Coronavirus: CT Governor 'Would' Stop NY Drivers

HARTFORD, CT — During an appearance on radio Friday morning, Gov. Ned Lamont said he would follow a measure by Rhode Island's governor to have police stop New York drivers at the state's borders to collect information. Lamont previously said New York residents coming to Connecticut should self-quarantine for 15 days.

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo ordered state police troopers at the borders to stop drivers with New York license plates and collect information about the occupants in the vehicles. Police have been ordered to collect information about individuals in the vehicles to trace any further spread of coronavirus.

Raimondo said the move was "radical" but necessary to keep Ocean State residents safe.

During a call to the Lee Elci Show Friday, Elci asked Lamont if he would adopt a similar measure.

"Yes, I would," Lamont responded.

Elci pointed to what's being done in East Lyme. First Selectman Mark Nickerson talked about people from New York who have summer homes in the town.

"We welcome them back," Nickerson said. "They're valued members of our community and we enjoy their company. But we would like to impose a 14-day self-quarantine to everybody ... whether you're a snowbird coming back home or whether you're from New York and you're lucky enough to have a summer place here in East Lyme/Nianitc. We want you to be safe. We care about you and we care about the residents you might interact with, so please self-quarantine."

Lamont on Thursday said people coming in to the state must quarantine but said there were no plans to stop drivers. He said New Yorkers are "much more likely to be infected by a factor of 10."

"If you come to this state, until you know you're healthy, I'm ordering you to self-quarantine, how about that," Lamont said.

But by Friday morning, he told Elci that if necessary, state police will stop cars with New York plates coming in to the state.

Lamont explained to the radio host that he has had to revise coronavirus response policies as the situation changes. He pointed to his order for some people not to congregate in groups of 50 or more; he then issued another order limiting those gatherings to just five people.