HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - Saying "we now have the tools to keep ourselves safe," Gov. Ned Lamont is calling for Connecticut's school mask mandate to expire after Feb. 28.
"I think this is something we've earned, Connecticut," Lamont said. "We've earned it because we've done it right. We're more likely to wear the mask, more likely to get tested, more likely to get vaccinated."
The mandate can stay in effect on the governor's orders through Feb. 15, when his emergency powers expire. The Democratic-led legislature, which convenes Wednesday, is expected to extend the mandate through the end of the month.
Expiration of the school mandate will allow local school systems to set their own mask policies. Department of Public Health commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani says they're in a better position to make those decisions than they would have been over the last two years.
"What we know is that our case counts are dropping, our percent positivity is dropping, although what that means today is different than it meant a year ago," Juthani said. "We have self tests that are ongoing at home. We also know that vaccines are really good at keeping you out of the hospital and prevent you from dying."