Governor Lamont Provides Update on Connecticut’s Coronavirus Response Efforts

(HARTFORD, CT) – As the State of Connecticut continues taking actions in response to the global spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Governor Ned Lamont provided the following updates as of 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 21, 2020:

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, and tests in Connecticut. It is important to note that these newly reported updates include data that occurred over the last several days to a week. All data in this report are preliminary, and data for previous dates will be updated as new reports are received and data errors are corrected.

County-by-county breakdown:

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “COVID-19 Data Tracker.”

Governor Lamont creates working group to prepare Connecticut for a COVID-19 vaccine

Governor Lamont today announced that he is creating a working group to prepare Connecticut for the potential development of a COVID-19 vaccine. The Governor’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group will be responsible for optimizing a statewide vaccine distribution strategy, and communicating critical medical information about the vaccine with the state’s residents.

It will be co-chaired by Dr. Deidre Gifford, acting commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health; and Dr. Reginald J. Eadie, president and CEO of Trinity Health of New England, the health network that includes Johnson Memorial Hospital (Stafford Springs), Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital (Hartford), Saint Francis Hospital (Hartford), and Saint Mary’s Hospital (Waterbury).

The group’s rank-and-file members are in the process of being appointed, however the governor said that he expects them to include vaccination experts, vaccine providers, state agency representatives, state legislators, labor representatives, emergency management officials, and representatives of highly impacted communities.

“We have a responsibility to provide critical medical information and safeguards to the residents of our state, and I want to ensure that we have a plan in place for when a vaccine is developed and becomes available to the public,” Governor Lamont said. “I want this group to review every possible scenario when it comes to the science and efficacy of the vaccine, as well as the logistics of its distribution.”

The group will be administered by staff from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and public meetings are anticipated to be held monthly beginning around October. An announcement will be made by the Office of the Governor when the remaining members of the group are appointed.

Providing information to Connecticut residents

For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus. Residents can also subscribe to text message alerts from the state by texting the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.

Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Anyone who is out-of-state or requires a toll-free number can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 by dialing 1-800-203-1234. This is intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms are strongly urged to contact their medical provider.