Fauci joined Gov. Ned Lamont at a state coronavirus briefing on Aug. 3, as reported by a local Fox affiliate. When it came to the overall health of the state, Fauci put it plainly, saying, “Connecticut is in a good place.” The experts at Covid Act Now put Connecticut in the “yellow” category, thanks to the state’s 2.1 daily new cases per 100,000 people and 0.99 infection rate, both of which mean coronavirus is spreading slowly, but not fully contained. Connecticut has a very low positive test rate of 1.5 percent, and ample ICU beds and contact tracers for future COVID infections. Even more promisingly, the positive test rate was 0.7 percent over the weekend, according to a tweet from Lamont, and hospitalizations have decreased. In his interview with the Connecticut governor, Fauci stressed the importance of following his five guidelines for preventing the spread of coronavirus: wearing masks, social distancing, avoiding indoor spaces as much as possible, steering clear of bars, and practicing good hand hygiene. Doing these things should help keep Connecticut in a “good place,” even as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc throughout the U.S. When it came to the hot topic of reopening schools, Fauci said that as long as Connecticut can maintain low numbers, the state should be able to return to in-person learning. At the same time, he cautioned that state officials should be flexible and willing to modify plans if things take a turn for the worse.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb Sports fans may be encouraged by Fauci’s assertion that, as with in-person learning, Connecticut should be able to bring sports back on a “case-by-case basis.” “From what I’m seeing of the metrics in the state of Connecticut, you’re in a good place,” he said. “It depends on the sport, and it depends on what you’re taking about, vis a vis contact versus non contact, spectators versus non spectators. You’re talking about, you have a low level of infection. Should you have this sport, go ahead.” RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. But those same fans may have to watch from a distance: Fauci reiterated that crowds at indoor sporting events still pose a risk. They should be spaced out and wearing masks, if not nixed entirely, depending on how the state is doing on the whole. Fauci was clear that when it comes to sports, schooling, or other aspects of day-to-day life, Connecticut residents will have to follow certain measures if they want to stay in the “good place.” And for more guidance from the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, Dr. Fauci Wants You to Avoid Doing These 9 Things Right Now.
