Coronavirus CT: Lamont Gives Update, Limits State Employee Travel

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont has issued new rules for state employees in an effort to stem the spread of new coronavirus cases with the hope that the private sector will follow similar guidelines.

Lamont issued a letter to state employees Monday morning that will strongly limit out-of-state travel for state business. He is also looking to cancel any state-sponsored meetings with large groups of people.

Lamont also announced Monday that the state has received another coronavirus test kit that will allow them to test 600 more samples.

Connecticut had its first confirmed presumptive positive case of the new coronavirus disease Sunday. A Wilton resident between the ages of 40 and 50 is being treated at Danbury Hospital, Lamont said. The person likely was infected during a trip to California. No new information about the patient was released Monday, but officials said that people who were in contact are being notified.

Lamont is also consulting with mayors about potential cancellations of St. Patrick's Day parades.

Similar rules have been issued for employees of state colleges and universities. All campus events that are expected to have 100 or more attendees through at least April 30 are being canceled.

Lamont said that students in the state college system don’t need to go home for spring break. Spring break for state colleges is next week. (Don't miss updates in Connecticut concerning the Coronavirus as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.)

“No need to go home over spring vacation and if you do go home over spring vacation we may ask you to self-quarantine, self-monitor for 14 days on your way back,” Lamont said.

The new rules issued to state employees include:

• An immediate freeze on state employee travel for state business until further notice. Exceptions must be approved by agency heads and the state chief operating officer.
• Lamont’s administration will review all scheduled government meetings between now and April 30 with more than 100 people and determine if they should be postponed or teleconferenced instead.
• Employees with state-issued laptops should get in the habit of bringing it home with them at the end of their shift.
• Discouraging those at higher risk of complications from the virus from attending large events or meetings.
• Increased use of disinfectants in state buildings, especially at common touch areas.

Public school systems have been taking proactive steps to plan for the virus’ impact. New Canaan Public Schools had a two-hour delayed start Monday in order to allow staff to plan for a potential long-term closure.

The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) announced that for now state tournaments schedules aren’t being changed due to the coronavirus.

A New York State resident who is an employee at Danbury Hospital also tested positive for the disease as well as a community physician from New York who made rounds at Bridgeport Hospital.

There are 566 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. as of Monday morning with 22 deaths, according to John Hopkins University, which is monitoring data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other sources.