New Coronavirus Restrictions Unlikely Despite Case Uptick: Lamont

CONNECTICUT — More coronavirus restrictions are unlikely in Connecticut despite an uptick in cases in the Northeast, Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday.

“We have the ability to change course if we had to. We obviously monitor usage in our hospitals very carefully,” Lamont said at a news conference. “It’s been going up on a gradual basis, so I know we’d have time to change course if we had to. I don’t see the need to do that, I think the vaccinations are going to stay ahead of the risk.”

Coronavirus hospitalizations increased by 42 patients over the weekend up to 498, the highest total since Feb. 22.

More than 80 percent of Connecticut residents 65 and older have been vaccinated and around 41 percent of all residents 16 and older have received at least one dose as of Monday, according to the state Department of Public Health.

There has been a dramatic reduction in patients 65 and older being hospitalized for the virus, according to state Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe.

“People need to remember you can still get very severe [COVID-19] even in your 20s and 30s and 40s,” Geballe said. “You’re not invincible.”

The lower Naugatuck Valley, particularly Ansonia and Derby, has been hit hard by a recent outbreak of the virus, according to Geballe.

Connecticut averaged 34 daily cases per 100,000 residents over the past week, according to The New York Times coronavirus tracker. That places it fifth in the country for the highest infection rate.

Lamont said he worried about college students who went to areas like Miami Beach for spring break celebrations and how they could affect in the infection rate in Connecticut.

“It’s been a very, very long year and I appreciate that, and especially for the young people and what that means to them,” Lamont said. “And I just can’t say firmly enough that we can make an enormous difference for the rest of the summer and the rest of the year and going forward if we can keep our guard up a little bit longer.”

How people behave over the next few weeks will make an important difference, he said.