Lamont: Indoor Mask Mandate Likely Until Herd Immunity Reached

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont is setting the stage for state legislators, who will take over coronavirus rules when his emergency powers expire May 19.

That day, all coronavirus rules for businesses in the state will expire, except for indoor mask use. Lamont and his administration debated whether to make the indoor mask rules guidance or a mandate; administration officials talked to business owners about their preference.

“So far what I’ve heard is let’s not have any ambiguity while you’re indoors until we have real herd immunity,” Lamont said at a news conference Thursday. “I think it’s safer to make sure that everybody is wearing their mask indoors.”

The outdoor mask mandate will end May 1 so long as social distancing can be maintained.

The decision will ultimately be up to the state Legislature, who could vote to extend the governor’s powers.

Some states have kept mask mandates, but many in the South have ended them.

Experts aren’t entirely sure when and if the United States will hit herd immunity. Estimates are generally in the range of 70 to 90 percent of immunity through vaccinations or infections, according to USA Today. What is known is that the more people are vaccinated, the better.

Israel has ended many of its coronavirus restrictions largely thanks to a successful vaccine campaign. Cases went from nearly 10,000 per day down to around 140, according to The Washington Post. More than 60 percent of the population has some form of immunity either through vaccination or previous infection.