing overall has declined in the past few weeks across the State.
Connecticut COVID-19 Testing Data (data.ct.gov)
Spring: March 1 - May 31:
276,878 tests
(avg 3,009 tests/day)
Summer: June 1 - August 31:
1,020,640 tests
(avg 11,090 tests/day)
Fall: September 1 - November 30
2,442,157 tests
(avg 26,836 tests/day)
Winter-to-date: December 1 - January 21
1,657,625 tests
(avg 31,877 tests/day)
Thanksgiving Week: November 23 - November 29th
221,878 tests
(avg 31,696 tests/day)
Christmas Week: December 22 - December 28:
209,025 tests
(avg 29,860 tests/day)
Most Recent: January 15, 2021 - January 21, 2021:
112,137 tests
(avg 16,019 tests/day)