Gov. Ned Lamont called Connecticut “a tale of two cities” right now during his Monday afternoon (Jan. 25) press briefing on the state’s current response to the COVID pandemic.
“We’re making progress, hopefully bending the curve,” he said, before referencing renewed lockdowns and spiking case rates in Europe–a region the governor often watches to predict what will happen in Connecticut three weeks later. “So which way are we going to go?” he asked.
Lamont was referring to encouraging COVID metrics from the weekend, describing the 4.73% test positivity rate as “staying fairly low and stabilizing” (5,817 new cases out of 123,037 tests) and calling the current total of 1,068 hospitalizations (increase of 10 new patients) “also relatively stable.”
But then he talked about a “black cloud”–the confirmation that four CT residents have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, commonly known as the UK variant, bringing the total number of known, confirmed cases of the UK variant in the state to eight.
The variant is said to be significantly more contagious and potentially more dangerous.
“We knew it was here in this state, but now we’re slapped in the face by this fact,” Lamont said.
What’s more, Lamont acknowledged that there are likely many more than just those eight people who have contracted the new strain.
“I think we’re assuming that it’s much more widespread than you see in just those eight,” he explained. “It’s a complicated genetic test to see whether you have this supercharged variant or not. We’re definitely more than what we’re counting now,” he added.
The confirmation doesn’t mean the state will take a different approach to mitigating the spread of the virus or what he advises residents should do to protect themselves. “More of the same, just double down–limit the number of people you see, outside is better than inside. Nothing has changed in what you should do, just makes it all the more important that you do it,” Lamont advised.
“We Need More Vaccine”
The new virus variant puts added pressure on state health officials.
“This is a race, we are racing to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as we can, ahead of what could be this super-contagious strain,” Lamont said.
Connecticut is ranked fourth in the country in vaccination rates, and state officials are pleased with the progress, particularly with how many seniors have already received their first vaccine dose.
“With what supplies we have, we’re doing well: 27% of [residents aged] 75-and-up have gotten a first dose–270,000 total people over 75. We’re making a big chip in that. Probably over the next two-plus weeks, depending on our supply of vaccine, that incredibly vulnerable piece of our population will be taken care of,” Lamont said.
In all, over 308,000 total doses have been administered.
But–there’s still a big ‘but’: as great as state officials say they’ve done rolling out their vaccine distribution plan, there are still many more people eligible for vaccines than are actually getting vaccinated.
Lamont pointed to two reasons why:
- Residents may not be able or know how to get appointments: The current groups that are eligible to register have had difficulty with the resources they need to access to book appointments–most notably, the online Vaccine Appointment Management System (VAMS) created by the CDC and being used by the state. .
“We’ve heard it’s complicated, especially for older folks, we’re working on that as best we can,” Lamont said, acknowledging the primary complaints he’s heard about the system not being intuitive enough and seniors not adapting to online scheduling.
As fixes, the United Way 2-1-1 call line has added 75 new employees to take calls, and officials are given senior centers around the state permission to now actively call seniors and help them make appointments. In addition, the state is working with the CDC to make changes to VAMS to make it more accessible.
The state also has set up an interactive map where users can find their closest vaccination locations by inputting a zip code. There have also been about 120 new locations across the state planned to open.
- “We Need More Vaccine”: Lamont said CT gets 46,900 doses from the federal government every week, and last week received a one-time extra 50,000 doses. But it’s nowhere close to what the local organizations providing vaccines to residents–hospitals, community health centers, etc.–are requesting, which Lamont said tops well over 150,000 doses per week. .
“That’s where the disconnect is, that’s where the frustration [2-1-1 call centers] hears [from people trying to book appointments] on the phone. How we have to do everything we can if we’re going to win this race against the super-contagious variant, this is what we’ve got to do,” Lamont said.
Given vaccine shortages across the country, the state has to balance that supply and demand with the goal of “protecting our most vulnerable” residents–and having close to 1.4 million people in Phase 1.b. “We take this very seriously, healthcare workers, 75 and above, but we do have special prioritization for those in congregates as part of the overall [phase] 1.b,” Lamont said, pointing out that CT is one of first states to vaccinate residents in a homeless shelter. “It’s not going to be overnight, we have an awful lot of people in 1.b.”
According to Josh Geballe, the state’s Chief Operating Officer, Connecticut will have received 585,000 total doses (first and second) to distribute since vaccines were rolled out, including what the state expects to receive from the federal government by this Friday.
“Doing Our Best” with Lots of Calls and a Frustrated Public
Lamont invited Lisa Tepper Bates, the President/CEO of CT United Way, to attend Monday’s briefing and describe what it’s been like for her organization in handling calls during the pandemic.
Tepper Bates said she understands that residents are very frustrated, which the public is expressing with the people who answer the 2-1-1 calls. And there have been a lot of calls.
“To date, we have responded to more than 97,000 calls with people and their concerns and seeking clarification. More than 30,000 calls since the VAMS system started,” she said, adding that her staff has helped get 4,200 patients to date scheduled with vaccine appointments.
Compared to the same time last year, the 2-1-1 service has also seen a 530% increase in inquiries for basic needs: 352% increase in calls related to emergency food, 200% increase in calls regarding utility assistance, 82% increase in calls about employment and income; and 70% increase related to housing, shelter, rent and mortgage.
“We just want to ask the public to have some patience as we try to do our very best to respond with empathy and full information to every request. But it is a high volume coming in and we’re doing our very best,” she added.
In addition, Tepper Bates said the 2-1-1 service will soon have additional vaccine locations online and be able to book appointments directly for 211 callers who need extra help. Tepper said more updates will be available later this week.
Gov. to Request Extending Emergency Powers
Lamont told reporters that his current emergency powers expire on Feb. 9, and he plans to request the CT legislature extend that emergency authorization until April 20.
“[By then], we think we’ll have a really good handle on where we stand on [vaccine] supply, bending the curve, the super-contagious variant. That will be a very good time,” Lamont said.
He added that he “like[s] to think by the middle of spring we’ll be closer to normal order, with our lives and working inside the capitol building.”