DANBURY — Hours after Governor Ned Lamont revealed Connecticut’s 6.1 percent positivity rate October 29 — describing the surge in cases like a “gut punch” — two local hospitals have begun limiting visitation to help prevent COVID-19 transmissions to patients and staff.

An alarming increase in COVID-19 cases in the region has already elevated Danbury into the “red zone” and neighboring Sherman, Brookfield, and Bethel into the “orange zone” for positive case counts as of Friday morning.

As a result, Danbury Hospital and New Milford Hospital are limiting visitation out of an abundance of caution and to safeguard patients and staff.

Effective October 30, no visitors are permitted for any inpatients at Danbury Hospital or New Milford Hospital unless extenuating circumstances apply.

The full visitation policy is available for review at: www.westernconnecticuthealthnetwork.org/novel-coronavirus-covid19-update/visitation-policy.

“Together, we can reduce the chances of spreading COVID-19 throughout our communities. Please continue to wear a mask in public, limit group gatherings with non-household members, wash your hands frequently throughout the day, and stay home if you’re not feeling well,” said Sharon Adams, president, Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital.

Hospital officials are also asking folks in the communities served by the hospitals to please also get tested if you think you have symptoms of COVID-19.

For more information about COVID-19 testing at Nuvance Health’s primary care practices and outpatient locations, visit www.westernconnecticuthealthnetwork.org/novel-coronavirus-covid19-update/covid19-testing.

Information about COVID-19 testing throughout Connecticut can be found by visiting https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Covid-19-Knowledge-Base/COVID-19-Testing.

Nuvance Health has a network of hospital and outpatient locations — Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital, Norwalk Hospital and Sharon Hospital in Connecticut, and Northern Dutchess Hospital, Putnam Hospital and Vassar Brothers Medical Center in New York — plus multiple primary and specialty care physician practice locations, including The Heart Center, a leading provider of cardiology care, and two urgent care offices.