Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Ned Lamont has largely refrained from publicly criticizing the White House. That changed on CNN last night, when he responded to President Donald Trump’s assertion that the commander in chief has authority that is “total.”
Lamont accused Trump of throwing “verbal grenades.”
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In a follow up interview on CNN this morning, he explained that the president is sending a “mixed message” about reopening the country at a time when governors are working on a coordinated lifting of measures at the state level.
But Lamont refrained from criticizing the president too much on WPLR this morning. When asked if the president had “done right by Connecticut,” Lamont acknowledged that the federal government was slow to respond. Then he lauded the White House task force for ramping up efforts in recent weeks.
The governor had some relatively positive news though. He said the hospitalization rate appears to be leveling out in Fairfield County, the hardest hit region.
Here’s the latest on the coronavirus in Connecticut...
Topline
- Mobile testing sites that were closed because of strong winds yesterday have reopened.
- Lamont has named representatives to the interstate task force on reopening the region after the pandemic.
- More than 600 people who have tested positive for the disease in Connecticut have died.
By The Numbers
All numbers are as of April 13 at 7 p.m.
- 602 deaths from COVID-19
- 13,381 confirmed cases
- Fairfield County: 6,004
- New Haven County: 3,358
- Hartford County: 2,243
- Litchfield County: 446
- Middlesex County: 339
- Tolland County: 195
- New London County: 222
- Windham County: 83
- Pending address validation: 491
- More than 44,309 people tested
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The Latest
- Gov. Ned Lamont explained why he has left open the possibility of public schools reopening on May 20. Speaking on WPLR this morning, he said he’s heard from parents who say, “‘just a couple of weeks to get my kids resocialized that would be important,’ so that’s why we’ve left the door ajar.” But, he added, the infection rate is still going up and that although students aren’t at a high risk, they could spread the virus to others.
- A Connecticut inmate with COVID-19 died on Monday. It was the first death of an incarcerated person connected to the virus in the state. The identity of the man was not disclosed by the Department of Correction, but he did have underlying medical conditions and was transferred to the UConn Health Center. At least 166 inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Monday night.
- Connecticut and six other neighboring states are convening a group to work on reopening in a coordinated, regional way. Connecticut will be represented in the group by Dr. Albert Ko, a Yale epidemiologist, Indra Nooyi, a former PepsiCo CEO, and Paul Mounds, Jr. who is the governor’s chief of staff. The working group begins to meet today.
Other Reads On The Coronavirus
- IMF: Coronavirus will lead to "worst recession since the Great Depression" - Fadel Allassan for Axios
- Huck’s Defenses Were Ready For Covid - Lisa Gray for The New Haven Independent
- It’s the end of the office as we know it - Rani Molla for Recode
World On Fire
The new show from Masterpiece on PBS is an easy binge and it may not be the happiest distraction from our current pandemic. World On Fire follows the lives of more “normal” people during World War II, including an American journalist (played by Helen Hunt) who warns of the impending invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany.
Only the first two episodes have aired on PBS stations, but if you’re a member (wink wink, nudge nudge), you can watch the whole series online now.
My wife burned through the series in less than 48 hours. I’m savoring it a little more. Let me know how long it takes you to watch this series on Twitter or send me an email.
Stay safe. Stay sane. Stay distant.
