State to expand vaccinations, loosen restrictions on indoor gatherings

Connecticut front-line essential workers and those with preexisting medical conditions that put them at higher risk for COVID-19 will be the next groups eligible to get vaccinated, Gov. Ned Lamont said Tuesday.

“Right now, we’re running through the 65 and above group, I’d like to think in 10 days or so ... we’ll be able to make an announcement in terms of the next group,” Lamont said.

The Lamont administration has indicated that announcement will provide more details on how the vaccine will be rolled out to those populations. Both groups include a broad swath of people. According to the state’s estimates, there are a total of about 325,000 front-line essential workers, excluding those who would be eligible through another category. Those with preexisting conditions under the age of 65 total about 350,000.

It’s unclear who or how people in either group will be prioritized. The state has tiered vaccine eligibility by age, first allowing those age 75 and older to get the vaccine before

lowering the eligibility age to 65 and above.

Lamont said the state will rely on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definitions of essential workers, as well as preexisting conditions to determine who meets the criteria. The governor’s team has said in recent weeks doctors will likely be critical for helping determine who is eligible based on a medical condition.

In addition to the timeline, Lamont also announced Tuesday that starting March 19, commercial venues can hold events with up to 100 people indoors and 200 outside.

“We’re very appreciative that Gov. Lamont has heard the pleas of our industry, and that Connecticut now has a plan for gradually opening up indoor and outdoor events in the months ahead,” said Scott Dolch, executive director of the state’s restaurant association.

He noted the state’s event industry and related business provided for some 32,000 jobs per month prior to the pandemic. Dolch said it’s “critical” to the economy for those people to return to work.

“This new timetable for reopening will give confidence to our customers and guests who need to plan months in advance for their special events,” Dolch said.

Lamont’s decision to ease restrictions comes as the state’s COVID hospitalizations dropped Tuesday to 606 — the fewest since Nov. 10. The number of infections rose by 580 with a daily positivity rate of 2.83 percent. There were two more deaths recorded, increasing the death toll to 7,449.

On Monday, the governor announced Connecticut’s first known case of a coronavirus variant from South Africa. The person had no recent travel history, leading health officials to believe the strain was picked up locally.

That particular variant, known as B.1.351, is of concern because researchers believe some vaccines may be less effective against it.

The state has also recorded 42 known cases of a variant known as B.1.1.7, first identified in the U.K., which is thought to spread more easily between people.

Deidre Gifford, acting commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, said the South African variant is not believed to be more deadly. She repeated familiar advice, urging the importance of mask wearing and social distancing to combat the spread, “so we can get everybody vaccinated before these variants take off.”

A total of 691,846 vaccine doses have been administered in the state as of Tuesday. Of those, 473,784 were first doses, while 218,062 people have received their final dose.

Around 66 percent of the state’s 75 and older population have received the vaccine, while 23 percent of those aged 65 to 74 have received the shot.

The governor’s office said the state’s vaccine supply should rise about 22 percent next week, an increase Lamont said he suspects will be sustained in the future.