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June 24, 2020

Lamont issues self-quarantine advisory for certain travelers

Photo | CT Mirror/Mark PAZNIOKAS Gov. Ned Lamont and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in Hartford in September. Their relationship has been key to Lamont’s handling on the COVID-19 crisis.
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday that individuals traveling to Connecticut from other parts of the country with significant coronavirus infection rates should self-quarantine for 14 days.

The advisory goes into effect at midnight Wednesday night, Lamont said.

New York and New Jersey have announced similar measures. With leisure travel down considerably, the advisory may particularly impact those traveling for business.

“We have made difficult decisions throughout this pandemic, but we have proven to make many of the right decisions,” Lamont said. “This step to inform travelers from states with hot spots to self-isolate is meant to protect our residents and maintain our incredible public health progress.”

Lamont’s announcement comes as Connecticut’s coronavirus numbers continue to decline, but other areas of the country are starting to see a resurgence. 

The self-quarantine applies to any person arriving from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average, according to Lamont’s office.

Connecticut will periodically update the list of impacted states. As of today, the list of states includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington.

At this time, Connecticut is not planning to impose any punitive measures for non-compliance, according to Lamont.

As of Tuesday, Lamont reported that Connecticut had 138 COVID patients hospitalized, and the state has had 45,899 people test positive, and 4,277 deaths.

The three states will use messaging on highways, airports, websites and social media. They will also ask hotels to communicate the 14-day self-quarantine to guests who have traveled from one of the impacted states.

When asked about Lamont’s decision, Thomas Balcezak, MD, Yale New Haven Health system’s executive vice president and chief clinical officer, said it is “common sense” to isolate oneself after returning from somewhere with a high rate of infections.

“If you travel, you should isolate yourself for 14 days, then if you have no symptoms, you can reintegrate,” Balcezak said. “The ability to prevent the spread is in our hands.”
Balcezak said Connecticut has been “a model for how to do this right,” and he called social distancing and wearing masks the “new normal.” He recalled recently seeing families going out for ice cream, all waiting in line while maintaining social distancing.

“Now is not the time to drop our guard,” Balcezak said. “Given how we’ve reduced the number of cases here in Connecticut [the governor’s self-quarantine decision] is probably the right move.”

At a noon press conference Wednesday, Yale New Haven Health CEO Marna P. Borgstrom reported having 51 coronavirus patients throughout the entire health system. At its peak, the health system had more than 800 patients with the virus.

The current COVID population at Yale New Haven Health includes 29 at Yale New Haven Hospital, 19 at Bridgeport Hospital, two at Greenwich Hospital and one at Lawrence + Memorial in New London. A number of these are still in intensive care and on ventilators, according to Borgstrom.

To date, the YNHH system has discharged some 3,300 patients and had 569 patients die due to the virus, she said. 

“This virus has affected many people and families,” she said. “It’s truly unimaginable.”

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