In the face of rising cases of COVID-19 in the community, the Henry Carter Hull Library has closed its doors to visitors, but book worms don’t have to fret: a book-to-go service will still be available.

The library closed its doors on Nov. 23 and announced the building would be closed to the public until further notice. While patrons may not be able to enter the library physically, the library has announced a curbside pickup service called Henry-2-Go. The service will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; from noon to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, and from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. on Saturdays. Readers can reserve up to 10 items per person.

To make a reservation, patrons can call 860-669-2342, email henry2go@hchlibrary.org (and include their name and phone number), make a reservation through an HCH account, or fill out a form at hchlibrary.org/henry-2-go. Once a reservation is ready, staff will contact those with orders.

Items can be returned at the drive through return or the book drop in the building. The library website has a guide on what to read next and the entire catalog for people who don’t have a specific title in mind.

Rising Cases

At press time, Clinton has had a total of 199 residents test positive for COVID-19. Between Nov. 1 and 25 alone, Clinton saw an increase of about 81 cases, or approximately 20 new cases a week in November. As of Nov. 23, a new COVID dashboard on the town website reports that about 55 people in Clinton are currently in a two-week quarantine period while 137 are listed as recovering or recovered.

Seven Clinton residents have died, but none since September, According to covidactnow.org, a nonprofit founded to tract COVID-19 cases, Middlesex county is reporting about 49 new cases a day, which is classified as a dangerous number.

While intensive care unit (ICU) headroom (beds available for COVID patients) in the county is adequate at about 42 percent, statewide the ICU level is at about 74 percent capacity, or “at high risk of overload,” according to the website, with adjacent New Haven county showing the highest percentage of use.

To help turn the tide against COVID on Nov. 12 the state launched COVID Alert CT, a free app available on iPhone and Android.

For updates on COVID-19, check the following:

• Connecticut River Area Health District (www.crahd.org) or Facebook (@CRAHD1)

• Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov/coronavirus)

• State of Connecticut (www.ct.gov/coronavirus)

• Town of Clinton (www.clintonct.org) or Facebook (@TownofClintonConnecticut)