Lamont: Personal Behavior Key To Combating Coronavirus Spread

CONNECTICUT — Closing down restaurants and gyms in Connecticut may not make a big dent in slowing the spread of coronavirus, especially if people don’t change their personal behavior, Gov. Ned Lamont said.

Lamont talked with a group of doctors after they wrote an open letter to him about the worsening situation in hospitals. The doctors wrote that hospital floor beds could fill within the next week or two and that would require elective surgeries to stop to make additional room.

“I want to do things that make a real difference, I told them that… I don't govern by fiat, you’ve got to convince people to do the right thing,” Lamont said during an interview on the CT Mirror Steady Habits podcast. “It’s those informal social interactions which is where most of this spread, overwhelmingly where most of the spread is taking place.”

Lamont did admit that the hospital situation is different this time around; deferred elective surgeries still need to be done and the virus is spreading across the state instead of in just the southern region.

Meanwhile, Lamont has also gotten some flak from the state's restaurant industry, which implored him to offer state funds for support.

Any future restrictive would have to be done in concert with other nearby states, otherwise people who want to dine out might make the drive to New York or Massachusetts for dinner, he said.

People are generally good about listening to the guidelines at restaurants, gyms and sporting events, but it’s the ancillary activities that often lead to coronavirus spread, he said.

“It’s not playing hockey, it’s the carpool to the rink, it’s in the locker room, it’s probably not necessarily in the church but it’s outside the church when you let your guard down,” Lamont said.

Lamont once again encouraged Congress to come to an agreement on another coronavirus aid package to help individuals and businesses that are being severely impacted by the economic fallout.

“Everybody’s looking for a bailout, a grant some help and you know to tell you the truth they should get it, but the state of Connecticut can’t do it, if I bail out everybody, who bails out the state of Connecticut?” Lamont said.

Listen to Lamont’s interview with the CT Mirror here.