Gov. Ned Lamont said Tuesday that the daily positivity rate for COVID-19 has “scooted up to 4.1%” in the latest batch of 13,039 tests, the highest one-day number since early June. The new seven-day rolling average is 2.5%.

“That’s not unexpected, but it still wakes you up like a cold shower,” Lamont said.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 increased by 22 to 292, following a bump of 37 on Monday, though the previous day’s report covered the weekend and Monday. There were six deaths, bringing the toll to 4,595.

The governor’s office reported Tuesday evening that New London County has seen 3,600 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, up by 33 from data reported Monday. Probable cases increased by two to 95. The county has seen 106 confirmed deaths associated with COVID-19, up by two since Monday, while the number of deaths suspected of being connected to the disease remained the same at 34.

On Tuesday, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital said it was treating 12 COVID-19 patients, while Westerly Hospital had six.

Lamont mentioned the new positivity rate at a midday news conference in West Hartford to publicize how voters still can get an absentee ballot and the safety measures that will be in place for those who vote in person when the polls open at 6 a.m. next Tuesday.

He joined Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, state lawmakers and local officials outside West Hartford Town Hall, addressing reporters from a spot next to two ballot drop boxes. A steady stream of voters cast ballots while Lamont spoke.

“Thank you for voting,” Lamont said, turning to one voter.

Lamont intends to vote in person in Greenwich, wearing a mask and maintaining a social distance. But 673,811 voters have taken advantage of a new state law that allows every voter to vote by absentee for the first time, a temporary change due to the pandemic.

“We have hundreds of these around the state making it easier for you to vote and vote safely,” Lamont said, gesturing to the ballot drop boxes. In West Hartford, ballots can be dropped at Town Hall and two libraries.

Merrill said a record 2.3 million people are registered to vote. The deadline for registering online and at local town halls is Tuesday. Starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, the only option will be to use Election Day registration.

“We have seen a surge of new voters,” Merrill said.

Masks will be encouraged at the polls and offered to voters without them, but they cannot be required.

“We, by law, cannot refuse anybody their right to vote,” Merrill said.

Her office has distributed protocols for local election officials to handle voters who refuse to wear a mask. Options include curbside voting or ushering maskless voters to a separate room or space at the polls.

Absentee ballots and applications for absentee ballots can be mailed, but officials say applications should be hand-delivered to the drop boxes to ensure getting a ballot. They also recommend casting the ballots at the drop boxes instead of mailing them, to ensure they will be counted.

Ballots must by submitted by 8 p.m. on Election Day or arrive in that day’s mail to be counted.

Mark Pazniokas is a reporter for The Connecticut Mirror (www.ctmirror.org). Copyright 2020 © The Connecticut Mirror.

mpazniokas@ctmirror.org