Connecticut will be "significantly increasing" the state's capacity to test residents and essential workers for COVID-19 in the coming days and weeks, Gov. Ned Lamont said in a news release Saturday.

The governor said that first responders and essential employees on the front lines specifically would be a focus, "because testing is a key component of reopening our economy."

MORE COVERAGE: LIVE BLOG - Coronavirus updates from the tri-state area and beyond 

"Data has shown that a significant number of people who are infected don't even show symptoms and are unaware that they are spreading this virus to other people," Lamont said in the statement. "This is why it is so important that we increase our testing, and working with the federal government and our state's health care system we will be adding more collection sites and increase access to those who need it."

The update from the governor came as Connecticut reported more than 600 new cases since the previous day, for a total of nearly 24,600 COVID-19 cases. Fairfield County remains the hardest hit with over 10,000.

Hospitalizations were down slightly, with just over 1,800 to report on Saturday.

The death toll in Connecticut was nearly at 2,000.