Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz, Stamford Officials Stress Vaccine Importance

STAMFORD, CT — With COVID-19 cases rising both locally and nationally and the holiday season in full swing, Connecticut Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz made a stop in Stamford on Friday to urge residents to get vaccinated and boosted.

Bysiewicz was joined by Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons, as well as State Sen. Ryan Fazio (R-36), State Reps. Matt Blumenthal (D-147) and Corey Paris (D-145), and several Stamford health officials at the Scalzi Park vaccination clinic.

According to the latest update from the City of Stamford Friday evening, the city's positivity rate has surpassed 6 percent.

"Hospitalizations have seriously increased to concerning levels with individuals requiring acute care and the number of positive COVID-19 cases have doubled to more than 40 cases per 100,000 over the past two weeks placing Stamford in the highest risk category of Community Transmission," a news release said from Ted Jankowksi, Stamford's director of public safety, health and welfare.

Bysiewicz said Friday morning that there were 710 people hospitalized in Connecticut, the largest number since February.

"We have a rising number of COVID cases. We're moving in the wrong direction, and so we're here in Stamford to highlight an effort to get people boosted and vaccinated, especially as we all get ready for Christmas and the holidays and New Year's," Bysiewicz said.

"Our message is a simple one. If you want to keep yourself safe, your friends, family and community safe, this is the way to do it: get vaccinated, get boosted and also if you're feeling any kind of symptoms, that are flu-like or cold-like, please, please get tested," she added.

Simmons, who received her own COVID-19 booster shot this week, said that while cases are rising, Connecticut and Stamford are well-positioned to handle a spike. She noted that the majority of cases at Stamford Hospital involve unvaccinated people.

"I know everyone is so tired of this pandemic, we're all ready to go back to life as normal," Simmons said. "If we can just hang in there a little longer, practice good hygiene, social distancing, wearing our masks over the holidays, getting vaccinated and getting boosted, I'm confident that in 2022 we can hopefully overcome this."

Jody Bishop-Pullan, Stamford's Acting Department of Health Director, said Stamford has a 90 percent vaccination rate, one of the highest in the state. Each district in the city is at 85 percent or higher.

Fazio said the emergence of the omicron variant isn't cause for panic, but it is reason to get protected.

"Connecticut is the second most vaccinated state in the country. That's marvelously impressive. That's not because people were forced to do it, it's because people openly chose to do it. We have a really conscientious state with really good people and they're doing the right thing to protect themselves and others," he said.

Blumenthal said he wants residents to enjoy the upcoming holidays but in a safe manner. He called getting vaccinated a "team effort."

Paris stressed that vaccines are free, easily accessible, and open to all, regardless of legal status.

Dr. Asha Shah, head of infectious diseases at Stamford Health, said Friday marked one year since Stamford Hospital opened its vaccine clinic. Since then, 80,000 people have received a COVID-19 vaccine, and over 150,000 doses have been administered.

Shah is hopeful that with more vaccinations and boosters, Stamford will be able to get through this latest spike.

"Boosting, vaccines, masking, staying home when you're sick, getting tested often is the best way to get through the holiday season the safest. We will get through this," Shah said. "We've gotten through a lot in the state over the past year and a half, now almost two years. I'm confident we will get through this next phase as well."

Dr. Amy Taylor from Community Health Center in Stamford spoke about the various vaccine clinics around the city. For more information on clinic hours and testing sites, go to the City of Stamford website.

For up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including guidance and other resources, visit the state website .