Positivity Rate Climbs, Decision Looms On Masks In Schools In CT

CONNECTICUT — After announcing that the daily coronavirus positivity rate for the state climbed above 3 percent over the weekend, Gov. Ned Lamont doubled down upon leaving the decision for business patrons to mask up in the hands of local business owners.

The governor contrasted Connecticut's approach with that of Florida, where the state government forbids businesses to mandate the wearing of masks.

Speaking at a news conference Monday afternoon in Groton, Lamont's statements followed those of neighboring N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo who said he is asking private businesses to only serve vaccinated patrons.

Lamont said that Cuomo's call "makes a certain amount of sense" but emphasized that Connecticut still prefers to leave the decision to business owners, "unless the world changes under our feet."

The governor said he currently had no plans to require state workers to be vaccinated, but that his office was "looking into it."

Lamont said there were "certain groups in state employ where you have 40 percent of the people unvaccinated. And some of them are very forward-facing, dealing with patients, or special needs or Corrections."

Such a vaccine mandate would require the blessing of the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition, who Lamont predicted would "certainly be open to the discussion." Lamont said another option being reviewed for state employees was a mask mandate, coupled with regular coronavirus testing.

The governor also forecast that formal Food & Drug Administration approval for one or more of the COVID-19 vaccines would be given within "a month or so." Currently, the vaccines available to Connecticut residents only have emergency use authorization from the FDA, which has been a sticking point among many of those hesitant to get jabbed.

What About The Schools?

"Our schools are going to open safely this fall, just as they did last fall," Lamont said, but gave no indication what guidance the state would be providing districts regarding mask wearing or other coronavirus mitigation protocols.

Noting that schools are set to open at the end of August, Lamont promised parents and districts they would have "at least a couple weeks notice."

The governor said his office was studying plans by other states who were establishing discrete back-to-school guidelines for demographic groups who were eligible for the vaccine — currently those 12 and above — and those younger and still ineligible.

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