State Senators Matt Lesser and Mary Daugherty Abrams wrote a letter to Governor Ned Lamont urging him to delay his plans to phase out Connecticut’s COVID-19 restrictions that begin on May 20. They say while Connecticut is on the right track in terms of testing capacity and the number of hospitalizations and deaths, the transmission of COVID-19 is still occurring and some areas in the state are still seeing an increase in positive cases.
They wrote that they are all “anxious to reopen Connecticut’s economy and generally agree with the metrics laid out” but have a fear if it is done too soon while the first wave of the pandemic is still raging, “it will add fuel to the first wave, delaying our eventual recovery.”
The letter joins another letter sent by Democratic Senators this week which expressed concern about the criteria and pace of the Reopen CT strategy as currently defined.
The full letter to Governor Ned Lamont below the break.
Dear Governor Lamont
We are writing to urge you to delay your plans to phase out Connecticut's COVID-19 restrictions starting May 20.
On March 19, the day you ordered the closure of barbershops and hairsalons, Connecticut reported 63 new positive cases of COVID-19.
Yesterday, Connecticut reported 522 new cases.
While Connecticut is moving in the right direction in terms of testing capacity, hospitalizations and deaths, the number of new positive tests, while down from the peak, indicates that community transmission of COVID-19 is still occurring in Connecticut at levels far beyond our ability to track, trace and isolate potential contacts.
Some areas of the state outside Fairfield County are still seeing increases.
Moreover, Connecticut has still not implemented widescale testing of essential workers, let alone of the population as a whole, nor do we have a statewide track and trace system in place or universal testing of our most vulnerable populations in congregate settings.
We are all anxious to reopen Connecticut's economy and we generally agree with the metrics you laid out in your Reopen CT plan, metrics that have yet to be achieved. While this is first and foremost a public health crisis, we are well aware of the economic impact on families and businesses and the state as a whole. Reopening is essential – but to do it while the first wave of the pandemic is still raging will not lead to a second wave, it will simply add fuel to the first wave, delaying our eventual recovery.
We are grateful for your strong and thoughtful leadership during one of the most difficult periods of our state's history – and ready to work with you to protect our state and its residents during the weeks and months ahead.
Sincerely,
Senator Matt Lesser
Senator Alex Kasser
Senator Julie Kushner
Senator Mary Daugherty Abrams
Senator Mae Flexer
Senator Gary Winfield
Senator Saud Anwar
Senator Christine Cohen
Senator Joan Hartley
They wrote that they are all “anxious to reopen Connecticut’s economy and generally agree with the metrics laid out” but have a fear if it is done too soon while the first wave of the pandemic is still raging, “it will add fuel to the first wave, delaying our eventual recovery.”
The letter joins another letter sent by Democratic Senators this week which expressed concern about the criteria and pace of the Reopen CT strategy as currently defined.
The full letter to Governor Ned Lamont below the break.
Dear Governor Lamont
We are writing to urge you to delay your plans to phase out Connecticut's COVID-19 restrictions starting May 20.
On March 19, the day you ordered the closure of barbershops and hairsalons, Connecticut reported 63 new positive cases of COVID-19.
Yesterday, Connecticut reported 522 new cases.
While Connecticut is moving in the right direction in terms of testing capacity, hospitalizations and deaths, the number of new positive tests, while down from the peak, indicates that community transmission of COVID-19 is still occurring in Connecticut at levels far beyond our ability to track, trace and isolate potential contacts.
Some areas of the state outside Fairfield County are still seeing increases.
Moreover, Connecticut has still not implemented widescale testing of essential workers, let alone of the population as a whole, nor do we have a statewide track and trace system in place or universal testing of our most vulnerable populations in congregate settings.
We are all anxious to reopen Connecticut's economy and we generally agree with the metrics you laid out in your Reopen CT plan, metrics that have yet to be achieved. While this is first and foremost a public health crisis, we are well aware of the economic impact on families and businesses and the state as a whole. Reopening is essential – but to do it while the first wave of the pandemic is still raging will not lead to a second wave, it will simply add fuel to the first wave, delaying our eventual recovery.
We are grateful for your strong and thoughtful leadership during one of the most difficult periods of our state's history – and ready to work with you to protect our state and its residents during the weeks and months ahead.
Sincerely,
Senator Matt Lesser
Senator Alex Kasser
Senator Julie Kushner
Senator Mary Daugherty Abrams
Senator Mae Flexer
Senator Gary Winfield
Senator Saud Anwar
Senator Christine Cohen
Senator Joan Hartley
4 comments:
Anyone who supports re-opening businesses and activities is really supporting an acceptance of increased infections and deaths.
Obviously the previous post is authored by a troll trying to provoke a response. It’s hard to imagine a more ridiculous opinion. Taken to its logical conclusion, all businesses should shut and activities should cease forever so we can be liberated from infection and death forever.
Let's remember that social distancing and isolation are intended to "flatten the curve" - that is, spread the COVID-19 cases over a longer time period, so as to avoid overwhelming our health care system. It does not mean we will have fewer total illnesses or deaths, unless we keep it up FOREVER. And let'e face it; we aren't going to keep this up forever. Sooner or later we will start reopening. We can't wait months-to-years until we have a vaccine or a cure. Maybe there will be an increase is cases, and deaths. But that is likely to happen whenever we reopen, be it next week or just before Christmas. So I say, go ahead. Just be sure to wear your mask. :-)
No, not a troll. Please tell me what is untrue about my statement. Trolls make absurd comments that distort what others say. There is nothing logical about your "logical conclusion". Merely a tool used by trolls to provoke a response. Partially worked here, but this is my last response.
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