CT Reaches A Coronavirus Nursing Home Milestone

CONNECTICUT — For the first week in over a year, there have been no coronavirus-related fatalities in Connecticut nursing homes.

Nursing homes were hit hard and early during the onset of the pandemic last spring, before health officials understood that the elderly population was particularly susceptible to COVID-19.

Gov. Ned Lamont made the announcement during a news conference Thursday, during which he also celebrated the likelihood that 70 percent of the state population would have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine by Friday.

President Joe Biden has made July 4th the goal nationally for every American to be vaccinated.

Lamont said he anticipated the U.S. Food & Drug Administration would vote on authorizing the use of the Pfizer vaccine for 12-15 year olds next Wednesday, and that the state was well-prepared to begin rolling it out to children locally.

The state's mass vaccination sites will remain available "a little longer" to facilitate the rollout, Lamont said. The governor envisioned that many parents who have yet to be vaccinated would get the jab alongside the children they accompanied.

"If it takes a 12-year-old to get Dad vaccinated, thank the 12-year-old!" Lamont said.

It is getting easier to get vaccinated, Lamont said, with many of the drug store providers now offering walk-up vaccinations. He noted that the University of Connecticut is promoting a "Graduate and Vaccinate" program during their commence exercises this weekend where students, their families and friends can be vaccinated

Lamont said that those who have not yet been vaccinated are a mix of young people who are just ambivalent about getting the jab, and those more adamantly against the vaccine.