HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and is not experiencing any symptoms, according to his communications director.
Lamont, 68, received his second booster shot on March 31. He tested positive in the morning after taking a regularly-scheduled rapid self-test. The infection was confirmed with a second rapid self-test and the governor is currently awaiting results from a PCR test, spokesperson Max Reiss said.
Lamont, a Democrat, plans to isolate at the governor’s residence in Hartford for the next five days and will not attend any in-person events or meetings, his office said. Lamont canceled two planned appearances on Thursday after receiving his results. However, on Wednesday, he visited a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Hartford and attended public events in Middletown and Clinton. Reiss said the three appearances were either outdoors or held inside a large building.
“He is feeling good and not experiencing any symptoms, and he is grateful that he is receiving protection from the second booster shot he received last week,” Reiss said.
Lamont is at least the 16th U.S. governor to test positive for COVID-19, according to an Associated Press tally. His positive test comes a week after another Northeast governor, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, tested positive.
Over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases in Connecticut has increased by 174.4, an increase of 55.5%, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins. Meanwhile, the state reported Wednesday the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 increased by 19 to a total of 117.
Johns Hopkins reports there have been 10,795 COVID-19 related deaths to date.