New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Lamont: Conn. will stay the course as concern over delta variant grows
The rapid spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus in the U.S. is not leading Connecticut to impose any new restrictions, with Gov. Ned Lamont saying Tuesday that those who are not vaccinated will still be required to wear masks indoors “for the near term.”
“Obviously, look, we have said wear your mask indoors, especially if you’re not vaccinated,” Lamont said after an event in Guilford. “Wear your mask indoors. That’s something we’re going to continue for the near term.”
The governor did not indicate that Connecticut will go the way of Los Angeles County in California where public health officials are calling on residents, even those who are fully vaccinated, to continue to wearing masks inside.
In Connecticut, new cases of COVID-19 remain low — public health experts estimate the delta variant comprises 10 percent to 20 percent of new cases here — and the state’s vaccination rate is high.
More than 67 percent of the population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and more than 61 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. Those ages 12 and up are eligible to get the vaccine.
But in some of the state’s biggest cities, and some rural areas, vaccination rates lag. In Hartford, for example, 37.5 percent of residents are fully vaccinated. In New Haven, the rate is 47.1 percent.
“Those are the communities at-risk to something as contagious as the delta variant. And we’ve seen that in Israel. We’ve seen that in parts of Europe, so we’re being cautious,” Lamont said Tuesday. “Thank God most of the time we’re outside these days. And that’s a really good thing.”
Experts think the delta variant could be twice as transmissible as the original coronavirus strain. Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health warned last week that the variant, which is on track to become the dominant strain in the U.S., is “the greatest threat” to defeating COVID-19.
On Tuesday, the state’s positivity rate was 0.68 percent with 175 new COVID cases. There were 10 fewer hospitalizations, dropping the number of patients to 32. There were no new deaths.
In Connecticut, Lamont still has control over the state’s pandemic response, including its mask mandate, which includes requiring face masks in schools, until July 20, when his emergency powers are set to expire.
A new law passed by the General Assembly ing the 2021 legislative session requires both legislative chambers to vote on any extension of Lamont’s powers going forward. That vote could come as soon as next week.
“At this point, I’m open to extending it,” House Speaker Matt Ritter said Tuesday, provided the governor’s office gives a justification for why his powers need to be continued.
Ritter said many of the executive orders issued by Lamont during the pandemic have gone away, but he expects the governor still wants control over vaccine administration and federal pandemic relief funds.
Republicans in the General Assembly are unlikely to support a continuation of Lamont’s powers. Senate Republican leader Kevin Kelly issued a statement Tuesday, indicating a sixmonth extension could be in the works.
“Our government was not designed to be ruled by one person. We have three branches of government for a reason and it is past time that power goes back to the people,” Kelly said. “A six-month extension at this point is a blatant overreach of power.”
Lamont indicated Tuesday that he expected lawmakers to approve a “narrow” continuation of his powers, including executive orders tied to vaccinations. Retaining his emergency powers is “also important so we continue to get full funding from FEMA,” he said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to provide federal funding to states to reimburse them for pandemic-related costs such as those associated with vaccine distribution and administration.