CONNECTICUT – Government Ned Lamont has teased the upcoming changes to capacity constraints at restaurants, shops and personal services, as well as limiting the state’s travel advice. More information will be released Thursday on all of the above, Lamont said.
“We will be able to make some announcements about our careful reopening of capacity for our stores and our restaurants, as well as our retail and personal services,” he said.
Lamont is talking to other governors about reducing travel advice restrictions, he said.
Connecticut’s positive test rate for coronavirus was about 2.6 percent over the past seven days and hospitalizations for coronavirus dropped to 417 patients’ four-month low.
Most of Massachusetts entered a new reopening phase on Monday without limiting the capacity percentage at restaurants. Tables should still be placed 6 feet apart or separated by partitions. Many other businesses will be able to expand up to 50 percent capacity.
Meanwhile, Connecticut’s increased vaccine deployment has started a bit rocky, with some people complaining they can’t make an appointment.
Connecticut has opened up the registration of vaccinations for people between the ages of 55 and 64.
“It’s probably going to take a week or so, so I want to be patient with you,” Lamont said of people who could not get an appointment. “… if you can telecommunicate, or there is no great urgency, give others a chance to move forward.”
“Tens of thousands” of new appointments were made Monday, he said.
About 500,000 Connecticut residents are between 55 and 64 years old and the state typically receives about 100,000 first doses a week, Lamont says. It will probably take a few weeks to go through the age group, assuming that about 70 percent of people want the vaccine.
The state will receive an unexpected shipment of approximately 39,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the coming days. The doses will be largely used for clinics for education and child care workers, making it possible to move those scheduled for later in the month, said Josh Geballe, chief operating officer.
About one in five Connecticut residents received at least one vaccine dose as of Monday, according to the state Department of Public Health. About 75 percent of residents 75 and older and half of residents between 65 and 74 received at least one dose.
The brand of the vaccine will be visible during the registration process, Geballe said. So far, there appears to be a strong demand for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, as there have been far more requests from clinics than doses were available.
Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine requires only one dose.
Stock Concerns
Connecticut is committed to administering at least 25 percent of its vaccine supply to people living in the 50 most disadvantaged zip codes in the state. Efforts are also being made to better track the race and ethnicity of people receiving the vaccination, Lamont said.
Lamont received criticism that the age-based vaccination system would lead to inequality, as the state’s minority population tends to skew on the younger side.
According to the CT Mirror, black and Hispanic residents also die at an excessive amount compared to white residents of the same age.
Lamont argued at his news conference on Monday that the addition of essential workers at the front and people with health care would increase the pool of eligible residents to more than 1.5 million people at once – people with resources and better access would eventually get vaccine in front of those who do not, he said.
“Sometimes a false choice between speed and equity is considered,” he said. “But in the first place, simplicity means that no one can cheat the system, simplicity means that there are no line shooters.”