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May 18, 2021

Mask rules relax; area COVID in-patient population drops

PHOTO | Pixabay.com
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

While state mask rules are changing this week, businesses still have the option of requiring them.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced that updated rules go into effect Wednesday (May 19), based on updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Under the new rules, masks are not required outdoors. 

Indoors, vaccinated people are not required to wear masks, but people who are unvaccinated must continue to wear them.

However, businesses, state and local government offices and events venues may choose to require universal masking, according to Lamont.

Masks also will still be required in several settings, including healthcare facilities, public and private transit, correctional facilities, schools and childcare facilities.

All other COVID-19 sector rules for businesses that had been implemented in Connecticut will also be lifted as of May 19, according to Lamont’s office.

Dr. Thomas Balcezak, executive vice president and chief clinical officer for the Yale New Haven Health system, said if one does go without a mask, they should make sure they will only be in the company of other vaccinated people.

Balcezak agreed that mask wearing should continue in certain settings, such as healthcare facilities and on public transportation.

When asked about the latest government rules about mask-wearing, Balcezak said, “We are struggling as a country and world to get the science and the timing right.”

“Decisions are hard,” Balcezak said. “Whether it is premature, only time will tell.”

Hospitalizations down

Meanwhile, the number of in-patients with coronavirus in the Yale New Haven Health system dropped by more than half over the past two weeks, system officials said Monday.

CEO Marna P. Borgstrom said they have had a “significant reduction” in COVID in-patients, with the COVID population on Monday at 64.

This included 43 at Yale New Haven Hospital, 14 at Bridgeport Hospital, three at Greenwich Hospital, four at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London, and none at Westerly Hospital in Rhode Island. As of Monday, 26 of the 64 inpatients were in intensive care units, with 17 of those on ventilators, according to Borgstrom.

In contrast, two weeks earlier, on May 3, there were 142 in-patients with the virus across the health system. 

Balcezak reported that much of the demand for vaccines has declined, so the health system will be closing its mass vaccination sites and pivoting to smaller venues. Walk-ins are being accepted. 

In April, demand for vaccinations peaked, with the health system administering 139,914 doses. So far, for the month of May, this had dropped to around 45,000, Balcezak said.

Since the Pfizer vaccine was approved for use in 12 to 15 year-olds, the system vaccinated about 13,000 people in this age group over a four-day period.

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

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