Connecticut Department of Public Health have confirmed the state's first flu-related death of the season – a patient in their 50s from the New London area.

DPH says with 6,000 cases and 102 hospitalizations so far, Connecticut's already seen more flu this year than the last flu season.

Many students and parents across the state are feeling the pinch of forced absences.

Guenevere Penton, of Bridgeport, says her daughter brought home the flu from Dunbar school last week, along with the family's second bout of COVID.

"I thought it was a head cold until she started complaining about chest pains and her heart hurting,” said Penton.

Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani says COVID cases have stayed pretty flat since May, but that may change as the winter goes on.

As hospitals seek overflow space to pad capacity, officials say flu and COVID vaccines are still the best tool for slowing the spread.

Officials say RSV is still the biggest threat to capacity in pediatric ICUs. DPH has seen over 950 lab-confirmed cases this season.